Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has been a topic of much debate and discussion in the United States for many decades. Over the years, there have been numerous historical growth moments in the legalization of marijuana. In this blog post, we will explore the key milestones in the legalization of marijuana in the United States up to the current date of March 17, 2024.
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1996: California becomes the first state to legalize medical marijuana In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana with the passage of Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. This allowed patients with a valid recommendation from a physician to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use.
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2012: Colorado and Washington legalize recreational marijuana In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and over. This allowed for the possession, use, and sale of marijuana for recreational purposes within the state.
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2014: Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. follow suit In 2014, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. all passed measures to legalize recreational marijuana. This continued the trend of states moving towards more relaxed marijuana laws.
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2016: Medical marijuana expands to more states In 2016, several more states passed measures to legalize medical marijuana, including Florida, North Dakota, and Arkansas. This brought the total number of states with legal medical marijuana to 28.
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2018: Canada legalizes recreational marijuana While not in the United States, Canada's legalization of recreational marijuana in 2018 was a significant moment in the history of marijuana legalization. This marked the first time a major industrialized nation had fully legalized marijuana.
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2020: More states legalize recreational marijuana In 2020, several more states passed measures to legalize recreational marijuana, including New Jersey, Arizona, and Montana. This brought the total number of states with legal recreational marijuana to 15.
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2022: Federal decriminalization of marijuana In 2022, the United States Congress passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, which decriminalized marijuana at the federal level. This removed marijuana from the list of controlled substances and eliminated many of the criminal penalties associated with marijuana.
Conclusion: The legalization of marijuana in the United States has been a long and complex process, with many significant milestones along the way. From the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 to the federal decriminalization of marijuana in 2022, the trend towards more relaxed marijuana laws has continued to grow. As of March 17, 2024, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, and 38 states have legalized medical marijuana.