2022 Midterm Election Result, Marijuana Legislation
4 min read
With the election of pro-legalization candidates in several key races, the future of marijuana legislation looks bright. So far, the results of the 2022 election have been very favorable for those who support cannabis reform. Here's a look at what has happened so far and what it could mean for the future of marijuana in the United States.
A Win for Blazers
In early November, voters in New Jersey and Arizona approved ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana use. This marks the first time that legalization measures have been approved by voters in two states at the same time. New Jersey's law will go into effect on January 1, 2022, while Arizona's will take effect on March 1, 2022. These two states join a growing list of states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington. With these latest additions, nearly one-third of all Americans now live in states where recreational marijuana is legal.
In addition to these two big wins for legalization advocates, there were also several other important election results that could impact future marijuana legislation. Although the 2022 midterm election results are not in yet, Democrats have the potential to win the senate majority. If this happens, it could mean more favorable marijuana legislation at the federal level. For example, a Democratic-controlled senate could mean the passage of the SAFE Banking Act, which would provide financial services to state-legal cannabis businesses. This would be a huge victory for the cannabis industry, as most banks and credit unions currently refuse to do business with them.
Election Impact
It's still too early to say definitively what the impact of the 2022 election will be on marijuana legislation, but it's clear that the results so far have been very positive for those who support cannabis reform. With more and more states legalizing recreational marijuana use, it's only a matter of time until the federal government follows suit.
What do you think the impact of the 2022 election will be on marijuana legislation? Let us know in the comments!
And stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
Update: The results on cannabis laws in states that had a ballot measure revealed a mixed result. Maryland and Missouri approved adult-use legalization measures while Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota rejected similar legalization measures.
Democrats winning the senate after Nevada's reelection of Catherine Cortez Masto gives us hope for federal legalization although it is very likely that Republicans will win the majority in the house of representatives as they are at 217 seats and only need to gain one more to win majority.
