Recreational marijuana on the ballot in 5 states, 4 of them GOP strongholds
Recreational marijuana could soon be legal in five new states after voters head to the polls in Tuesday's midterms.
Proposals to legalize recreational marijuana are on the ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The substance is already legal in 19 states plus Washington, D.C., and these five states could become the next to decriminalize recreational marijuana if voters pass the legislation.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, with attitudes about recreational marijuana continuing to shift, it is possible that more GOP-led states could follow suit with similar propositions.
Arkansas already became the first state in the Deep South to legalize medical marijuana in 2016, and could now become the first Bible Belt locale to legalize it recreationally. If passed, the measure would allow adults to buy one ounce of marijuana from a licensed retailer, CNBC reported.
Meanwhile, the lone Democratic stronghold of the group, Maryland, is looking to join its surrounding neighbors, Virginia and the District of Columbia, in legalizing recreational marijuana. Their proposal would allow adults to purchase slightly more product, 1.5 ounces, from a licensed retailer.
The push for marijuana legislation comes shortly after President Biden announced he would pardon those convicted on federal charges of simple marijuana possession, and urged state and local governments across the country to do the same.
-
The plan to wall off the ‘Doomsday’ glacierUnder the Radar Massive barrier could ‘slow the rate of ice loss’ from Thwaites Glacier, whose total collapse would have devastating consequences
-
Trump’s fuel blockade puts Cuba in crisis modeIN THE SPOTLIGHT Plummeting tourism, scrambling airlines and rolling blackouts are pushing Cuban society to the brink
-
‘The mark’s significance is psychological, if that’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
-
Judge rejects California’s ICE mask ban, OKs ID lawSpeed Read Federal law enforcement agents can wear masks but must display clear identification
-
Lawmakers say Epstein files implicate 6 more menSpeed Read The Trump department apparently blacked out the names of several people who should have been identified
-
Japan’s Takaichi cements power with snap election winSpeed Read President Donald Trump congratulated the conservative prime minister
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
