Marijuana legalization is spreading across the US.
Since 2012, 18 states and Washington, DC, have legalized marijuana for adults over the age of 21. And 38 states and DC have legalized medical marijuana — which means {that a} majority of People have entry to hashish, whether or not medically or recreationally.
Not too long ago, a slew of populous states have legalized each medical and leisure hashish, together with New York and New Jersey.
New Jersey was one among 4 states, together with Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota, the place voters backed leisure hashish within the November 2020 elections.
In South Dakota, each medical and leisure hashish poll measures handed within the 2020 elections, although the state’s leisure legislation was struck down by the state’s Supreme Court docket final 12 months. In February, South Dakota’s Senate handed laws to legalize hashish — it is now as much as the Home. Insider would not embrace South Dakota in our tally of markets the place the substance is authorized for leisure use.
New Mexico, Virginia, and Connecticut have additionally just lately legalized adult-use hashish, whereas Alabama has approved medical marijuana.
Canada legalized marijuana federally in 2018, however US has not adopted swimsuit. Marijuana remains to be thought-about an unlawful Schedule I drug by the US authorities.
See all of the states the place marijuana is authorized:
This text was first revealed in January 2018 and has been up to date with new details about the place hashish is authorized. It was final up to date on February 23. Melia Russell contributed to an earlier model of this story.
Alaska
Adults 21 and over can mild up in Alaska. In 2015, the northernmost US state made it authorized for residents to make use of, possess, and transport as much as an oz. of marijuana — roughly a sandwich bag full — for leisure use. The primary pot store opened for enterprise in 2016.
Alaska has pounced on the chance to make its recreational-pot retailers a vacation spot for vacationers. Greater than 2 million folks go to Alaska yearly and spend $2 billion.
Arizona
Arizona in 2020 voted to legalize hashish for all adults over the age of 21.
The measure had help from nearly 60% of Arizona voters.
The poll measure was backed by numerous hashish giants, together with Curaleaf, Cresco, and Harvest Enterprises.
The Arizona Division of Well being Providers started accepting purposes for adult-use licenses on January 19, 2021, and approvals had been issued simply three days later. Gross sales started instantly.
Arizona rolled out adult-use gross sales sooner than some other state that voted to cross leisure hashish within the November elections. Corporations already working within the state’s medical market had a primary crack at leisure prospects.
California
In 1996, California grew to become the primary state to legalize medical marijuana. California grew to become much more pot-friendly in 2016 when it made it authorized to make use of and carry as much as 1 ounce of marijuana.
The legislation additionally permits adults 21 and over to purchase as much as 8 grams of marijuana concentrates, that are present in edibles, and develop not more than six marijuana crops per family.
Colorado
In Colorado, there are extra marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks and McDonald’s mixed. The state joined Washington in turning into the primary two states to totally legalize the drug in 2012.
Residents and vacationers over the age of 21 should buy as much as 1 ounce of marijuana or 8 grams of concentrates. Some Colorado counties and cities have handed extra restrictive legal guidelines.
Connecticut
On June 18, 2021 the Connecticut legislature legalized hashish for adults 21 and over and the legislation took impact on July 1.
Leisure hashish is now authorized within the state and adults are allowed to own or devour as much as 1.5 ounces of marijuana. Gross sales aren’t anticipated to start till the tip of 2022, in line with the state’s official web site.
Illinois
Illinois lawmakers in June 2019 handed a invoice that legalized the possession and business sale of marijuana beginning on January 1, 2020.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who made marijuana legalization a core element of his marketing campaign for workplace, signed the invoice into legislation.
Illinois is the one of many few states to legalize marijuana gross sales by means of the state legislature, reasonably than a poll initiative.
Maine
A poll initiative in 2016 gave Maine residents the best to own as much as 2.5 ounces of marijuana, greater than double the restrict in most different states.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts was the primary state on the East Coast to legalize marijuana after voters authorized the measure in 2016.
Marijuana dispensaries opened their doorways to shoppers in November 2018. Adults over the age of 21 can buy as much as 1 ounce of marijuana however can’t devour it in public.
