I know. It’s hard to believe that 2020 is less than 3 months away. It seems like only yesterday that Michigan passed adult-use legalization, the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives and Pete Sessions was booted from office. But it’s been almost an entire year and the activist community is gearing up for another year of battles.
We’ve covered progress on the federal level quite a bit recently, so let’s now take a look at some of the states that will be at the forefront when it comes to marijuana law reform next year.
In terms of population, Florida reigns supreme as the biggest possibility at the ballot box. So far, both Make it Legal Florida and Regulate Florida have shown promise as far as getting their measure before voters in 2020. While the former seems to have serious funding behind it, it lacks a provision for home growing that many activists see as a deal-breaker.
Another critical battle at the ballot is shaping up in Arizona. On the cusp of adult-use legalization just a few years ago, activists in Arizona hope to get another shot at it next year.
In terms of legalization of recreational cannabis through the legislature, there are many possibilities; New York, New Jersey (barring any last minute attempts in a lame duck session this year) and Connecticut have made progress that could lay the groundwork for victory in 2020.
Attempts at adult-use legalization are also underway in Arkansas, where two groups are looking to get their measure before the voters. A state still new to legal medical marijuana, time will tell just how much traction activists can get there.
On the medical marijuana front, states like Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska and South Dakota (where recreational legalization is also being attempted) are just some of the locations that warrant a closer look over the next year.
Activists in North Dakota are hoping to get their adult-use legalization measure on the primary ballot in the summer of 2020; a victory then could bode well for the momentum behind the movement going into the fall.
While this is not a comprehensive list, it does cover the vast majority of people who could be affected in a major way by marijuana law reform in the coming year. If you live in one of those states and would like to get involved in a real way in activism, there is no time like the present.
