The Green Thread: Marijuana in the states

[Virginiá]

Seems like the momentum is there for FL to vote on legalization next year

https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=74455&seqnum=2

[Virginiá]

Also, it'll be interesting to see what legalisation does to the regional politics on the issue. If MT and SD have both legalised, does it become harder to enforce in ID, ND, NE etc, leading to a shift in policy and speed up the trend towards legalisation in across the Great Plains?

You would think that is how it'd work, but in other regions this does not seem to be the case. Politicians who have never known a pro-legalization world in their formative years simply can't bring themselves to do it. Even with Vermont, at least its initial legalization measure was half-baked. New Jersey couldn't agree and sent it to the voters. Other states opted to sit around and "study" the issue more (aka do nothing). Illinois is the only one who fully pulled the trigger.

We really need movement at the federal level to stop giving obstinate politicians the muh federal govt prohibition excuse.

[Virginiá]

Virginia legislature speeds up pot legalization to this summer

From 2024, to before the end of this year.

Freedom State.

Seems like only possession and personal cultivation becomes legal this summer, whereas the actual business sales will still start in 2024. It's a freedom move by Northam and better than the previous language that had everything switch over in 2024, but it's still boneheaded and stupid if you ask me. Why exactly do they need nearly 3 years to let businesses start selling cannabis? I don't really get why Virginia lawmakers (re: Democrats) like long deadlines on new policy. They had same-day registration start after 2022, and that was enacted in early 2020. Other states have demonstrated the ability to get both these kinds of policy changes rolling in a year or less, so this is just, like, cautiousness bordering on foot-dragging.

[Virginiá]

And if I'm reading it right, another freedom move is making towns/counties do a public referendum if they want to prohibit dispensaries from operating in their area. If voters reject the ban, it can't be asked again. If they approve it, it can be repealed only 4 years (or more) later.

I've always loathed the amount of local control given in other legalization measures, especially when legalized via ballot initiative. You end up with counties / towns that vote to legalize but end up with their local governments banning sales of it anyway, because local politicians think their opinion matters more than the majority of their own constituents who voted for it.

[Virginiá]

Paging BRTD, since in his own admissions over the past couple years, he only likes "Fake Weed".

Regardless like so many States in recent years which have "legalized weed", the question is naturally more a question of "supply and demand", since after all many Oregonians are getting a bit tired, even in "Weed Country" where illegal Grow Ops without permits are buy-passing the Law, contaminating our waterways, simply in order to export their product to many other States, including those which have already legalized Weed.

Grow your own, legally smoke your own, change laws regarding exporting weed to other States, but still not a big fan of illegal grow ops in Oregon, just so BRTD can get High on Legal Herb. :;

Looks like this bill bans synthetic THC analogues. But otherwise it's a pretty good bill. Kudos to them for not letting towns nullify legalization by banning dispensaries just because the council members think they know better.

Also in VA news, seems like Republicans are trying to stop legal sales from happening by just not funding the new state agency charged with overseeing the regulatory framework implementation:

https://www.wric.com/news/politics/capitol-connection/gop-plan-defunds-state-agency-on-marijuana-without-staff-input/

A spending plan crafted by the Republican-led House of Delegates would defund a new state agency created to oversee marijuana legalization in Virginia.

The proposal to cut nearly 70 percent of the Cannabis Control Authority’s budget over two fiscal years comes as the GOP is shutting down efforts to launch retail sales of recreational marijuana for the second legislative session in a row. It signals House Republicans are unlikely to shift their stance anytime soon.   

[Virginiá]

Were they trying to get it in before the possible passage of the 60% threshold amendment, or was there some other reason they wanted it on the ballot of a low-turnout off-year election where the least supportive demographic would make up a larger share of the electorate?

Granted it might have still passed, but still.

[Virginiá]

Is there a reason Issue 2 is an initiated statute instead of a constitutional amendment? Ohio has no rules on legislative tampering, and given the GOP's track record on messing with ballot initiatives, this seems like an obvious problem.

[Virginiá]

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/08/florida-supreme-court-appears-favorable-to-pot-legalization-initiative-00126081

During the hourlong arguments, the justices pointedly questioned attorneys representing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who claims the language of the initiative fails to explain that marijuana is still prohibited under federal law.

Justice Charles G. Canady said the proposal was clear.

“Where’s the hidden ball?” Canady said, later adding, “I’m baffled by the argument. Maybe it’s just me.”

Five of the state’s seven Supreme Court justices were appointed by DeSantis, including Chief Justice Carlos G. Muñiz, who also said the ballot language did not misled voters.

Chief Deputy Solicitor General Jeffrey Paul DeSousa argued during Wednesday’s hearing that the amendment also deceived voters by saying it will create new licenses to sell and produce pot for recreational use — on top of allowing what the state calls medical marijuana treatment centers to start selling products to anyone age 21 and over.

Muñiz disagreed, saying the proposed amendment explains to voters that the creation of additional licenses would be left up to the Legislature.

Still not entirely convinced this would pass. Aside from Maryland, I don't think any other marijuana legalization initiative has ever gotten more than 60%, and that is what it would take in Florida.

[Virginiá]

People like Matt Walsh and Cernovich have been on a major anti weed kick lately. I wonder if the legalization movement will slow down for awhile. Based on Ohio Issue 2 results, including almost 90% support from under 30s, and over 2/3 support from millennials I highly doubt it, but something to keep an eye on.

Voter-initiated referendums might, since most of the states who can do that either have or probably will this year, save for a handful of conservative states, which are a mixed bag because the electorates aren't as favorable and some of them either only allow statutes (which the legislatures freely use to repeal or change initiatives), or qualifying for the ballot has been made so onerous by local Republicans afraid of voters telling them what to do that it's not feasible to try and get it approved.

Really, though, at this point the federal government should be descheduling cannabis entirely with other states following suit. IIRC, a majority of people now live in an area with legal marijuana, and considerably more with at least medical marijuana. The public has long made up its mind on this subject.

[Virginiá]

Marijuana legalization amendment for Florida's 2024 elections has been approved.

https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/2285281/opinion/Opinion_SC2023-0682.pdf

Don't know why they waited until the last minute to announce it, though.

Also, on an unrelated note, the abortion amendment is also approved.