{"id":4088,"date":"2021-05-05T04:20:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T11:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/?p=4088"},"modified":"2021-05-05T07:22:49","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T14:22:49","slug":"what-are-the-next-states-to-legalize-marijuana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/what-are-the-next-states-to-legalize-marijuana\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Next States to Legalize Marijuana?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been a banner year for marijuana legalization. Since the beginning of 2021, lawmakers in three states voted to legalize recreational marijuana: New Mexico, New York and Virginia. Even so, there are still a handful of potential next states to legalize marijuana.<\/p>\n

Residents in these states can remain hopeful that legalization will happen in their area before the end of the year. Those who feel extremely<\/em> hopeful may keep an eye on the effort to legalize marijuana at the national level. Although any effort still must clear the U.S. Senate and get past a president who has not favored legalization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Next States to Legalize Recreational Marijuana<\/h2>\n

In the past, states typically legalized marijuana through a voter referendum. But after the Illinois state legislature made marijuana legal in 2019, lawmakers in other states – knowing that a majority of voters favor legalization – have followed suit.<\/p>\n

All three states in 2021 legalized marijuana through the legislative process. More may do the same before the end of 2021.<\/p>\n

Connecticut<\/strong>. The likelihood of Connecticut becoming the next state to legalize marijuana increased when neighboring New York legalized it earlier this year. A key committee has passed legislation to legalize but called<\/a> it \u201ca work in progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delaware<\/strong>. Legalization gains more traction each year in Delaware, but state law requires any measure involving a new tax to get approval from two-thirds of state lawmakers. That\u2019s a threshold the proposal has not reached.<\/p>\n

Rhode Island<\/strong>. Lawmakers recently held hearings on legalization, but a host of issues – including which past crimes involving cannabis to expunge from citizens\u2019 arrest records – have yet to get ironed out.<\/p>\n

Committees in the Minnesota legislature also approved a bill for a floor vote in the House, but it\u2019s expected to stall in the Republican-controlled Senate.<\/p>\n

Next States to Legalize Medical Marijuana<\/h3>\n

Medical marijuana has been a much easier sell in far more states, with 38 states and the District of Columbia approving medical cannabis. Each state has different limits on who can use medical marijuana.<\/p>\n

The state most likely to become the next state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes is Alabama. The state Senate already approved a bill that is being sent to the House for consideration.<\/p>\n

If it passes, the Alabama law would allow medical marijuana use for about 10 medical conditions, including autism, epilepsy, cancer and HIV\/AIDS. The state would require a doctor to sign off on the treatment. A House committee recently approved the bill, but took out menopause and PMS as conditions that the state would allow for treatment with cannabis.<\/p>\n

North Carolina and South Carolina are considered longshots to make medical marijuana legal in 2021, as well as Kansas and Nebraska.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Mexico, New York and Virginia have already legalized marijuana use in 2021, but a handful of other states may follow in their footsteps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":4089,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[1097],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Are the Next States to Legalize Marijuana? | Recreational & Medical<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New Mexico, New York and Virginia have already legalized marijuana use in 2021, but a handful of other states may follow in their footsteps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/what-are-the-next-states-to-legalize-marijuana\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Are the Next States to Legalize Marijuana? 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