Florida is making some strides to legalize recreational marijuana use this year. Florida constituents are vouching for a constitutional amendment regarding legalization this election year. Indiana seemed like it was making progress this past year to legalize recreational use, but the bill failed. It looks like the state will continue to face challenges with legalization for the foreseeable future, but we may be pleasantly surprised. Finally, Wisconsin is aiming to vote on legalizing medical marijuana use sometime this year.
Overall, we will continue to see this trend where legalization will have to be done on a state-by-state basis, as there are still many hurdles to overcome for federal legalization, even at the heels of the Department of Health and Human Services recommending the DEA reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Reclassification of marijuana may do nothing for legalization in the short term, but it could change perceptions that would make legalization on the federal level, more feasible.
Where is Recreational Marijuana Currently Legal?
Ohio was the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana use this past year in 2023. People over the age of 21 can now possess up to 2.5 ounces of flower and up to 15 grams of extract.
- Colorado
- Washington
- Alaska
- Oregon
- Washington, D.C.
- California
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- Michigan
- Vermont
- Guam
- Illinois
- Arizona
- Montana
- New Jersey
- New York
- Virginia
- New Mexico
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Delaware
- Minnesota
- Ohio
Source: The Hill
Idaho, Kansas, and Nebraska are the only three states in the US where any kind of marijuana use is illegal. This may all change in the future as marijuana becomes more accepted as a non-addictive drug. Who knows? In a couple of more years, we may see legalization across all states.