The State of Federal Legalization of Cannabis in the United States

Laws relating to marijuana in the United States have been murky since time immemorial. But when it comes to legalization, some states have achieved remarkable milestones.

Today, ten states have legalized marijuana completely, and 33 states have legalized the medical use of the plant. Many other states are striving to make marijuana use a part of their fabric, with new bills reaching the House and the Senate now and then.

The Bill S420

The federal cannabis laws, however, are likely to undergo dramatic changes in 2019. With a large chunk of Americans supporting the legalization of cannabis, Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee introduced a bill called S420 to tax the plant like alcohol. S420 is a companion to another bill called H.R.420, which was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon.

Also known as the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act, S420 would lay down a nationwide framework for individual states to choose their courses when it comes to cannabis. Here are four critical components of the bill:

·      The bill would declass marijuana from the DEA’s list of Schedule 1 drugs.

·      The bill would levy a federal excise tax on legalized marijuana.

·      The bill would mandate manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers to register for a license with the Department of Treasury.

·      The bill would continue supporting states that seek to prohibit marijuana, with an imposition of a federal ban on sale and distribution of weed there.

What’s in store for 2019?

The number of states that allow the use of cannabis is only about to increase in 2019. The year is poised to be a banner year for cannabis legalization through state legislatures. Here are a few states that are likely to embrace the green rush this year:

·      Connecticut: Marijuana legalization in Connecticut is one of Gov.-elect Ned Lamont’s top priorities for this year, pledging to bring about a transition after his victory on Election Day.

·      Minnesota: Incoming Gov. Tim Walz (D) seeks to replace the present failed policy with one that grows jobs, creates tax revenue, protects Minnesota kids, and builds business opportunities for the state.

·      Illinois: Incoming Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) pursues cannabis legalization as it would create more than 24,000 jobs and churn about $500 million in tax revenue.

·      New Mexico: ‎Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) is all poised to legalize marijuana in New Mexico as it is believed to contribute millions of dollars to the state’s economy.

The list, however, isn't over. States like Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Jersey are taking active measures to legalize marijuana within their jurisdictions. We can only hope that these bills see the light of the day and the legalization creates a win-win for the government and Americans.