how many states is recreational marijuana legal
How Many States Is Recreational Marijuana Legal?
By April 12, 2021, eighteen states and Washington, DC will be able to legalize recreational marijuana. There is also a medical marijuana program in place in Guam and the US Virgin Islands. Although legalization is a long way off, the process is already well underway in several states. Here are the most notable states that are on the verge of legalizing recreational marijuana. Some of them include California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Rhode Island. ny can i grow marijuana with medical card
This year, marijuana is gaining momentum as state after state legalize it. California was the first state to legalize the drug in 1996, and today there are 18 states that allow recreational use. Meanwhile, there are 37 states that allow medical use of marijuana. As a result, legal marijuana sales are on track to reach $25 billion in 2021. In another decade, that industry could reach $100 billion, according to Needham analyst Matt McGinley. Legalization at the federal level is unlikely to happen before 2022 – at least if Congress fails to pass SAFE Banking, which has bipartisan support.
The Garden State joined the cannabis club earlier this year, although the cannabis regulatory commission is still getting its sea legs. The medicinal program continues to treat qualifying conditions and limits possession to three ounces a month. Home-growing is prohibited under the recreational law, although additional legislation is being considered. The state has yet to introduce a bill that allows six plants at home. But if the Senate doesn’t pass the bill, it may be a good sign that it will legalize marijuana in another state.
One of the most conservative states in the country, South Dakota, is the latest to make marijuana legal. In November, its residents overwhelmingly voted for both recreational and medicinal use of marijuana. However, Republican Governor Krisi Noem filed a lawsuit challenging the recreational provision. The lawsuit was rejected by a 4-to-1 margin in the state’s Supreme Court. That doesn’t mean that recreational use of cannabis is still illegal in the state, but it will be legal in the future.
Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2012. In 2012, the governor of Washington regretted not legalizing the grass sooner. Now, Washington residents can purchase flower up to an ounce, but they aren’t allowed to consume it in public. However, home-growing is still illegal for those who don’t have a medical marijuana license. There are many dispensaries across the state, and tax revenue supports public health programs.
New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational cannabis. In the state, adults over 21 can carry up to three ounces of flower or 3.5 grams of concentrate. The law also makes it legal for adults to purchase marijuana with a physician’s recommendation. Furthermore, the state is working toward restorative justice in the form of automatic expungement for low-level offenses. The law also earmarks the tax revenue for a community reinvestment fund.