Meta title: Marijuana Legalization Education: 5 Trends To Watch in 2022
Meta description: From growing efforts to legalize weed on the state level to new cannabis research, this article explores some of the top trends, breaking news, and expert predictions in the cannabis industry.
In many ways, the past year has been groundbreaking for cannabis in the United States. Thanks to the continued push for legalization of recreational cannabis — at the state level, for now — the industry is reaching new heights.
While the industry is still facing its fair share of roadblocks, the growth of cannabis legalization shows no sign of slowing down. Based on some of the landmark legal decisions already passed, 2022 is delivering on its promise to be another exciting year for cannabis.
Let’s take a look at some of the latest weed law news affecting the cannabis industry in 2022.
States Lead the Way on Legalization
According to a report released by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the past year has seen more than 50 cannabis-related reform laws in over 27 states.
Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia all enacted laws legalizing adult use of marijuana. This means in 2022, nearly half the U.S. population lives in a state where recreational use is legal — or will be legal soon.
This trend is only expanding in the coming months. Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota all put recreational-use marijuana on their ballots for voters to consider this fall.
President Biden Pushes for Decriminalization
In 2022, President Joe Biden is fulfilling a campaign promise to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level. Earlier this month, Biden pardoned all federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, while also encouraging governors to take a similar step in their own states to free thousands of imprisoned Americans.
This step toward decriminalization also begins the process of potentially relaxing the federal classification of marijuana. While it’s currently in the same category as drugs like heroin and LSD, that could be set to change once it’s reviewed by the Department of Health and Human Services later this year.
What’s Next for Weed Legalization?
Whatever the future holds, we know that there is promising change on the horizon. But after everything that’s happened over the past year, many are wondering: what’s next for Massachusetts weed law and beyond?
Federal Legalization Won’t Come Yet
Despite several bills making their way through Congress in 2021, so far, attempts at federal legalization have failed. It’s unlikely that we’ll see full legalization move forward this year — or even in the next few years. It may take some time for the movement to build momentum before we see full legalization as a real possibility.
Cannabis Research Will Keep Breaking New Ground
Now that scientists are finally taking a closer look at how cannabis can be applied medicinally, we’re seeing a new wave of manufacturing to grow plants for research. Some recent studies include investigations on how cannabis can potentially treat issues like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and sickle cell disease.
Cannabis May Become a Bipartisan Issue
While federal legalization is still out of reach, more and more Republicans are beginning to back cannabis. Thanks to this bipartisan shift, we’re more likely to see a push toward legalization and reform in 2022 and beyond.
Marijuana Legalization Education: The Future of Cannabis in 2022
The past decade has already made its mark, with more states than ever before opening their doors to both medical and recreational cannabis. In just this year alone, we’ve seen progress — along with a few setbacks.
The industry is still in its early days, so we haven’t seen the best of what cannabis offers in legal states like Massachusetts. If you want to experience the power of premium, high-quality cannabis, look no further than Harbor House Collective in Chelsea, MA. Visit our location in person or browse our selection online.
