60 million may get access to legal pot
Support for legislation has been on the rise
Nearly 60 million Americans may wake up Nov. 9 to find voters in their states have abolished longstanding marijuana prohibitions, a three- fold expansion for legal cannabis across the country.
An additional 24 million Americans could find themselves in states with newly legal medical marijuana use, a smaller but still significant expansion of legalized pot around the United States. Already, half of the states permit some form of medical marijuana use, and more than half of all Americans live in a state that has approved medical marijuana.
California, experts say, likely will play the most significant role in cannabis legalization on Nov. 8. Voters are widely expected to approve the “Adult Use of Marijuana Act,” adding nearly 40 million names to the list of people who live in a state with legal pot.
Lawmakers see marijuana taxes as a source of new revenue to close budget gaps, while entrepreneurs are considering the business case, with potentially billions of dollars in profits possible from this fast- growing Made- in- America industry.
“People are beginning to understand that this isn’t just about not putting people in prison, but about making a lot of money.” Jeffrey Zinsmeister, Smart Approaches to Marijuana
Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada are considering legalizing recreational marijuana. Voters in Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota are asking voters whether to permit medical use for certain conditions, such as cancer or chronic pain. None of those votes will change the federal ban on marijuana use, although legalization advocates say it may further pressure Congress, the DEA and the FDA to act.
Four states — Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, plus the District of Columbia — already have legalized recreational marijuana. An additional 25 permit medical use. But this election has the potential to dramatically shift the conversation because so many Americans live in the nine states where relaxation measures are being considered.
Polls nationally show growing support for marijuana legalization. A poll released earlier this month by the Pew Research Center found 57% of adults think marijuana use should be legal, up from 53% last year and 32% in 2006. That despite the fact that marijuana remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance and is illegal at the federal level. A Gallup poll released Oct. 19 showed even stronger support: 60%, up from 58% last year and 50% in 2011.
“There’s been an enormous shift in public opinion on this issue, and I think that has directly led to why it is appearing on so many state’s ( ballots) this year,” said John Kagia of New Frontier Data.
Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, with voters approving the measure in 2012 and sales launching in January 2014. No state has yet legalized recreational marijuana via its legislature.
Critics say there’s insufficient evidence to back the health claims made by medical marijuana supporters. They worry widespread legalization opens the door to Big Tobacco- style companies interested in selling drugs to the public, especially kids, without regard for the public health consequences.
New Frontier, which doesn’t take a position on legalization, estimates the legal cannabis market could be worth nearly $ 8 billion by 2020.
Still, entrepreneurs are rushing to fund greenhouses, invest in growing and harvesting technology and create social media platforms to connect buyers with cannabis recommendations.
“People are beginning to understand that this isn’t just about not putting people in prison, but about making a lot of money,” said Jeffrey Zinsmeister, the executive vice president of the anti- legalization Smart Approaches to Marijuana.
ARIZONA
Proposition 205 would legalize adult recreational marijuana use, cultivation and sales, with a 15% sales tax to fund state regulation, enforcement and education efforts. An Arizona Republic/ Morrison/ Cronkite News poll found 50% of registered voters favor legalization, 40% oppose it and 10% undecided. The poll surveyed 784 registered voters between Aug. 17 and Aug. 31, with a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.
Since that poll, however, voters have been bombarded with ads. Polling expert Mike O’Neil said he expects the “No on Prop 205” ads will draw undecided voters to their side.
CALIFORNIA
The California plan allows residents to grow up to six plants at home and gives municipalities the power to allow or ban outdoor grows and marijuana stores. It requires commercial growers to comply with environmental regulations and gives medical- marijuana providers a head start in getting licenses.
Critics worry it will open up television advertising to marijuana companies and goes too far in permitting people convicted of violent drug offenses to join the industry. Medical marijuana is widely available in California.
Polls show the new plan is likely to pass.
MAINE
The ballot measure expands the state’s well- regarded medical marijuana program to recreational use, and it also permits the creation of “marijuana social clubs.” Critics worry that might increase the amount of impaired driving, in the way that bars can lead to more drunken drivers on the road.
MASSACHUSETTS
Most of the state’s political establishment opposes the measure to legalize recreational marijuana, with former governor Bill Weld a notable exception.
Gov. Charlie Baker argues legalizing marijuana in the Bay State could increase youth use and distract regulators and public health officials wrestling with an epidemic of opioid abuse and overdoses. Despite that top- level opposition, voters appear poised to approve the measure. Fifty- five percent of likely voters now say they favor legalization for recreation, WBUR radio reported. That poll found that half the people surveyed had tried marijuana at some point.
NEVADA
A year after its medical- marijuana program launched, Nevada’s voters are now considering whether to legalize recreational growing and use. Nevada’s program would be open to anyone visiting the state, and supporters say the market could be worth $ 390 million.
Medical dispensaries would be granted an 18- month monopoly on recreational sales, and alcohol distributors would also have an 18- month monopoly on distribution. Home growing would be banned anywhere within 25 miles of a licensed dispensary. The latest polling showed more than 55% of people approved of the measure.
ARKANSAS
Arkansas voters in 2012 nearly legalized medical marijuana, rejecting the measure 51% to 49%, and this year they’re considering two competing measures, both of which are opposed by the state’s Republican- dominated political establishment. Medical marijuana advocates say cannabis is a safer alternative to potentially deadly and physically addictive prescription drugs such as OxyContin.
FLORIDA
Florida’s proposed Amendment 2 would allow patients to obtain marijuana if they have “debilitating” illnesses, such as cancer, HIV, post- traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s and epilepsy.
A proposal in 2014 to broadly legalize medical marijuana won nearly 58% of the vote but fell short of the required 60% needed for adoption. Polls indicate the measure may have enough support this time around.