The calendar pages turn, and as the election gets closer, it is very apparent that marijuana is a top concern in various locales for the trip to the polls. Support for marijuana legalization is at an all-time high. Voters in most locations where marijuana is on the ballot, including New Jersey and Michigan, have already expressed support at a surprising degree.
Public support for marijuana legalization has more than doubled since the year 2000, forcing legislators to change their stance on the hot topic. Even long-standing opponents to the move like Sen. Dianne Feinstein has allowed the change in public perception to sway her stance.
Feinstein went as far as to sign on as a co-sponsor to the STATES Act in September of 2018. This act would adjust federal law in states where marijuana has been legalized, making it legal at the federal level as well.
As the election draws closer, some locations will have a key role in determining whether the Republicans gain control of the House. In those locations, a main factor has been the stance on marijuana legalization. This includes Orange County, California, where GOP Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Democrat Harley Rouda are gaining equal support.
Rohrabacher is vocal in his support of medical marijuana, while Rouda has largely refused to address the issue. He has not shared his position on recreational marijuana use and whether he feels it should be legalized, leaving voters up in the air on whether he will truly represent their views if elected.
While this is one race of many, the topic of marijuana legalization is one of the hot-button issues across the US. For those hitting the polls in November, it’s important to be aware of other factors. In Utah, Proposition 2 is on the ballot for allowing private facilities to grow and test marijuana and also to make it easier to obtain or even grow your own marijuana for medical use in the next two years.
However, following the election, a special legislative session is already scheduled in Utah. The vote may not matter significantly, since the session is intended to focus on changing the state’s legal handling of medical marijuana growth and accessibility.
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