{"id":1981,"date":"2021-10-25T18:39:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T18:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/wp-home\/?p=164711"},"modified":"2021-10-25T18:39:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T18:39:00","slug":"these-states-could-legalize-cannabis-next-in-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1981","title":{"rendered":"These states could legalize cannabis next in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
These states could legalize cannabis next in 2022 – Leafly<\/title> <!-- This is Index Exchange, a script\/\/3rd-party integration that interjects GAM. It needs to be 'ahead' of GTM in the DOM, which comes from Cephalopod. GTM loads GAM. This script needs to setup it's interjection stuff before GAM loads. --> <!-- End Index Exchange --> <!-- Quotes = strings--><!-- No quotes = boolean-->\t <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.1.2 (Yoast SEO v17.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ --> <!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. --> <\/p>\n<p> <!-- BEGIN Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --><\/p>\n<p><!-- END Sailthru Horizon Meta Information --> <!-- Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- End Google Publisher Tag --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --><br \/>\n <!-- Google Tag Manager (noscript) --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --> <title>Leafly<\/title> <title>Leafly \u00ae<\/title> <title>Loading\u2026<\/title> <\/p>\n<div class=\"bg-white fixed flex hidden inset-0 items-start md:h-auto md:items-center overflow-auto\" id=\"age-gate-container\">\n<div class=\"bg-white md:h-auto mx-auto p-lg text-sm w-full\" id=\"age-gate\">\n<p><label for=\"select-country\">Where are you from?<\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"age-gate__info\">\n<p><button class=\"button\" data-testid=\"age-gate-no-button\" id=\"tou-cancel\">no<\/button><button class=\"button ml-md\" data-testid=\"age-gate-yes-button\" id=\"tou-continue\">yes<\/button><\/p>\n<p><label class=\"checkbox__label my-xl\"><span class=\"text-xs\" id=\"remember-user-label\">Remember me for 30 days. <br \/>I confirm that this is not a shared device.<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<p class=\"error error--underage hidden\">Darn! You’re not old enough to use Leafly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"hidden age-gate__loading\">Redirecting you to<span class=\"redirect-domain\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-xs mt-auto\">By accessing this site, you accept<br \/>\nthe <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"tou-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/terms-of-use\">Terms of Use<\/a><br \/>\nand <a class=\"py-xl\" data-testid=\"pp-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/info\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"container my-xl\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col md:col-9\" id=\"article-content\">\n<p>At the start of 2021, 13 state legislatures had recreational legalization measures on the table. New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and New Mexico actually followed through and legalized cannabis for all adults. It\u2019s now legal to possess in all three states. Retail markets are expected to open next year in all those states except Virginia, which doesn\u2019t allow retail stores until 2024. <\/p>\n<p>Who\u2019s next? <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pressure is really on lawmakers at every level of government to take action,\u201d said Carly Wolf, NORML\u2019s state policies director. \u201cPublic and political support has only continued to increase.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the midterm elections coming up in Nov. 2022, some state legislators face increasing pressure to pass a legalization law that they craft\u2014or have the voters pass their own law. <\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what\u2019s happening in the states most seriously considering adult-use legalization, in order of most-likely to least-likely. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-maryland\">Maryland<\/h2>\n<p>Lawmakers in Maryland started this year confident that they would pass an adult use bill, only to see the legislation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldmailmedia.com\/story\/news\/local\/2021\/03\/30\/maryland-wont-legalize-marijuana-this-year-bill-sponsors-say\/43741533\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">falter<\/a>. But all signs point toward approval in 2022. <\/p>\n<p>In July, Adrienne Jones, Speaker of the House of Delegates and leader of the body\u2019s Democratic majority, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/md-politics\/maryland-recreational-marijuana-legalization\/2021\/07\/16\/72e2a96e-e673-11eb-a41e-c8442c213fa8_story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pledged to place the issue<\/a> before voters as a ballot referendum in 2022. She also took the unusual step of <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/maryland\/2021\/09\/group-looking-at-legalizing-pot-in-md-meets-for-the-first-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">setting up a legislative \u201cwork group\u201d<\/a> that will begin mapping out rules for a regulated industry, even before voters formally approve one. <\/p>\n<p>A March 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goucher.edu\/hughes-center\/documents\/Goucher-College-Poll-Mar-2021-Part-2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">survey<\/a> from Goucher College found two-thirds of Marylanders supported full legalization, including more than half of Republican voters, so the effort stands a good chance of success.