After decades of being slighted, cannabis legalization is finally underway.
While Raphael Mechoulam and others were pushing for cannabis’s acceptance as alternative medicine as early as the 1960s, it’s taken until the 21st century to see legalization. However, now Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota have all voted to legalize cannabis.
In fact, cannabis received more votes in these localized areas than either presidential candidates did.
Both at once
In particular, South Dakota legalized both medical and recreational cannabis at once. This path to legalization is the first in the nation, as most have started with a medical program that rolled into a recreational one.
This likely predicts a change in attitude in the country as a whole. Now, these states join Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington as states with approved legal recreational cannabis sales.
South Dakota legalized both medical and recreational cannabis at once. This path to legalization is the first in the nation.
The federal government should not be able to withstand pressure to legalize the substance nationally unless it desires to go against the will of the people.
Additionally, the west is already unifying as the West Coast legalized cannabis a while ago, but now Arizona is no longer a threat to those engaging in responsible use. Arizona’s Proposition 207 allows adults over 21 to carry, consume, and transfer up to an ounce of cannabis. Slowly, the creep inland grows.
Cannabis won by large margins
By state, 59.85% of Arizonan voters voted for Proposition 207, which also allows adults to grow up to 6 cannabis plants.
56.58% of Montanan voters voted for Montana Initiative-190, which allows adults to grow up to 4 cannabis plants.
Cannabis received more votes in these localized areas than either presidential candidates did.
53.41% of South Dakotan voters voted for South Dakota Amendment A and Initiated Measure 26, which allows adults to grow up to 3 cannabis plants if they do not live close to any stores providing recreational cannabis. Additionally, 69.21% of South Dakotan voters voted for South Dakota Measure 26, which will create a medical cannabis program in the state.
Finally, 66.97% of New Jersian voters voted for New Jersey Public Question 1, which has no limits on how many plants an adult can grow.
Good news also from Mississippi
Additional news includes Mississippi legalizing medical cannabis and Oregon decriminalizing many Schedule 1 drugs, from cocaine to LSD. A staggering 67.9% of Mississippian voters approved some sort of medical cannabis program.
Additional news includes Mississippi legalizing medical cannabis and Oregon decriminalizing many Schedule 1 drugs, from cocaine to LSD.
A dazzling future of honest research and fewer unnecessary arrests is on the horizon. America has been the conservative hegemony of the west for decades, and so to see it crack by allowing cannabis, which had been legal within its jurisdiction before the 20th century, is a step for not only America but the world at large.
With as much progress as has been made under a Trump administration, it’s likely that the Biden administration would be even more instrumental in the legal acceptance of cannabis.
Text: Karhlyle Fletcher
Cannabis Therapy – online magazine for cannabis patients and experts alike. Issue No.2 coming soon! In the meantime, check out the issue no. 1 HERE.
