states where marijuana is legal 2016
The Number of States Where Marijuana is Legal in 2016
In 2016, the number of states where marijuana is legal will likely increase considerably. This is good news for marijuana advocates. The number of states with legalized marijuana is already more than double the number of states that have not legalized marijuana. The pace of legalization in the US has increased by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Although the Trump administration may stall the process, there are already several states where marijuana is legal. how to get medical marijuana card in ny online
The state of Wisconsin is a swing state. Although marijuana is still illegal in Wisconsin, the state legislature has been reluctant to enact full legalization. Governor Tony Evers is pushing for legalization, but the conservative state legislature isn’t having it. If this happens, it will be another setback for the Democrats. It isn’t impossible to make the state legal, however. The Democratic governor has already begun legalizing the drug for medical purposes.
Other states have legalized recreational marijuana in 2016. This includes Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont. The law in New York allows adults over 21 to possess up to three ounces of flower. Adults can also grow up to six plants and smoke it anywhere cigarettes are allowed. In addition to its legal use, this law has restorative justice provisions, automatic expungement for low-level offenses, and earmarking tax revenue for a community reinvestment fund.
The first state to legalize recreational marijuana in the south was Virginia, which passed SB 386 in 2016. The federal government is still against recreational marijuana. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. However, more states will likely pass legislation legalizing marijuana in the future, allowing citizens to enjoy the benefits of the drug without worrying about a federal crackdown.
The next major step for legalizing marijuana is to pass Amendment 2, which will make it possible for doctors to recommend the drug for certain serious ailments. The measure will become effective in the South when the Senate passes it. While marijuana is illegal in Alabama, it is legal in Mississippi. And it will soon be legal in the District of Columbia as well. And this trend will continue. So, what’s the future of medical marijuana?
Arizona – While many conservative states in the country have decriminalized medicinal marijuana, this law has not passed into law. The first legalization of marijuana in the state occurred in 2010, and recreational sales are expected to begin in 2022. The state will continue to struggle with implementing regulations and ensuring equity. The state will begin retail sales in 2022, but the question remains, for now, how many adults will benefit from this new law?
Alaska – This state is an exception. It was one of the first to legalize marijuana for medical use, but the law did not allow dispensaries to sell the drug. In 2014, Alaskans voted in favor of legalizing marijuana, but the law did not allow the dispensaries to open. Alaska has few medical marijuana patients, so dispensaries took years to open. And the state is also heavily reliant on air travel. Despite being one of the most remote and isolated states, Alaska is likely to have the highest pot sales in the country.