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-missouri\">Missouri<\/h2>\n<p>Missouri legalization advocates are confident about their chances for approving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.riverfronttimes.com\/WeedNews\/2021\/08\/30\/recreational-marijuana-criminal-justice-reform-might-land-on-missouris-2022-ballot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a regulated market<\/a> in the coming year. Legal Missouri 2022 is one of two groups aiming to put a ballot referendum before voters. The coronavirus hasn\u2019t made things easy, however.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe last effort this coalition made was in 2020,\u201d John Payne, campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022, told Leafly. \u201cWe were gathering signatures, and things were going very well. And then the world kind of stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The group\u2019s most recent constitutional amendment measure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sos.mo.gov\/2022Petitions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">was approved<\/a> by Missouri\u2019s Secretary of State in early October, clearing the way to begin gathering the approximately 171,000 signatures they\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n<p>With a \u201cstrong coalition and strong fundraising,\u201d Payne gives the campaign an \u201c80-90 percent\u201d chance of success this year. <\/p>\n<p>Legal Missouri 2022\u2019s legislation <a href=\"https:\/\/fox4kc.com\/news\/marijuana-in-missouri-measure-legalizing-recreational-use-of-cannabis-could-be-on-2022-ballot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">would include<\/a> home cultivation and some equity measures, like automatic expungement of past cannabis convictions.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-oklahoma\">Oklahoma<\/h2>\n<p>Advocates in Oklahoma are looking to expand and better manage cannabis sales in that state, and earlier this month filed for <a href=\"https:\/\/tulsaworld.com\/news\/local\/marijuana\/petition-to-allow-cannabis-for-recreational-adult-use-filed-in-oklahoma\/article_4442bc12-252e-11ec-8d86-e70caaabbfa8.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a proposed constitutional amendment<\/a> legalizing adult use in 2022. <\/p>\n<p>Oklahoma passed a medical cannabis program in 2018 that has evolved into one of the most permissive in the country, with few limitations on who can qualify. Invariably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2021\/08\/09\/oklahoma-marijuana-boom-colorado-cannabis-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">described in news reports as weed\u2019s \u201cWild West,\u201d<\/a> medical cannabis has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2020\/11\/27\/toke-lahoma-cannabis-market-oklahoma-red-state-weed-legalization-437782\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">exploded in Oklahoma<\/a> over the past three years, and nearly 10 percent of the state\u2019s population has obtained a medical recommendation.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/tulsaworld.com\/news\/local\/marijuana\/petition-to-allow-cannabis-for-recreational-adult-use-filed-in-oklahoma\/article_4442bc12-252e-11ec-8d86-e70caaabbfa8.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">current proposal<\/a> would allow for possession of up to eight ounces of cannabis by those over 21 without a medical approval, and cultivation of up to 12 plants. The measure would also replace the current regulatory agency to help better organize the state\u2019s wide open industry. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-ohio\">Ohio<\/h2>\n<p>Ohio is the largest state with a real chance of legalization in the near term, but its convoluted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohiosos.gov\/legislation-and-ballot-issues\/putting-an-issue-on-the-ballot\/initiated-statute\/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_v8STE7Z5Ou8e2VP3sJFseU5EzaQefZCj5bs7XuXAUsA-1633725394-0-gqNtZGzNAqWjcnBszQil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cinitiated statute\u201d process<\/a> means there\u2019s no smooth path to adult use in the Buckeye State.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe entire initiated statute approach to an initiative is really opaque,\u201d Douglas Berman, a professor of law at Ohio State University and executive director of the university\u2019s Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, told Leafly. \u201cBut it makes it awfully likely that this will get to the ballot by November 2022.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>As of late August, a group calling itself the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has been cleared to begin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statenews.org\/government-politics\/2021-08-30\/backers-of-plan-to-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol-in-ohio-get-ok-for-next-step\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gathering signatures<\/a> for the first stage of the likely two-stage process. <\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ll need around 130,000 signatures of support to qualify their bill, after which it would head to the Ohio legislature for an up or down vote. If the measure is voted down by lawmakers, or if no action is taken within four months \u2014 an outcome Berman thinks is likely given Ohio\u2019s conservative statehouse and governor \u2014 the measure could be presented to voters at the 2022 election. But only after a second costly round of signature gathering.