Political winds have shifted in favor of marijuana legalization

Allegations that the legislative push for marijuana policy reform has stumbled in recent months (“Marijuana advocates hit unexpected roadblocks in 2019,” June 2) are nothing short of a pipe dream. 

Nearly one in four Americans reside in a jurisdiction where the adult use of cannabis is legal, and 33 states regulate medical marijuana access by statute. No state has ever repealed a marijuana legalization law, and two-thirds of adults — including majorities of self-identified Democrats, Republicans and independents — endorse making the plant legal, according to the latest Gallup poll. As more states amend their cannabis laws, public support for legalization continues to rise. 

Moreover, 2019 has been an unprecedented year for the passage of state-level reforms. Illinois lawmakers voted to legalize adult use cannabis sales, making it the eleventh state to legalize marijuana outright and the first to comprehensively do so via legislative action. In addition, legislators in three states — Hawaii, New Mexico and North Dakota — have moved to decriminalize marijuana possession. The New York legislature just voted to expand its existing decriminalization laws. This would make the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis a fine-only offense. Also, nearly a dozen states, including Illinois, Oregon, Nevada and Washington, have passed legislation in recent weeks to expunge past marijuana convictions. [Read More @ The Hill}