Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
These are the states that have legalized marijuana in some form-and those voting soon.
Colorado's legal marijuana sales grew more than 40% to nearly $1 billion in 2015, creating $135 in revenue from taxes and fees that the state put toward school construction and other public projects. But, as Fortune reported, an increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits and the persistent black market has dampened some public support for legal pot in Colorado.
Still, there seems to be no stopping the rising tide of legal pot in the U.S.-despite, of course, the fact that the drug remains very much illegal on the federal level. As the map above shows, legal cannabis is spreading across the US, whether it be in the medical or recreational form, or both.
Already, 25 states have legalized medical marijuana, while four states-Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington-have legalized recreational pot, as has Washington, D.C.
Several more states could soon be joining those ranks.
In fact, after November, a majority of U.S. states could have legal marijuana in some form, as three more states-Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri-are expected to vote on whether or not to legalize medical marijuana in the upcoming election (Florida saw a similar ballot initiative fail two years ago). And, at least five states will vote on legalizing adult-use, or recreational, marijuana in November, including California, which already has the country's largest legal marijuana market, thanks to a medical pot industry that has been around for two decades.
For more on what legal marijuana has looked like over the past two years in Colorado, read "Is Pot Losing its Buzz in Colorado?" in the July issue of Fortune magazine.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: How Legalized Marijuana Is Sweeping the U.S. In One Map
Author: Tom Huddleston, Jr.
Contact: 212.522.4800
Photo Credit: Marijuana Policy Project
Website: Fortune
Colorado's legal marijuana sales grew more than 40% to nearly $1 billion in 2015, creating $135 in revenue from taxes and fees that the state put toward school construction and other public projects. But, as Fortune reported, an increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits and the persistent black market has dampened some public support for legal pot in Colorado.
Still, there seems to be no stopping the rising tide of legal pot in the U.S.-despite, of course, the fact that the drug remains very much illegal on the federal level. As the map above shows, legal cannabis is spreading across the US, whether it be in the medical or recreational form, or both.
Already, 25 states have legalized medical marijuana, while four states-Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington-have legalized recreational pot, as has Washington, D.C.
Several more states could soon be joining those ranks.
In fact, after November, a majority of U.S. states could have legal marijuana in some form, as three more states-Arkansas, Florida, and Missouri-are expected to vote on whether or not to legalize medical marijuana in the upcoming election (Florida saw a similar ballot initiative fail two years ago). And, at least five states will vote on legalizing adult-use, or recreational, marijuana in November, including California, which already has the country's largest legal marijuana market, thanks to a medical pot industry that has been around for two decades.
For more on what legal marijuana has looked like over the past two years in Colorado, read "Is Pot Losing its Buzz in Colorado?" in the July issue of Fortune magazine.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: How Legalized Marijuana Is Sweeping the U.S. In One Map
Author: Tom Huddleston, Jr.
Contact: 212.522.4800
Photo Credit: Marijuana Policy Project
Website: Fortune
