I’m a bit confused about the current status of cannabis legalization. Can you give me a rundown of where things stand and what states have legalized?
One answer “What is the current status of legalization?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
First of all, cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, pot, etc.) has been illegal in the United States in most states since the early 1900s due to the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which defined cannabis as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value.
In recent years, however, states have begun to legalize and decriminalize cannabis. As of 2020, 11 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington) and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational use of cannabis for adults over the age of 21.
At the state level, 33 states and Washington, D.C., have enacted medical marijuana laws.
Each state that has legalized cannabis has developed its own regulations and laws, so the specifics of how each state regulates and taxes cannabis vary. In general, however, the type, amount, and duration of use are all controlled by the state, and consumers must purchase it legally from a dispensary.
Additionally, at the federal level, cannabis is still illegal. This means that it cannot be legally bought and sold in interstate commerce. Furthermore, banks and other financial institutions have been reluctant to provide banking services to cannabis companies due to the risk of federal prosecution.
On the other hand, the federal government has been increasingly open to allowing cannabis businesses to operate by a series of bills and amendments enacted over the past few years. For example, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019 offered some protection to cannabis businesses by allowing them access to the banking system. Additionally, the Farm Bill of 2018 legalized hemp production and opened the door for the sale of CBD products made from hemp.
Although cannabis remains illegal at the federal level and each state has its own set of regulations, we are seeing a slow but steady move towards cannabis legalization. We can expect more states to pass legislation legalizing recreational and medical use of cannabis in the coming years, as well as more federal legislation to support the industry.