Here we are entering a new year. Finally, many states in the United States have agreed to legalize adult-use cannabis either through medical or adult-use programs. In 2021, we saw Connecticut, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York and Virginia all legalize adult-use, bringing the total to 18 states that now allow adult-use and 36 for medical use.
State-led initiatives have been the backbone for this emerging industry. Yet, it’s the advocates who are moving the ball forwards through education, research and real-world case studies showing the benefits cannabis can have across many medical ailments. These grassroots efforts must stay vigilant and persist considering the slow progress on the Federal government level.
It isn’t so much a matter of “if” Washington will legalize cannabis, but a matter of “when.” There has been some progress with the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to end the federal criminalization of cannabis. Also, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, allowing cannabis businesses to work with traditional financial institutions was established and introduced. In 2021, the number of cannabis-focused advocacy groups on the Hill multiplied and large public companies like Amazon even turned their attention, and lobbying dollars, towards cannabis issues too.
Unfortunately, these two significant bills mentioned above are moving slowly through the political process and will take a concerted effort to get them across the finish line any time soon. It’s a delicate balancing act that will continue for the foreseeable future as we navigate our way through regulation and compliance issues.
I live in New York, and over the last several months watching counties and municipalities opt-in or opt-out for dispensaries and consumption sites has been fascinating. The Rockefeller Institute of Government has created a Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker. The data shows – 730 out of 1,521 municipalities opt-out of dispensaries and 830 out of 1,521 opt-out for consumption sites. You can see the opt-out number is relatively high. The insights show local municipalities are taking a wait-and-see approach, seeing how the initial rollout goes, and then opt-in later.
Image: Rodrigo Paredes, Flickr
The data doesn’t correlate for me because if you look at a recent Gallup poll, 68% of adults in the United States approve of cannabis and 18% of Americans admit to using it, up from 10% in 2005.
There is still a disconnect that will require ongoing advocacy and education/research to present fact-based data that cannabis is safe to consume in moderation. Cannabis consumers should have the ability to purchase cannabis products from legal and regulated industry infrastructure in their town and not have to travel over an hour to get products from another location.
I have been in the cannabis industry since late 2017. Over the last four years, the industry has matured across many fronts, including new consumer products, processing technologies, dispensary formats and buying channels. However, I believe ongoing advancements from advocates, new manufacturing processes and technology platforms will lead the cannabis industry into a fully functional marketplace that is regulated and taxed relatively like any other industry.
As the adage goes, all good things are worth waiting for, and a high percentage of global adult individuals want to move forward with cannabis in their lives. Once we start categorizing cannabis as a wellness product and not a gateway drug, we will see both government and industry move quicker together.
Cannabis consumers deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
It’s time for us, the majority of The People to take back control of our national cannabis policy. By voting OUT of office any and all politicians who very publicly and vocally admit to having an anti-cannabis, prohibitionist agenda! Time to vote’em all OUT of office. Period. Plain and simple.
Politicians who continue to demonize Cannabis, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Cannabis possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through cannabis home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose cannabis, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Cannabis Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!
Terrific insights. John, you continue to be a thought leader in the exciting cannabis space. I am proud to be a member of the Cannabis Hemp Networking Association of New York with you.