Cannabis on the Ballot in 2022: Is Your State Ready to Legalize?
Yes, We Cannabis!
Election day is just a week away. Midterm elections are often lower in voter turnout, but there are some issues that are getting people fired up to vote in 2022. For women and those who support them, this election day is an important one to stand up for our right to bodily autonomy. (VOTE, ladies!!!!)
For others, the prospect of legal adult recreational cannabis use in their state is their reason to GOTV! Is legal cannabis coming to your state? Or has it already arrived?
Which States Have Legal Cannabis?
Since Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012, many other states have followed suit. There are now 38 states that allow for medical marijuana, and 19 states that have legalized recreational cannabis use for adults 21+.
Medical Marijuana
All but seven states in the USA have made some form of cannabis (or hemp) available for medical reasons. Our medical cannabis states are:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia*
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana*
Iowa*
Kentucky*
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
*CBD only
Recreational Cannabis
Some of the above states, such as my home state of Colorado, have also legalized cannabis for recreational use. Nineteen states, plus two U.S. territories, have had elections or passed legislation that have made cannabis fully legal for adults 21 and over. They are:
Colorado
Washington
Alaska
Oregon
Washington, D.C.
California
Maine
Massachusetts
Nevada
Michigan
Vermont
Guam
Illinois
Arizona
Montana
New Jersey
New York
Virginia
New Mexico
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th but many states allow for early voting!
Cannabis on the Ballot 2022
There are five other states that may soon join that list! Maryland, South Dakota, Missouri, Arkansas, and North Dakota have cannabis legalization on their ballot this November. All of them are currently states that offer medical cannabis to qualifying patients, but they may soon get an upgrade!
Let’s learn more about the details of their measures:
Maryland Question 4
Maryland currently has a medical marijuana law and it also decriminalized possession of cannabis in amounts less than 10 grams in 2014.
Question 4 would amend the state’s constitution to allow for legal adult use of cannabis, and direct the Maryland legislature to pass laws concerning the use, distribution, regulation, and taxation of cannabis.
To link to the Yes on 4 website, click the image.
South Dakota Initiated Measure 27
The journey for pro-legalization activists in South Dakota has been rockier than the Black Hills. Voters actually already approved legalizing cannabis in 2020, but Governor Kristi Noem filed and won a lawsuit against implementing the measure.
But pro-cannabis activists are back and were able to collect enough signatures to put cannabis back on the ballot this year.
This measure would make possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis (or 8 grams of concentrate) legal for adults 21 years of age and above. It would also allow adults to cultivate up to 3 cannabis plants in their home.
Click the image to link to the website for Yes on 27.
Missouri Amendment 3
Amendment 3, if passed, would amend the Missouri Constitution to allow for legal adult (21+) use, possession, cultivation, consumption, delivery, and distribution of cannabis. It would also implement a 6% tax on cannabis.
A unique, celebrated feature of Amendment 3 is that people who are currently incarcerated for cannabis crimes will be able to petition the state for their release and to have their records expunged.
Click the image to be taken to the Legal Missouri 22 website.
Arkansas Issue 4
Arkansas’s cannabis ballot question seems to be a bit controversial– even among the typically pro-cannabis crowd. Even though it would legalize cannabis purchase and possession for adults 21+, it would not allow anyone to grow cannabis at home. Also, taxes collected from cannabis would be funneled into funding police and drug courts.
Arkansas NORML has come out against it for these reasons, and the fact that it would dismantle the existing medical cannabis framework. The current medical cannabis businesses would be the first to receive recreational licenses, preventing new businesses from taking part in the cannabis market.
Responsible Growth Arkansas are the proponents of this issue. Click the image to be taken to their website.
North Dakota Measure 2
North Dakota’s cannabis legalization measure, if passed, would legalize adult (21+) purchases and possession of up to 1 oz of cannabis flower, 500 mg of THC in infused products, and/or 4 grams of cannabis concentrate.
It would also allow for the private cultivation of up to 3 plants, and protects cannabis-using parents from losing their parental rights.
Click the image to view Yes on 2’s website.
Local Cannabis Issues
Many cities, towns, and counties nationwide are also voting on cannabis issues this fall. For example, Colorado Springs, a conservative holdout in long-legal Colorado, is voting this year on whether to finally allow cannabis sales within city limits.
Make sure your voice is heard this Election Day!
Is your city or state voting on cannabis this year? Or is there another issue you’re passionate about in the 2022 election? Local elections are so incredibly important– while they don’t get the fanfare that a presidential election gets every 4 years, the issues we vote on in our states and towns truly affect our day-to-day lives the most.
Do your research on your local ballot issues and don’t forget to VOTE!!!
Check your voter registration and find your polling place here.
