21 Oct Cannabis World About to “Grow”?

Somewhat lost in the vitriol and drama of the 2016 Presidential campaign is the fact that nine states will be voting next month on whether to permit legal medical or recreational cannabis use. This on top of the 25 states that have already passed some sort of pot legalization. As it is with many trends, all are watching the California vote to expand its legal medical pot laws to allow recreational cannabis use. It even provides for reversing past cannabis convictions and continues to put a lot of power in local governments, and is expected to pass.

Other states include Nevada (recreational), Maine (recreational), Arizona (recreational), Massachusetts (recreational), Florida (medical), Arkansas (medical), North Dakota (medical) and Montana (medical). The Eastern states have been a bit slower than the West, but we right coasters are catching up.

The proposals vary quite a bit, but most of the recreational bills allow up to an ounce or two to be in your possession, the development of a retail market and the ability to grow a small number of plants. A recent Pew study shows 57% of Americans support pot legalization, up from 32% just 10 years ago, though there remain critics worried about increased use by kids in legal states.

But imagine legal recreational pot stores in Vegas! Or Faneuil Hall! Let’s hope the voters get that it’s time to move this private activity out of the criminal world. And maybe this helps the Feds realize it’s time to let the States make these decisions without fear of intervention.