It almost seems that marijuana legalization cannot miss. More than half the nation has made it legal for either medicinal or recreational purposes, and nearly every time the issue makes it on the ballot somewhere a heavy majority shows up in support. Even state lawmakers are becoming more in tune with the pot discussion. The only setback, at this point, is the fact that the federal government continues to act as though Nixon is still running the show. Nevertheless, there are no signs of a slow down when it comes to ending pot prohibition at the state level. Several more jurisdictions are on track for this reform. These are the six to watch, according to NORML.
Michigan
Although cannabis advocates have experienced some snags in getting this issue on the ballot in recent years, whether or not a recreational marijuana market should be unleashed in the Great Lake States is slated to be answered in the upcoming November election.
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If met with approval, Michigan would be the first state in the Midwest to allow adults 21 and over to purchase cannabis in a manner similar to beer. And its chances are good. Some of the latest polls show that 61 percent of the voters intend to support the initiative.
New Jersey
Many believed the Garden State would be the next to ending marijuana prohibition. Governor Phil Murphy promised during his campaign that establishing a taxed and regulated pot market would be one of his top priorities. Of course, there have been some problems getting a bill through the legislative channels. Still, it is just a matter of time. Murphy reiterated during his latest budget address that legalizing marijuana was the “only sensible option.” The Senate is expected to start discussing a bill in the near future.
North Dakota
There is a solid push to legalize recreational marijuana in this part of the country. A campaign aimed at putting the question on the ballot in the upcoming November election recently met its signature goal. If approved by the Secretary of State, the concept of giving adults the freedom to buy weed in the same way they do with alcohol would be sorted out in a matter of months. The state approved a medical marijuana program in 2016. It has yet to be implemented. Not a single patient has been serviced.
New York
The Empire State is likely one of the next to legalize marijuana for adult use. Although Governor Cuomo has been resistant to this idea, a recent report from the Health Department, which was commissioned by Cuomo, shows that a taxed and regulated system would be the most logical step.
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“A regulated marijuana program enjoys broad support and would have significant health, social justice, and economic benefits. … Regulating marijuana enables public health officials to minimize the potential risks of marijuana use through outreach, education, quantity limits at point of sale, quality control, and consumer protection. … The positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in NYS outweigh the potential negative impacts,” the report reads.
Oklahoma
Voters recently approved a statewide medical marijuana program. It wasn’t long thereafter that cannabis advocates decided to go for broke and push the concept of legalizing for recreational use. While the initiative is still in the signature-collecting phase, reports show that it has a fighting chance of qualifying for a sport on the ballot this November.
Delaware
The state is convinced that marijuana legalize is the right thing to do. Polls show that more than 60 percent of the voters support allowing adults 21 and older to purchase cannabis from legitimate sources. Even the lawmakers are in favor of this issue. The issue is expected to advance in 2019.