<\/p>\n<p>Berman thinks the advocacy groups involved are up to the organizational challenge of a dual petitioning period, and that adult use stands a good chance of success. Still, the politics could be fluid amid a heated midterm election, he said, and Ohio voters <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/wonk\/wp\/2015\/11\/03\/ohio-rejected-legalizing-marijuana-what-that-means-for-the-future-of-pot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rejected<\/a> a controversial adult use bill in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed measure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.10tv.com\/article\/news\/politics\/effort-to-legalize-marijuana-in-ohio-advances-to-signature-collection\/530-8c4affd7-a6cf-4e58-b809-43a1a9a521d5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">would legalize<\/a> possession of up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and cultivation of up to six plants per person. It would also include expungement of many past nonviolent cannabis convictions.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-arkansas\">Arkansas<\/h2>\n<p>Like Missouri, Arkansas is another state where legalization efforts withered last year under pressure from the coronavirus. Advocates with Arkansas True Grass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arkansasonline.com\/news\/2020\/may\/27\/group-ends-its-ballot-push-20200527\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">had to abandon<\/a> their signature gathering push amid rising case counts. They\u2019re back at it for 2022, and if they can gather the roughly 89,000 signatures they need, voters in the November midterms will be able to approve a constitutional amendment establishing a legal adult use market.<\/p>\n<p>Advocates are framing the measure as an economic and criminal justice reform, but also hope its cultivation provision will improve access for patients under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arkansasonline.com\/news\/2016\/nov\/09\/state-on-verge-of-approving-medical-pot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">medical program approved<\/a> by Arkansas voters in 2016. Current guidelines don\u2019t permit enough producers to meet demand, advocates say, and retail costs haven\u2019t budged from the top dollar of prohibition days, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paris-express.com\/news\/20200423\/medical-marijuana-patients-prefer-oklahoma-over-arkansas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">averaging as much as $20 per gram<\/a> at the state\u2019s dispensaries.<\/p>\n<p>The measure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ualrpublicradio.org\/post\/arkansas-recreational-marijuana-ballot-initiative-underway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">would amend<\/a> the state\u2019s constitution to permit retail sales to adults over 21 years old, allow the cultivation of up to 12 plants, and reverse convictions for some of those serving time for nonviolent cannabis offenses. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-pennsylvania\">Pennsylvania<\/h2>\n<p>Now that its neighbors in New Jersey and New York have begun establishing regulated markets, advocates in Pennsylvania hope momentum is building for adult use measures introduced in the state legislature over the past year. One bill, proposed but not formally introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox43.com\/article\/news\/politics\/fox43-capitol-beat\/fox43-capitol-beat-gop-state-senator-dan-laughlin-legalize-marijuana-recreational-pot-weed-pennsylvania\/521-fea3a34b-bed0-4c70-95c6-8149767b213f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in February<\/a>, would set up a retail industry and allow for home cultivation, while a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phillyvoice.com\/pennsylvania-marijuana-laws-legalization-recreational-use-jake-wheatley-dan-frankel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">similar measure<\/a> without the cultivation provisions was introduced in late September. Both bills include equity measures and, in a first for the state, have bipartisan sponsorship. <\/p>\n<p>Legalization increasingly has support from Pennsylvania\u2019s highest officials. Governor Tom Wolf said <a href=\"https:\/\/philadelphia.cbslocal.com\/2021\/02\/17\/pennsylvania-gov-tom-wolf-wants-to-see-state-start-process-to-legalize-adult-use-of-marijuana-in-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in February<\/a> that he wanted to make cannabis legalization a priority for 2021, joining other top officials like Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, who have long called for an end to prohibition. <\/p>\n<p>Fetterman in particular has been an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2020-election\/penn-democrat-hung-weed-lgbtq-rights-flags-capitol-gop-outlawed-n1256162\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outspoken cannabis advocate<\/a> for years, sometimes needling his Republican colleagues by flying a weed leaf flag and an LGBTQ pride banner from his office balcony. <\/p>\n<p>Despite support from the top, whether legalization can gain traction in Pennsylvania\u2019s Republican-controlled legislature is an open question. A spokesperson for the house majority leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inquirer.com\/business\/weed\/weed-legalization-pennsylvania-republican-democratic-20211006.