Legalizing marijuana in 2023: Here are the states considering legal recreational use

Few of these states Are making efforts to legalize marijuana For recreational use by 2023. To expand the use of it beyond its medical purpose, they are proposing legislation and ballot initiatives.

This is the latest attempt to legalize marijuana failed in Oklahoma After voters rejected a proposal on the ballot that would have allowed people aged 21 and older to possess marijuana, This vote was against a pattern in other states where voter initiatives are often successful.

OKLAHOMA VOTES DOWN RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Up to this point, there have been 21 states and Washington, D.C. as well Guam. fully legalized marijuana For recreational or medical purposes. 16 states allow medical use only. Three states, Idaho and Nebraska, prohibit public use.

Below are some of the strategies and approaches taken by these states in order to legalize recreational cannabis.

Minnesota: Legislation

Minnesotan voters elected sufficient Democrats to the Senate, which secured the Governor’s Office again. This allowed them to win the Trifecta. first time In 10 years. Now, with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in control, a bipartisan legislative push to legalize adults’ use of marijuana may finally gain enough traction to become law.

The bill to legalize marijuana has passed through several House committees and the Senate. Lawmakers hope to see a more positive response from the legislature than they did in previous years. The Minnesota House approved the bill last May. However, it was stopped by a Republican majority of the Senate.

Gov. Tim Walz (D–MN), who won reelection 2022, stated that he would be signing a legalization bill for marijuana into law this year, if it got to his desk. according To MJBizDaily, A news source for cannabis businesses.

The Minnesota House reports that 53% of Minnesota House members are in this category. of voters While 36% support legalizing marijuana recreationally, 36% are against it. Eleven percent are unconvinced.

Ohio: Laws or ballot initiatives

Ohio’s voters could decide whether or not to legalize marijuana. This will depend on the outcome of state legislative elections.

proposal The GOP-controlled legislature was presented with a bill that would allow for the legalization of possession up to 15g of concentrated cannabis or 1.5 ounces. If the legislature fails to act before April, supporters will need to collect To get the measure onto the November ballot, approximately 124,000 signatures were needed. Bloomberg.

Gov. Mike DeWine (Republican-Ohio) is presently at odds with Gov.

DeWine indicated in January 2022 his belief that recreational marijuana will be legalized. “add an additional problem” Situations caused by substances other than alcohol, like driving while impaired. He promised he would. oppose the bill If it reached his desk, he would be open to a proposal that loosens rules regarding medical marijuana. Sandusky Review.

DeWine is now a year old signed A criminal justice reform bill would change criminal expungement policies. The legislation allows cities to mass expunge records of people accused in certain drug-related offenses. This includes marijuana possession up to 200g. People would not be charged with possessing marijuana paraphernalia if the bill was passed.

Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol wanted to see the initiative go to the voters in November 2022. But, due to the deadline for signature submission it did not make the ballot. The Coalition filed a lawsuit The decision was challenged in April 2022 and finally settled by the secretary of the state.