Michigan
Voters in Michigan handed Proposition 1 in 2018, making it the primary state within the Midwest to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. Adults can possess as much as 2.5 ounces of marijuana, and residents can develop as much as 12 crops at residence.
The legislation is extra permissive than different states with authorized marijuana: Most permit residents to own solely as much as 1 ounce at a time.
Montana
Montana in 2020 voted to legalize leisure marijuana for adults 21 and over.
Montana residents are formally allowed to make use of marijuana as of January 1, 2021. Firstly of 2022, the state allowed shops to start gross sales.
Nevada
Residents and vacationers who’re 21 and over should buy 1 ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an oz. of edibles or concentrates in Nevada.
There’s dangerous information if you wish to develop your personal bud, although. Nevada residents should dwell 25 miles outdoors the closest dispensary to be eligible for a grower’s license.
New Jersey
New Jersey in 2020 voted to legalize leisure marijuana for adults 21 and older, opening a market that might close to $1 billion.
In February 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the legalization laws, after months of back-and-forth arguments about prison penalties for minors possessing marijuana and the right option to arrange a licensing framework for hashish gross sales within the state, amongst different particulars.
Gross sales are anticipated to start out a while in 2022, however it’s unclear precisely when. The state had initially aimed for February, however in late January, Jeff Brown, govt director of the state’s Hashish Regulatory Fee, informed NJ.com that there was “nonetheless loads to be executed” earlier than retailers may open doorways.
“There isn’t a agency dedication on timing of when leisure gross sales will start,” he stated.
New Mexico
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the state’s legalization invoice in April, after convening a particular session of the legislature to hammer out the main points.
The legislation took impact June 29 — permitting state residents to own and devour marijuana — however leisure gross sales is not going to begin till April 1, 2022.
New York
After two failed makes an attempt to legalize adult-use hashish in New York, the state lastly handed leisure marijuana on March 31, 2021.
Although New Yorkers at the moment are capable of possess and smoke hashish legally, gross sales aren’t anticipated to start till a lot later.
Andrew Carter, an analyst at Stifel, stated he expects leisure hashish gross sales to start in late 2022. Analysts from Cantor Fitzgerald and Stifel estimated that New York may change into a $5 billion hashish market by 2025.
Oregon
Oregon legalized marijuana in 2015, and gross sales within the state began October 1 of that 12 months.
South Dakota
South Dakota in 2020 voted to legalize each medical and leisure hashish, the primary time a state has voted in favor of each on the identical time.
State lawmakers have till April 2022 to create guidelines round hashish, together with laws round dispensaries.
South Dakota’s authorized marijuana program stays mired in authorized challenges.
Vermont
Vermont grew to become the primary state to legalize marijuana by means of the legislature, reasonably than a poll initiative, when Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed a invoice into legislation in January 2018.
Adults within the Inexperienced Mountain State can carry as much as 1 ounce of marijuana and develop not more than two crops for leisure use. The legislation went into impact in July 2018. Nevertheless it was restricted in scope. It did not set up a authorized marketplace for the manufacturing and sale of the drug.
In 2020, the state legislature handed a invoice that might permit for adult-use gross sales within the state. All localities should opt-in to permit for dispensaries, nevertheless. Gross sales are anticipated in 2022.
Virginia
A majority of state legislators in Virginia authorized Gov. Ralph Northam’s suggestion to legalize the consumption, possession, and cultivation of marijuana on July 1, years sooner than the preliminary laws supposed.
Business hashish gross sales are anticipated to start out in September 2022.
Washington
Marijuana was legalized for leisure use in Washington in 2012.
The state permits folks to hold as much as 1 ounce of marijuana, however they need to use the drug for medicinal functions to be eligible for a grower’s license.
Washington, DC
Residents within the nation’s capital voted overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana for grownup use in November 2014.
The invoice took impact in 2015, permitting folks to own 2 ounces or much less of marijuana and “present” as much as an oz., if neither cash nor items or companies are exchanged.
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