Advocates for marijuana legalization remain hopeful that a foothold will present itself in the Midwest, an area resistant to the trending movement of changing laws. So far, Michigan, South Dakota, Missouri and Utah are all at stages of consideration for marijuana legalization. However, roadblocks keep cropping up against the potential move.
Both Michigan and North Dakota have already approved medicinal use of marijuana, while that issue is the big topic for Missouri and Utah during upcoming elections. Public perception in a lot of places is in favour of the move to legalize, while some areas still struggle with the idea of marijuana use.
In Michigan, the stigma against marijuana is very much alive. On top of that, the issues related to obtaining a license has many people confused. These issues may go a long way towards impeding the process of legalization for the state.
Michigan officials who don’t support further legalization maintain that it’s easy to procure marijuana for those who want it, even those who don’t need it for a medical condition. However, further legalization, per these officials, would mean danger in the workplace and on the state’s roadways.
Officials like Randy Richardville, for example, who hung up his hat as a Republican legislator and took over the running of Healthy and Productive Michigan, maintain that crime will also increase if recreational marijuana use is legalized.
Another main concern for those in Michigan regards newcomers to the state hoping to get a license to grow marijuana. Some current marijuana shops, operating on a privately-owned basis, do not have licenses. After October 30, that oversight will lead to a decreased chance they will ever be able to receive one.
Applications are pricey, and the process takes time. Meanwhile, the effort to complete the license application using the correct wording and appropriate measures puts stress on those hoping to create and operate a business involving marijuana within the state.
Advocates are working hard in these areas, as they have on both coasts. However, unlike the coasts, the moves to legalize are slower and more methodical in the central states, providing a lot of resistance to the efforts.
November’s election process will go a long way towards providing marijuana use advocates with a better idea of their potential strongholds in the Midwest.
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