Marijuana legalization in the United States in 2022: state legislative reform

Legalization of marijuana in the United States is expected in 2022, especially in many states of the United States through legislative means dominated by members of Congress to achieve legalization of marijuana. Lawmakers in Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia have legalized the recreational marijuana market, and lawmakers in Alabama have 2021 legislation to legalize medical marijuana. This trend is expected to continue this year.

Karen o'Keefe, director of State Policy at the Marijuana Policy Project, a Marijuana lobby group, says several factors will drive this year's lawmakers-led push to legalize Marijuana:

The number of Americans in favor of legalizing marijuana has nearly doubled in the past decade, and most now support legalizing recreational or medical marijuana. O'Keefe says elected officials are beginning to realize that this is what the people want.

Marijuana sales provided big tax revenues for cash-strapped states, and"The sky did not fall" when marijuana was legalized.

The growing pressure on states to legalize marijuana has created a domino effect. Without legalization, marijuana sales and profits in states that do not legalize will flow to neighboring legalized states.

Here's a look at the states likely to legalize marijuana this year through state-level legislation:

Legalize recreational marijuana

Delaware

Summary: Two House committees approved House Bill 150 last year before Parliament adjourned. The state has entered a two-year term and will reintroduce the bill this year. The neighboring state of New Jersey is expected to launch an entertainment marijuana market later this year, putting pressure on Delaware.

Key business details: the bill proposes 30 retail licences, of which 15 are for social equity applicants; 30 processor licences, of which 10 are for social equity applicants; And 60 grower licences, of which 30 are open to social justice applicants. Existing medical marijuana operators can apply for adult licences.

Hawaii

Summary: in a 2021 vote of 20-5, the Senate passed legalization bill SB 767, which will be introduced in the House of Representatives.

Key business details: the State Department of Health will develop licensing authority and other related regulations. The bill does not address social justice and does not say when it will come into force.

Maryland

The 2021, House and Senate have all introduced legalization bills, but Adrienne Jones, the state's President of the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia, says she intends to push for a bill that would put the issue up to voters.

Key business details: the House and Senate bills are similar, but the House version offers more opportunities for small and minority-owned companies.

Minnesota

Summary: in May, the 2021 Minnesota House of Representatives -- with a Democratic majority -- passed the entertainment marijuana legalization act HF 600 with a 72-61 vote. But the republican-led peer-to-peer bill failed in the Senate.

Key business details: the bill would create an office of social justice, which would account for 20 percent of the score of marijuana license applications. The types of licences will include artisanal growers and small and micro enterprises.

New Hampshire

Bottom Line: last week, the republican-controlled house of Representatives narrowly rejected the entertainment marijuana bill HB 237, but six other bills are still pending, some of which will put the issue to voters this fall. This is most likely to happen.

Key business details: HB 237 will create an entertainment market with no license cap.

Ohio

The bottom line: the campaign to legalize adult marijuana sales appears to have gathered enough signatures to force lawmakers to decide whether to adopt the bill, rather than pushing the decision to voters. In addition, two Republicans introduced a restrictive adult use bill last year.

Key business details: the citizen-sponsored regulation of marijuana like Alcohol Act will create a marijuana control department and issue 40 grow and 50 retail licenses. Priority will be given to applicants who participate in the social equity and Employment Programme.

Pennsylvania

Summary: Tom Wolf, the Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, urged lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana as soon as possible, especially in neighboring New Jersey. So last year, Democrats introduced House Bill 2050, but the republican-dominated Senate remains a huge obstacle to passage.

Key business details: House Bill 2050 will include a grant program to help social justice applicants. The maximum number of licences is as follows: 50 grower licences, 50 processor licences, 100 retail licences for a maximum of 3 stores and 35 joint licences. Joint licensees can apply for up to 3 grower licences, 5 processor licences and 10 retail licences.

Rhode Island

Summary: Rhode Island may have the best chance of passing an entertainment marijuana bill last year. In June, the Senate version of Bill SB 5682021 easily through the Senate by a 29-9 vote, but was not put to a vote in the House of Representatives before adjourning. Lawmakers are still trying to find a compromise. And last year Dan McKee, the state's governor, introduced a bill to legalise it.

Key business details: the Senate bill proposes a cap of 150 marijuana shops, with an emphasis on social justice and artisanal licenses. The Governor's bill proposes the creation of 25 retail licences, five of which are open to minority applicants.

Legalization of medical marijuana

Kansas

The bottom 2021: the House of Representatives passed the Kansas Medical Marijuana Regulation Act (SB 158) , but the bill has not yet been put to a vote in the Senate. However, the bill has a good chance of passing this year.

Key business details: the bill will reserve 15% of licences for minority applicants.

Mississippi

The Bottom Line: last year, after the state's high-level Bill announced a business-friendly, voter-approved bill, state lawmakers agreed on a tougher law to legalize medical marijuana.

Key business details: the bill is sketchy, but will reportedly include provisions for municipalities to opt out of medical marijuana programs.

North Carolina

Summary: The North Carolina Humane Care Act -SenatenBillbill 711) passed several committees last year, but has since been shelved over more pressing state budget and redistricting issues. But it is likely to pass this year.

Key business details: regulators will issue 10“Supplier” licences for medical marijuana. The holder of each licence can open up to four cannabis shops, of which at least one must be located in economically underdeveloped counties.

South Carolina

Summary: Last March, a state senate committee pushed ahead with the South Carolina Humane Care Act (s. 150) , but had not yet put it to a full Senate vote before adjourning in May. However, the state's legislature has a two-year term, and Senator Tom Davis, the bill's sponsor, has promised a Senate vote this year. The state's governor, Republican Henry McMaster, is also interested in legalizing medical marijuana.

Key business details: Davis has reportedly said the bill would be one of the most stringent in the United States to legalize medical marijuana, limiting the number of eligible diseases and the number of growers.