Where is weed legal in 2022? These states have OK recreational pot.

By admin MS MMJ News November 9, 2022

Nearly a decade has passed since voters in Colorado and Washington voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Since then, more than twenty states and the District of Columbia have followed suit. New Jersey, which voted for legalization in 2020, allowed its first legal marijuana sales to adults 21 and older to begin April 21, a day after the annual Cannabis Culture Celebration. All but a handful of states have approved its medical use, and federal legalization of the substance has gained momentum. The House recently passed a bill to decriminalize marijuana, and another bill that would legalize the plant is pending in the Senate.

In the executive branch, President Biden has announced plans to pardon those who have received federal convictions for possession of marijuana. The Justice Department will begin issuing pardon certificates “in the coming days.” The president’s pardon also blocks future federal prosecutions for simple possession. However, many drug convictions occur at the state level. As such, Biden called on governors to follow his example and request that the Departments of Health and Human Services and Justice consider which category marijuana could be classified under federal law.

The 2022 midterm elections also offered voters in various states the chance to legalize marijuana with ballot measures in Maryland, Missouri, South and North Dakota, and Arkansas. While the first two states have legalized the substance for recreational use, North Dakota and Arkansas have rejected legalization, and the vote in South Dakota remains too early to be announced.

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Biden’s Marijuana Pardon:Here’s where the laws stand in each state

Which states have legalized recreational marijuana?

The number of states that have legalized recreational use has increased steadily over the past 10 years. New York became the 15th state to legalize weed last year, but retail sales in the state aren’t expected to begin until late 2022 at the earliest. Every state on this list had authorized the use of cannabis for medical purposes before full legalization.

Maryland: legalized in 2022
Missouri: legalized in 2022
Connecticut: legalized in 2021
New Mexico: legalized in 2021
New York: legalized in 2021
Virginia: Legalized in 2021
Arizona: legalized in 2020
Montana: legalized in 2020
New Jersey: legalized in 2020
Vermont: legalized in 2020
Illinois: legalized in 2019
Michigan: legalized in 2018
California: Legalized in 2016
Maine: legalized in 2016
Massachusetts: legalized in 2016
Nevada: legalized in 2016
District of Columbia: legalized in 2014
Alaska: Legalized 2014
Oregon: legalized in 2014
Colorado: legalized in 2012
Washington: legalized in 2012

Change is coming: Biden’s big step on marijuana

A historical gesture:Biden pardons federal convicts of marijuana possession

Which states have legalized medical marijuana?

Marijuana is legal for medical treatment in most of the country. Only 11 states completely ban the drug. Here are the states that only allow medical marijuana. Mississippi and Alabama are the latest states to legalize medical pot, but it’s still not available for purchase as states try to establish regulations.

Mississippi – Legalized 2022
Alabama – Legalized 2021
South Dakota – Legalized 2020
Missouri – Legalized 2018
Oklahoma – Legalized 2018
Utah – Legalized 2018
Iowa – Legalized 2017
West Virginia – Legalized 2017
Arkansas – Legalized 2016
Florida – Legalized 2016
North Dakota – Legalized 2016
Ohio – Legalized 2016
Pennsylvania – Legalized 2016
Georgia – Legalized 2015
Louisiana – Legalized 2015
Minnesota – Legalized 2014
Maryland – Legalized 2013
New Hampshire – Legalized 2013
Delaware – Legalized 2011
Rhode Island – 2006
Hawaii – Legalized 2000

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