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, "Elected officials remain far behind the times." O'Keefe believes if it were up to voters, every state would have some form of legal cannabis by now.
"Elected officials remain far behind the times."
- Karen O'Keefe, State Policy Director for the Marijuana Policy Project
This misalignment is evident in states like Ohio, Hawaii, and New Hampshire, where the legalization of recreational cannabis fell short this year. Likewise, in Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, initiatives for medical marijuana programs were denied by lawmakers as well.
But there is still hope for advocates of nationwide cannabis legalization. At least half a dozen states could have legalization initiatives on their ballots this November. If all of those succeed, half of the states in the country will be able to allow adults to possess and eventually buy cannabis legally.
Below is a quick snapshot of where legalization efforts stand across the country.
Mississippi
This past January, the Mississippi State Legislature passed legislation creating a medical marijuana program by overwhelming margins. The measure was attacked repeatedly by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves for enabling patients to purchase too much cannabis in his estimation. However, he eventually signed the bill once its terms were modified, making the program's policies slightly more restrictive.
Rhode Island
As mentioned above, in May this year, Rhode Island became the 19th state to enact full cannabis legalization. The Democratic-dominated Legislature overwhelmingly ratified legislation after finally agreeing on how to automatically scrap previous marijuana-related criminal convictions and the optimum approach to regulating the industry. The bill allows for 33 dispensaries across six state regions, with sales slated to start on Dec. 1.
Maryland
"The campaign right now is looking ahead to the election. We're beginning to ramp up fundraising, ramp up our voter registration efforts, and our campaign outreach efforts. But, we are not taking a single vote for granted."
- Ryan Kiesel, Senior Campaign Adviser, Oklahomans for Sensible Marijuana Laws
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