Legalized marijuana made some great gains in 2016.
28 states have legalized medical marijuana and eight of them have legalized it for recreational use also. The trend is unstoppable. US cannabis laws are changing, That is more than half the country and there is more to follow. This has been great for users all over the country but is especially good for investors.
No stopping now!
Groups endorsing the changes are not sitting back on their laurels. Anything but. They are looking forward to more states joining the green rush. 2017 could provide fertile ground for change in a few more states. Which ones could it be? Well we looked around and will try to speculate as to the most likely to embrace the change. Petition groups are already eying initiatives for 2017.
Vermont
Most likely we’ll see Vermont moving forward. New England is a ripe climate for ending the prohibition with Maine and Massachusetts making the move in 2016 to pro-pot.
In the spring of 2016 the Green Mountain State almost legalized recreational use of marijuana in their assembly. The state already has a medical marijuana program in place. So it is easy to build on. The state is experiencing a severe opiod problem and some of the dissenting politicians were fearful that pot would heighten the problem. Groups are trying to educate the leaders on the fact that marijuana has been found not to be a gateway drug. The bill had the backing of Gov, Peter Schumlin and Attorney General William Sorrell but still fell short of the needed votes. Recent polls of voters from the Vermon Public radio show that 55% of the populace want marijuana legalization while only 32% oppose. However Lt. Gov. Phil Scott is a major opponent. Schumlin is on his way out but his likely predecessor Scott will be a stumbling block for the movement. The general assembly convenes on Jan 4 and we are looking to see S.B.241 revised and reintroduced. This time around could be different.
Missouri
Missouri is in the Medical Marijuana hunt and supporters were saddened when only 23 signatures kept the initiative off the ballot in 2016. There was another initiative that was proposed by a group known as New Approach Missouri that fell short of the goal by 2,242 signatures after Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander invalidated more than 10,000 signatures in the final days. There is another advocacy group called Show-Me cannabis that is pushing for legalization. 2017 could prove to be drastically different after the changes around the country in this years election. Since election day Kander has been changing his views, He has called for the state assembly to address the medical marijuana issue directly and pass a bill in favor of it. Cannabis advocates are regrouping and no matter what the assembly does we may see it on the ballot there in 2017.
Arizona
Arizona was very close this year to passing recreational use. Their Proposition 205 initiative failed by only 2%. Arizona passed a medical cannabis measure in 1996 when it still wasn’t very popular around the country. In the years gone by the climate has changed and with such a close loss last year we will probably see a movement again this year. Activists will keep the movement alive while it is hot. The small percentage of voters that were undecided will be their focus. In 2010 the states already Medical Marijuana measures received a boost with reforms that are giving more patients access to need medicine. The state has about 100 dispensaries operating so there is already an infrastructure for the coming business to work with which is a good sign for ending the prohibition there. Look for a yes vote this time around.
North Carolina
North Carolina is in the running for making a move to medical marijuana next year also. This state decriminalized pot in 1977 long before many others. Decriminalization is always the first step before legalization and after their long experience they are ready to take the next step. In 2014 Gov. Pat McCrory signed a law giving state universities the right to conduct clinical trials on CBD oil. This was a great move for the advocates of medical cannabis. We will probably see an initiative on the ballot there in the coming years. Pollsters give it a 50-50 chance for voters.
This all looks good for the coming years to advocates for medical a recreational use. This sets the stage for the end of the prohibition on cannabis. It also opens up all the investment opportunities. Watch the cannabis stocks take off in the near future as the US cannabis laws change and the industry grows. Experts are expecting this to be one of the largest growth markets in history like the dot com explosion. So if you’re up for a real wild ride jump on the wagon.
If you have questions leave me a reply or comment on the site or shoot me an email at dennis@usagreenrush.com
Thanks for stopping by, Dennis Darragh
I think it’s a matter of time until Marijuana is legalized throughout the USA.
Other countries have already legalized it, and worldwide medical use just keeps growing and growing. The states that have not yet done so are sure to follow in the next few years.
I also think it’s great that medical use is growing. Marijuana is a drug just as alcohol can be considered a drug. So if one is legal, no reason why the other won’t be.
How many states are currently allowing the selling of medical marijuana?
You are so right! Cannabis has been around for centuries and I truly believe that it should be in our daily lives again just as it was hundreds of years ago. There are so many medical uses it is almost unbelievablen Then the industrial uses OMG. We could change the world!
And compared to alcohol it could be a revenue generating beast!
Thanks for your comment
Dennis
Great information on the states that you mentioned. I do believe a lot of those states in the next go round will pass cannabis use or expand their laws. I am in Florida and in 2012 medical marijuana did not pass the expansion of medical marijuana use by a small margin. However it just passed Nov 8, 2016. The problem is that the qualification list is so short that many who need it will not be able to get a card. I’m hoping recreational will pass as I have issues with pain, anxiety and sleep and I know for a fact that cannabis helps with all of those issues.
Many Blessings to you!
~Aloha
Yes I also live in Florida on the Gulf Coast and was very happy to see the amendment pass. I volunteered in both elections for united for care. I also have neuropathic pain, degenerative spinal disease and arthritis. ;-(
I gave up opiods 4 years ago and have been using LEGAL CBD oil and it really helps. I did research in Illinois with a group called MT Compassion who recommended dosages, not prescribed, recommended. 50 to 100 mg of very concentrated cbd rich oil a day. Not cheap but effective. My pain doctor was amazed. He then did his own research and is going to be an influencer in the scene. He says that severe pain patients MAY be able to get a script under the new law depending on how Tallahasse sets it up. No one will know till after Jan 3, 2017.
Good Luck and feel free to contact me if you need help
Dennis
Dennis, I’ll be following the new expansion of the Florida Cannabis laws closely. So nice to know that the CBD oil is working for you! I’ll try to connect with you to get more info, especially since we may be close enough to actually meet someday!
~Aloha
That’s great! Thanks. I am hoping that soon we can all realize the full potential of all the benefits from the whole plant. check out my latest post I get kind of political, I think you’d call it. http://usagreenrush.com/new-dea-rules-threaten-cbd
Thanks for staying connected. Where were you located? Was it Miami?
Dennis
Hi Dennis,
I live in New Jersey and have heard that there are bills in place to legalize marijuana in my state. All we need is a governor who is willing to submit them to popular vote and not veto the bills. Currently we have a complete imbecile as governor who is very much against marijuana, even if it’s for medical purposes. It’s a real shame that there is so much ignorance in this country. That being said, things are pretty well overall in terms of country-wide legalization. It seems that people are coming to their senses and finally embracing it since there are many medical uses for it.
Too bad about Jersey. I have heard that from other people also. Well keep the pressure on by joining the local advocate groups starting with NORML. Yeah I like seeing the country move against the peohibition of cannabis. It’s been around for centuries!
Dennis
I am so very pleased that Medical marijuana is starting to become legal in so many American states, the pharmaceutical companies must be getting a bit panicky, I think the only side effect of cannabis is that it makes you feel good.
Really good article Dennis.
Thanks so much for coming back and leaving your thoughts. I wrote an article about Big Pharma’s Fear check it out HERE
I had a Doctor tel me one time that he agreed with us about the medical benefits and he said “and a little euphoria never hurt anyone!”
Thanks again
Dennis
Free Piano
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. However think about if you added some great photos or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excel…
yes I have and do plan to add more in the future. Thanks for coming by and commenting. Do you have a site besides that forum? I am just wondering what experience you are speaking from as there is no way to contact you on your site and I don’t see any pictures or videos there at all. If you are a WA member giving site feedback this is not the place please contact me on the WA site!