In the 2020 November election, marijuana legalization measures passed in all five states

The medical marijuana states of Arizona, New Jersey and Montana voted to add recreational adult-use programs. Mississippi residents will finally have access to medical marijuana. South Dakota became the first state to pass both medical and adult use marijuana programs concurrently. More than 1 in 3 Americans live in states where marijuana is legalized for either recreational or medical programs.

Other states such as Rhode Island, New Mexico, Indiana, Missouri, New York and Pennsylvania will be considering legalization measures in 2021. Also look for adult-use cannabis legalization efforts in Kentucky, Idaho, Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Florida: all derailed in 2020 due to the pandemic.

And if Democrats grab the Senate reins, cannabis bills could advance and bring an end to federal marijuana prohibition. Medical marijuana research, de-scheduling, expungement, banking, decriminalization and adult-use legalization bills have a much greater chance to move forward under our new legislative leadership. For the first time, changes in federal cannabis policy seem imminent.

Numerous cannabis bills passing in the Democratic-controlled House were halted in the formerly GOP-controlled Senate during its last few sessions.