Legalization of Recreational Cannabis
Even though weed is legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia, only 18 of these allow it for recreational use. In the rest of the US, you will be held for breaking the law if you carry any amount of weed for recreational use. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2020 – MORE Act 2020 – is before the Senate and could breathe new life into the recreational use of marijuana as it decriminalizes it and expunges the records of some of those found to be in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
Presently, users from states where recreational pot is legal are free to place online orders for weed delivery. They can get their orders expedited from places such as Sweet Flower Westwood, which only sell a high-quality product even online.
The Process of Legalization
In 2012, Colorado and Washington voted to legalize recreational pot use by adults over 21. They were followed by Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia in 2014, while California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved in 2016. Michigan presented its case in 2018, and voters accepted the use and taxation of recreational marijuana. Vermont became the first state to vote in favor of the plant legislatively in 2018, and it paved the way for others to do so. Illinois followed suit, while New Jersey recently removed marijuana from the I drug schedule.
This alone has been seen by many as a huge milestone, and many people believe there will be bigger changes in the future. One of the enticing factors for states is the use of the tax money that will come from the sale of recreational pot for development. Users can now buy it from weed dispensaries or place online orders for delivery within states where its use is legal.
Legislation that Affects Legalization
Recreational use of cannabis is when a person smokes or uses it for personal enjoyment. Some characteristics of recreational use include:
- No heavy investment.
- Not prescribed by a physician.
- Occasional use.
- Used in small doses for enjoyment and not to get stoned.
- Used in social settings.
There are no real dangers to weed when used with the above intentions. The user is not likely to get addicted, and they are in it for fun. They use it mildly, which means they can stop without too much trouble.
States have been changing how they treat cannabis-related crimes. Some states have softened their stance as follows:
North Dakota reduced the personal possession to a Class A misdemeanor from a Class C felony. Oregon repealed some criminal penalties related to the possession of marijuana. A person charged with a Class A crime for being found with marijuana in Kansas will now be charged with a Class B non-person misdemeanor. The same changes have been made in West Virginia, Montana, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and many other states. These sweeping changes are in light of the feds softening their stand on the product.
How Americans Feel About Marijuana
It has been quite the journey for most users. In 1969, only 12% of U.S. adults thought the legalization of weed was a good idea. The numbers rose to 31% in 2000 before going all the way up by 19% in 2013. Those under age 30 are more receptive to weed as they may have used it recreationally once or more. Actually, those who have used pot a few times usually have no problem with it even in older age, as they know it doesn’t do much to damage one’s thinking. Weed delivery service sites have made it even more accessible, so more people can try it out and see what the fuss is about.
Americans in states that have legalized recreational marijuana seem to be using it in the right doses, as most report joy, creativity, euphoria, sociability due to reduced anxiety in public and increased appetite. Of course, there are adverse effects when one uses weed with high levels of THC or doesn’t dose it correctly. There is still so much to be done to change people’s perspective of weed, and federal legalization could be it.
What the Rest of the World Thinks
Some countries have legalized the conditional use of marijuana. They include:
- Denmark
- Czech Republic
- Cyprus
- Argentina
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Finland
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Malawi
- Morocco.
The pot discussion has gained momentum as countries discover how much they can do with this plant. Entire budgets could be funded through the growth and sale of weed, and most nations with the best weather conditions are beginning to look at this opportunity as their chance to develop themselves. There is still so much stigma around the topic, and it might take a long time before people know they can indulge without getting addicted, but things are looking up.
The Future of Recreational Cannabis
The world keeps changing, and research is still being done, so we are likely to see more positivity in the use of weed. Those who use it recreationally have been preaching good things that make those proposed to it think twice, but some quarters may never change how they feel about this plant and its products. Maybe more extensive research on its medicinal qualities could shine a little light on recreational users to give those opposed to its use something positive to think about. The Farm Bill 2018 that was ratified in the same year is still a beacon of hope that the future could be better for the canna industry.
Conclusion
The business of weed would be so much better if more states legalized it for recreational use. Growers would access information on seeds and research better and faster, and financial institutions would be more willing to open their wallets to weed investors. At the moment, it is still quite expensive to grow marijuana since the plant needs so much attention, and it is even costlier to bring it to the market. Weed revenue is good enough to entice as many people as possible to get on board if it was legalized fully, and deliveries would be easier. Since we have already seen so many positive changes, time will tell what else is in store for the industry.
