Where Cannabis Legalization Stands in the U.S.

As Election Day looms, this is where marijuana legalization efforts stand across the United States. As Election Day nears, the polarizing issue of cannabis legalization is still a hot-button issue facing lawmakers and state populations across the U.S., according to politico.com . Currently, 19 states have adopted full legalization, while an additional 19 have ratified medical marijuana programs. However, of the remaining holdouts, many are steadfastly conservative, where skepticism runs deep among legislators. But in the estimation of many experts, the politics of cannabis legalization persists as a perplexing conundrum. Last year only four states passed legislation making marijuana use legal. So far this year, only Rhode Island has managed to legalize recreational cannabis use. Yet despite this small number, broad nationwide public support for liberalizing marijuana laws is at an all-time high . According to Karen O'Keefe, state policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project, ...