Cannabis could be legal for adults in nearly half the United States very soon depending on how today’s midterm election goes.
Five U.S. states could legalize adult-use cannabis and Colorado could decriminalize psilocybin after today’s midterm. Historically speaking, today could be the day that cannabis becomes legal in about half the USA. And Colorado, the state that initiated adult-use legalization of weed, is poised to make moves into psychedelic decriminalization.
All five of these states currently allow medical cannabis. If constituents vote adult-use cannabis in, they’ll join 19 other cannabis-legal states, plus Washington, D.C. in making cannabis accessible for all (non-incarcerated) adults.
Today’s mid-term election arrives a month after President Joe Biden announced the pardoning of everyone federally convicted of non-violent crimes that involve simple cannabis possession.
The White House says the measure impacts around 6,500 currently incarcerated people; however, no one is currently in federal prison solely for the possession of cannabis.
Missouri
Amendment 3 would legalize possession of up to three ounces of cannabis per person, and could expunge the records of people convicted of certain non-violent cannabis-related crimes. Violations of the new rules, were they to be introduced, would still face civil penalties, such as a find for smoking cannabis in public.
Maryland
Question 4 of Maryland would legalize an ounce and a half of cannabis for adults, starting as early as next July. A Washington Post-University of Maryland poll conducted in late September found that 73 percent of participants are in favour of legalizing recreational cannabis.
North Dakota
Measure 2 of North Dakota would legalize possession of up to an ounce of weed for adults and grow up to three plants at home. The state would also grant sales licenses to 18 businesses.
South Dakota
Measure 27 of South Dakota would legalize possession of an ounce of weed and up to three cannabis plants per person at home in places with no retail stores; the initiative doesn’t outline a framework for sales.
Arkansas
Issue 4 of Arkansas would amend the state constitution to allow the possession, use, and sale of weed through licensed dispensaries. People aged 21 and over would be allowed to possess an ounce of weed. The state’s legalization measure would set aside 15 percent of tax revenue for police.
Colorado
As we all probably know by now, Colorado legalized all adult-use cannabis a decade ago. Today, however, it may decriminalize a list of psychedelics if residents vote for what is called the Natural Medicine Health Act.
The measure would allow psilocybin mushrooms to be used at healing centres, plus it would decriminalize the growing, possessing, and using psilocybin mushrooms.
Other things it would decriminalize are mescaline (a hallucinogen from certain species of cacti), ibogaine (a psychoactive substance from the central African shrub iboga being explored for substance use disorders), and DMT (the active ingredient in ayahuasca).
Bonus: Oregon
In 2020, Oregon became the first state to allow psilocybin mushrooms for adults, through therapeutic centres that are set to open next year. Right now, as in Colorado, adults would not be able to simply buy psilocybin mushrooms from a store and take them home.
Today, dozens of cities and counties in Oregon will decide if they want to opt-out of the state’s psilocybin treatment centres.
A lot is happening in both the cannabis and psychedelic spaces in Canada, the USA and beyond. Are you looking for creatively compliant ways to keep the sails of your ship full so you can focus on the business side?
Call us at +1 (844)-4-WEED-PR or fill out our contact form to book a 15-minute call with someone at Alan Aldous.