Supporters are hopeful for another big win for the legalization of cannabis this coming US elections, like what happened last 2016. On November 3, 2020, five states will decide whether they would legalize either medical or recreational marijuana or perhaps, both. These states include Arizona, New Jersey, South Dakota, Montana and Mississippi. Currently, 33 states have permitted the use of medical marijuana and 11 of these have legalized cannabis for recreational use. Advocates forecasts a huge opportunity for industry growth if more states would vote on legal cannabis.
CNN: Cannabis sales in states that have legalized the plant for medical and recreational purposes totaled about $15 billion in 2019, and are expected to top $30 billion by 2024
As reported by CNN Business, supporters believe that if more states join the list, it could serve as a huge opportunity for industry growth as ballot initiatives could have a domino effect on other states — especially those looking to address budgetary and social justice issues.
“We’ve seen public support continue to grow every year,” said Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project.
Cannabis sales in states that have legalized the plant for medical and recreational purposes totaled about $15 billion in 2019, and are expected to top $30 billion by 2024, according to data from BDS Analytics, which tracks dispensary sales.
Salon.com: “This is how all these states have gotten recreational marijuana. They start with medical,” said Ed Langton, a member of the Mississippi Board of Health, who opposes his state’s legalization efforts.
Meanwhile, Salon.com reports that marijuana advocates are using the November 2020 elections to bypass Republican-led legislatures that have opposed legalization efforts, taking the question straight to voters.
Advocates point to a high number of petition signatures and their own internal polling as indicators that the odds of at least some of the measures passing are good.
Mississippi and Nebraska voters will decide on medical marijuana measures.
South Dakota will be the first state to vote on legalizing both recreational and medical marijuana in the same election.
Montana, Arizona and New Jersey, all medical marijuana states, will consider ballot measures in November to allow recreational sales, a move opponents consider evidence of a slippery slope.
