An exhaustive report on the current situation of marijuana legislation in each state is maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports that 37 states and DC have legalized medical marijuana. The current legislation in Maryland is included.
Low-THC products are authorized in ten states for either medical or legal purposes.
Currently, no recreational or medical marijuana laws are in effect in three states.
When consumed, specific varieties of the cannabis plant (often known as marijuana or pot) contain a hallucinogenic chemical called THC.
Some politicians support legalizing marijuana
Most politicians on both the Democratic and Republican sides now support legalizing marijuana. Several measures, some of which seek to decriminalize marijuana federally, have been presented in Congress while state legislatures debate whether and how to legalize the drug.
Some people are ethically opposed to the idea of legalizing marijuana, and others argue that the drug is a threat to public health and safety. But its supporters say it’s safer than alcohol and point to studies showing it helps with things like stress and pain.
The licensing procedures for dispensaries vary from state to state. Still, in every jurisdiction where marijuana sales are allowed, dispensaries require a state permit before opening their doors to the public. As a result, each state has its own set of rules and tax rates for these transactions. The sales in some states are subject to an excise tax, a tax on a specific good (in this case, marijuana) levied on the seller and often passed on to the buyer in the form of a higher price.
Legal marijuana possession limits, whether or not adults are allowed to cultivate their plants, and how tax money is spent differ from one state to the next. Supporters also point to the initiative’s potential to generate revenue for states and its importance as a step toward achieving social justice.
Mass incarceration is a direct result of the war on marijuana, which disproportionately impacts people of colour. Legalization movements in the United States have included measures to vacate or expunge minor marijuana convictions to address the unintended consequences of marijuana prohibition.
In Colorado, anybody over 21 can legally possess and distribute up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants individually. However, households are capped at 12 plants regardless of the number of residents. Doing a joint in public is against the law.
