21 States Legalize Recreational Marijuana in the US
Recently, 2FIRSTS compiled a report on the passage of cannabis-related bills in the US mid-term elections. With the addition of Maryland and Missouri, the number of states that allow for recreational cannabis use in the US has risen to 21 (as shown in the infographic below).
According to observations by 2FIRSTS, the push for marijuana legalization is largely driven by Democrats who advocate for freedom and diversity. Currently, there are 17 blue states and 4 red states where recreational marijuana is legal. It is therefore expected that more states will begin the process of legalizing marijuana, with blue states leading the way and red states following suit.
On the first trading day following the signing of the Marijuana Reform Act by President Biden last Monday, cannabis-related stocks received a boost and saw overall gains.
According to a report from Cannabis Business Times on December 13th, the two major political parties in the New Hampshire State House have reached an agreement to collectively push for the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state. In fact, the State House has repeatedly supported the use of recreational marijuana by adults - most recently in March of this year, when legislation was approved to allow state-run liquor stores to sell cannabis - but the bill did not pass the Senate.
New Hampshire State Capitol Building | Source: Adobe Stock
New Hampshire is a deep blue state that has voted for Democratic presidential candidates in the past four elections, but its current governor, Chris Sununu, is a Republican. Cannabis Business Times reported that the governor may hinder the progress of marijuana reform.
Kansas, a deep red state, is also considering legalizing marijuana. Currently, both medical and recreational use of marijuana is illegal in Kansas. However, Rob Olson, a Republican and chairman of the 2022 Medical Marijuana Special Committee in Olathe, expressed his intention to introduce medical marijuana legislation in the Senate at the start of the legislative session in 2023 during a committee meeting on December 9.
Kansas State Flag | Source: Adobe Stock
2FIRSTS will continue to follow this topic closely, stay tuned for updates.
Article by Zhu Hongxu
Further reading:
Organize proposals regarding electronic cigarettes and marijuana in the United States midterm elections.
Surviving in a Tight Spot: The State of US Electronic Cigarette Regulation Amidst Two-Party Competition
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