Happy Friday, everybody. We cannot think of a better time to share some uplifting news—and don’t we all need it these days. In recent months, many states have progressed their respective laws to further legalize cannabis. So many states, in fact, that it’s hard to keep up with so many headlines. We’re here to break down each set of laws and policies state-by-state. Let’s see how far the US has come to legalize cannabis.
Alabama
Alabama’s State Legislature voted to legalize medical cannabis on May 6, 2021. According to CNN, “The measure would create a medical cannabis commission to regulate, license and oversee the distribution of medical marijuana. Doctors could prescribe medical marijuana for several conditions including terminal illness, and chronic pain. Patients would receive medical cannabis cards, and vaping or smoking of medical marijuana would be prohibited while products including gummies, oils, or creams are allowed.”
Kansas
Similarly to the South, the Midwest has taken a slower approach to legalize cannabis—but that’s not to say we aren’t seeing progress. Medical cannabis is one step closer to being legalized and accessible to Kansans as of May 5, 2021. A new bill sets up “regulations for growing, dispensing, and use of medical marijuana,” according to local media outlets. Patients would still need to be registered with the state and have a doctor sign off on their usage. Rep. Blake Carpenter, a Republican, has spent much of his time working on this bill and claims the majority of Kansans support it.
North Carolina
While you may not find legalized cannabis throughout much of the state, there is one location where locals have turned a new leaf. The tribal council for the Cherokee in western North Carolina voted on May 6th to legalize medical marijuana on tribal lands. Per Spectrum Local News, “The vote makes possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by people 21 and older legal on tribal land, called the Qualla Boundary. It’s still illegal to grow or sell pot on the tribe’s land. But Principal Chief Richard Sneed said this vote is just the first in what will be a series of moves to legalize marijuana on tribal lands.”
Minnesota
To say the Midwest has conflicting views on legalized cannabis would be an understatement. In Wisconsin, the GOP-led organization killed a vote to legalize cannabis for medical use this week. In Minnesota, however, a more left-leaning state, “an eleventh House committee on Wednesday approved a bill to legalize marijuana.” According to Marijuana Movement, “House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler (D), Speaker Melissa Hortman (D) and other lawmakers filed the measure in February. It would allow adults 21 and older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to eight plants, four of which could be mature.”
Texas
It’s hard to believe that in 2021, Texans still do not have any level of access to legal cannabis. That’s the way 2021 started…but it may not be the way it finishes, at least when it comes to other drugs. “The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that would require the state to conduct a study into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA.” It now heads to the Senate. On a similar note, cannabis legalization took a step forward in decriminalizing marijuana possession. That decision also heads to the Senate.
New York
We cannot address cannabis legalization without mentioning one of America’s biggest news in one of the most populous states—New York. Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo legalized recreational cannabis for persons 21 and older. According to Time Out, “The main portion of the law that immediately goes into effect is that individuals can now possess up to three ounces of cannabis for recreational use (or 24 grams of the drug when it comes to more concentrated forms like oils.”
