In 2016, we saw four states successfully legalize recreational cannabis and eight states approve new medical policies. Here in 2017, there are at least 10 states that are considering altering their cannabis laws to help slowly peel back the layers of age-old prohibition.
New Hampshire
Senator Jeff Woodburn has stated his plans to introduce recreational legislation in the Granite State this year. Unrelated to Woodburn’s plans, lawmakers introduced House Bill 215 in January, which would study the current pot laws in other states. The results of the study aren’t scheduled for release until December.
New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo said we witnessed a “dramatic shift in public opinion” after several states have successfully implemented regulated recreational cannabis markets. The Empire State’s governor introduced a decriminalization measure in January, according to the Washington Times. “Data consistently show that recreational users of marijuana pose little to no threat to public safety,” Cuomo wrote in his yearly legislative agenda.
Rhode Island
For the seventh consecutive year, Rhode Island lawmakers introduced recreational weed legislation. To sweeten the deal, the proposed policy would impose a whopping 23 percent tax.
Connecticut
State Senator Martin Looney introduced a bill in January that could legalize recreational. In addition, policymakers seek to expand Connecticut’s medical program.
Tennessee
Representative Jeremy Faison told The Marijuana Times that the whole state of Tennessee should have full medical use. He says he plans to introduce a bill in this year’s legislative session that legalize medical statewide. Two cities in the state already have decriminalized.
Texas
Earlier this year, Lone Star State policymakers filed requests to decriminalize cannabis. Anyone caught with a small amount of herb would be charged with a civil infraction and a $250 fine, instead of facing jail time.
Utah
House Speaker Greg Hughes said that he believes medical cannabis could be the state’s biggest issue, the Deseret News recently reported, even though that viewpoint is likely not shared by the rest of his fellow bureaucrats.
Virginia
A bill filed in January would decriminalize marijuana and only fine for possession. Governor Terry McAuliffe hopes to come to an agreement legalizing medical use statewide.
South Carolina
A bill allowing patients to ingest cannabis oil for medical use was passed in South Carolina in 2014. This year, the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act would legalize cannabis for terminally ill patients and those suffering from debilitating medical conditions.
It’s ironic that Governor Cuomo goes on about decriminalizing marijuana yet leaves our lame Ass medical marijuana program in limbo. Over a year ago chronic pain was to be added to the list of ten qualifying reasons to be able to get medical marijuana but nothing has been done since . I have written and called Governor Cuomos office and Senator Kaminskis office repeatedly to ask when the chronic pain guidelines will be out . Shockingly no one has gotten back to me. I lost a kidney back in the seventies ( if found please call ) ,and over the past 16 months have been on a daily cocktail of muscle relaxers , lyrica , and over a 100 mgs of oxycodin. Which I believe isn’t helping that one kidney. Now I don’t know if medical marijuana is a definite fix , but like many other people I would like to find out.So please address the chronic pain issues.
I say we start a poll and if you can get 50,000 likes for the legalization in your state then it passes. Or just stand firm on,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA……. LETS ALL STAY UNITED AND BE TREATED EQUAL
Cannabis should be legalized in all parts of the world.