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a> this month that there was \u201cno significant support\u201d at the moment from Republicans there.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-florida\">Florida<\/h2>\n<p>After previous ballot initiatives <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandosentinel.com\/politics\/os-ne-legalize-marijuana-initiative-killed-20210422-j3hxjuwsqbgabbsao22m6upx34-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">were blocked<\/a> by the state\u2019s highest court twice in close succession this summer, advocates in Florida are making another attempt to get an adult use measure in front of voters in 2022. This time, the group leading the effort, Sensible Florida, <a href=\"https:\/\/miami.cbslocal.com\/2021\/10\/01\/florida-backers-try-again-to-legalize-recreational-marijuana\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">is confident<\/a> their ballot language will pass legal muster.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court of Florida struck down two earlier cannabis ballot measures, saying summary language submitted by backers was misleading because it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox13news.com\/news\/florida-justices-reject-recreational-marijuana-amendment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">didn\u2019t specifically warn<\/a> about conflicting federal law, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/marijuana\/fl-ne-nsf-marijuana-amendment-proposal-struck-down-20210617-mkx4ax25uzhpzbplrnh4wbeaee-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accurately describe<\/a> possession limits. The most recent language sidesteps those concerns by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baynews9.com\/fl\/tampa\/news\/2021\/10\/08\/activists-push-to-get-adult-use-recreational-cannabis-measure-on-ballot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">narrowing its scope<\/a> dramatically; it would legalize cultivation and possession by adults, but not establish a retail system.<\/p>\n<p>Aside from language, advocates will face new challenges this time around, after Florida lawmakers in April set <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/news\/florida-politics\/2021\/04\/26\/florida-lawmakers-limits-money-backing-ballot-initiatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tighter contribution limits<\/a> for ballot initiative campaigns, part of a decades-long effort by Republicans in Florida <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fl-state-wire-florida-lifestyle-government-and-politics-8543449b9ee5ff0600202d8a2995aa2f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to weaken<\/a> the citizen initiative process. <\/p>\n<p><em>Chris Kudialis and the Associated Press contributed to this report. <\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"author-box\" class=\"p-lg my-xxl bg-white rounded border border-light-grey elevation-low\">\n<div class=\"mb-lg\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/these-states-could-legalize-cannabis-next-in-2022.jpg\" alt=\"Jon Campbell's Bio Image\" class=\"lazyload inline-block mr-md rounded-full border border-light-grey\"> <\/p>\n<p>Jon Campbell<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"text-sm\">Jon Campbell is an investigative journalist based in New York City. A former staff writer for the Village Voice, Campbell has contributed to The Daily Beast, The Appeal, Slate, Salon, Gothamist, and other national publications. Follow him on Twitter @j0ncampbell.<\/p>\n<p> <a class=\"text-sm font-bold underline text-green\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/news\/author\/jon-campbell\">View Jon Campbell’s articles<\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"leafly-sailthru-signup p-lg my-xl bg-white rounded elevation-low border border-light-grey\">\n<p class=\"text-xs pt-lg\">By submitting this form, you will be subscribed to news and promotional emails from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\">Leafly<\/a> and you agree to Leafly’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/tos\">Terms of Service<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leafly.com\/company\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. You can unsubscribe from Leafly email messages anytime.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Chartbeat --> <!-- End Chartbeat --> <!--\nPerformance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https:\/\/www.boldgrid.com\/w3-total-cache\/ Served from: _ @ 2021-10-25 18:26:46 by W3 Total Cache\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These states could legalize cannabis next in 2022 – Leafly Leafly Leafly \u00ae Loading\u2026 Where are you from? noyes Remember me for 30 days. I confirm that this is not a shared device. Darn! You’re not old enough to use Leafly. Redirecting you to By accessing this site, you accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. At the start of 2021, 13 state legislatures had recreational legalization measures on the table. New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and New Mexico actually followed through and legalized cannabis for all adults. It\u2019s now legal to possess in all three states. 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