Oklahoma, other states look to new future for marijuana | The Journal Record

New and evolving marijuana legal guidelines are inflicting advocates and opponents in Oklahoma and different states to arrange for a brand new future for the burgeoning business.

Within the Sooner State, a vote has been scheduled for March on whether or not grownup leisure marijuana use must be legalized. With about 2,500 licensed dispensaries already in operation within the state, and about 380,000 individuals – practically 1 in 10 Oklahomans – legally allowed to develop, purchase, or eat medical marijuana, the state already has a sturdy business rooted in hashish.

The state’s pot enterprise has not grown with out controversy, nonetheless, since voters first forged ballots to legalize medical marijuana in 2018. Fears have been raised about individuals from outdoors the state – and even from outdoors the nation – shifting into Oklahoma to purchase up land and different property to stake claims on the enterprise. There’s been loads of proof of a thriving black marketplace for marijuana cultivated illegally in Oklahoma. Using spray herbicides has induced rifts between marijuana growers and others concerned in additional conventional agriculture, and different issues have been raised about massive quantities of water and electrical energy consumed by marijuana operations.

Different divisions between supporters and those that would favor slowing the business down little question will probably be aired as Oklahomans think about tips on how to vote.

Different states are grappling with hashish points as properly.

After Oklahoma, Ohio might be the subsequent state to vote on whether or not leisure use must be legalized. After Democratic victories in final week’s legislative and gubernatorial elections, Minnesota might be poised to legalize leisure marijuana subsequent yr, even and not using a statewide vote. Legislative approval of leisure marijuana additionally might be pursued subsequent yr in Democratic-led Hawaii.

New citizen-led poll initiatives are also doable in Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, and Wyoming, in line with Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Coverage Challenge in Washington, D.C.

Leisure marijuana for adults 21 and older will develop into authorized in Missouri on Dec. 8. That’s the identical day the state’s current medical marijuana companies can apply for licenses to develop, manufacture, transport and promote hashish for leisure functions.

However there gained’t be any fast offers – not less than not legally.

The newly permitted constitutional modification provides the state well being division till Feb. 6 to contemplate purposes. Although officers may act extra shortly, the division doesn’t count on to approve leisure hashish licenses till February, stated the division’s communications director, Lisa Cox.

Maryland residents additionally should wait – till the center of subsequent yr – to make the most of a lately handed initiative to legalize leisure marijuana.

With the addition of Maryland and Missouri, 21 states have legalized leisure marijuana for adults over the previous decade – although it stays unlawful below federal legislation.