News A mixed bag for cannabis legalization efforts in five states

[thegreenhand]

A mixed bag for cannabis legalization efforts in five states​

Eric Westervelt
NPR
9 Nov 2022

Excerpt:

It was a mixed night for cannabis advocates as measures to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana passed in Maryland and Missouri but were soundly rejected in reliably red Arkansas, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The two wins mean 21 states, D.C. and two U.S. territories have now legalized cannabis for recreational use. Sixteen states and two territories have legalized marijuana for medical use.

Missouri will now create a statewide licensing program to grow and sell marijuana. The Maryland vote allows state lawmakers to set up the parameters of the state's recreational cannabis industry. Both measures will establish procedures to expunge records for those charged with non-violent, low-level pot possession.

But the results in Arkansas and the Dakotas are a clear disappointment for the legalization movement. Arkansas was aiming to become the first state in the Deep South to legalize recreational pot. The measure lost with 56% voting against. Proponents had hoped for legalization breakthroughs in the Dakotas after multiple fits and starts in recent years. South Dakota voters approved legalization in 2020, only to have it thrown out by the state Supreme Court. North Dakota voters in 2016 passed a measure allowing medical marijuana use in the state.

 

[RUC4]

It's crazy to me that so much thought and effort is put into weed, and keeping it illegal, and stressing over how the law is written, when I can walk into any convenience store and buy as much alcohol as I can afford. On the product, it doesn't say "drink 3 beers" or whatever regulation. You can't buy it late at night after 2am, but that's not such a big deal. It's crazy to me.

 

[neversickanymore]

North Dakota and South Dakota are isolated States pretty barren of people. They are also very conservative, because of personal opinion or possibly because conservatives have anti mj as part of their platform then these populations have chosen not to reform mj laws. Regardless of my take and opinion, good for them. We should not and certainly need not live under one governmental approach: It will never on a general or federal level come close to satisfying us all. They are living they way they think is right. Hopefully once its federally decriminalized it will allow people with a different view to travel federal highways without worrying about a sack.