As cannabis political progress in the U.S. continues, with ballot measures often winning their states’ elections for legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use, advocates must shift from opening new markets towards protecting what already is legalized.
On Friday, The Marijuana Policy Project sent an email out pleading with supporters for donations in response to at least five high-profile attempts in different states to place new restrictions on cannabis companies or rollback political victories won by legalization efforts.
“After years of hard-fought victories to decriminalize and legalize medical and adult-use cannabis, MPP is seeing an alarming upsurge in efforts to overturn people’s will and rollback reforms across multiple states,” they warned.
Since 1988, this national nonprofit that spearheads marijuana political campaigns has spearheaded legislative battles across five statehouses: Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Nebraska and South Dakota. Recently troubling legislative developments in these statehouses include bills being considered in these jurisdictions for consideration: Michigan Montana Ohio Nebraska and South Dakota are included as examples of troubling legislative developments to watch out for in 2018.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently advocated for raising cannabis taxes, an action many industry insiders say would doom the trade.
Montana lawmakers are deliberating a bill that would establish an annual $200 fee for those looking to legally acquire and possess marijuana.
Nebraska recently legalized medical cannabis, yet opponents immediately introduced legislation prohibiting both smokable flower and edible products that contain THC-infused edibles. And Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation raising tax rates while capping product potency that industry members believe would create significant obstacles.
South Dakota legislators introduced legislation to dismantle the entire medical marijuana industry legalized via ballot measure in 2020.
Proponents of marijuana legalization across the nation have recently seen several instances where marijuana supporters must defend against attempts at legalizing cannabis; and that trend highlights not only how little progress has been made since 1996 – when California approved medical cannabis use legally for the first time – but could still be in peril.
Political opposition has been further amplified by an expanding hemp industry that often operates without adhering to state regulations established to oversee cannabis businesses.
Politics shouldn’t just be seen as a leisure time activity among industry members; political engagement could actually be fundamental for every cannabis company in America’s survival; particularly since many depend on state or even municipal regulations which are far simpler to alter than federal law.
Marijuana industry advocates seek to maintain gains made over recent decades – MEDCAN24
