As we reflect on the past year, it's clear that the landscape of cannabis policy in the United States has continued to evolve. There was progress towards adult-use and medical legalization and decriminalization, with several states expanding access and others considering reform. We also saw the presidential candidates from both major parties voice clear support for an array of cannabis reform policies, and both candidates staked out unprecedented positions in favor of some form of cannabis legalization. 

To recap this past year, we’ve examined the key developments, victories, and setbacks that shaped the cannabis movement and demonstrated how far we’ve come — and how far we still need to go to dismantle prohibition nationwide.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Recommends Rescheduling Cannabis

In April, the DEA proposed rescheduling cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act to Schedule III. Currently, cannabis is categorized as a Schedule I drug deemed to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, making it illegal under federal law. By moving cannabis to Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act, the U.S. government is poised to officially recognize the efficacy and safety of cannabis for medical use, representing a long-overdue positive step that opens the door for a more sensible and nuanced approach to federal cannabis policy. 

The DEA’s public comment period closed at the end of the day on July 22, 2024. More than 42,000 individuals and organizations submitted comments to the DEA on rescheduling, including around 5,000 that submitted their comment via MPP’s form. More than 90% of the submitted comments supported rescheduling to Schedule III or a less restrictive schedule and/or requested descheduling.

Matthew Schweich, MPP's executive director, appeared on CNN to discuss the proposal to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III drug.

Voters in Nebraska Legalize Medical Cannabis!

On Election Day, Nebraska voters approved companion ballot measures to establish a statewide medical cannabis program. Measure 437 to legalize possession of medical cannabis passed with 70.74% of the vote, and Measure 438 passed with 66.95% support. 

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana spearheaded the campaign to place two companion medical cannabis measures on the ballot. It has been a heartbreakingly long journey to this victory. With this latest addition, there are now 39 states in the country that have legalized cannabis for medical use. However, prohibitionists are trying to overturn the will of the people and block the implementation of these measures. In late November, a district court judge dismissed the lawsuit, but an appeal is possible. 

Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization States Surpass $20 Billion in Tax Revenue

By the first quarter of 2024, states surpassed a combined total of more than $20 billion in tax revenue from legal, adult-use cannabis sales. The positive impact on state budgets and the reinvestment in our communities highlight the far-reaching positive impact of a responsibly regulated cannabis marketplace. Instead of weaponizing cannabis prohibition to fuel mass incarceration and economic devastation, more and more states are employing equitable cannabis policies to build a more just, free, and prosperous society.

Ohio Launches Adult-use Cannabis Sales

Less than nine months after voters overwhelmingly approved the MPP-backed measure to legalize cannabis, dozens of medical cannabis dispensaries opened their doors to adult-use consumers on August 6! 

While Senate President Matt Huffman (R) announced plans to gut the people’s new law, MPP and voters mobilized and demanded they leave the peoples’ law intact. And now, cannabis consumers can enjoy the fruits of their labor. The full list of dispensaries that have been issued dual-use Certificates of Operation (COO) is available here. 

MPP’s involvement in Ohio cannabis reform efforts dates back to 2015, when MPP joined forces with local advocates to spearhead a ballot initiative campaign to enact medical cannabis, which spurred the legislature to pass the state’s medical cannabis law.

New Polls Show Support For Marijuana Policy Reform Remains Strong

It’s clear that views are continuing to be in favor of sensible and humane policies where cannabis is regulated more similarly to alcohol and tobacco.

An overwhelming share of U.S. adults (88%) say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use, according to a poll released by the Pew Research Center in March 2024. Furthermore, the poll found that just 11% of Americans say that the drug should not be legal at all.

In another new national poll from YouGov, 72% of respondents said they support expunging marijuana-related convictions for non-violent offenders, including 84% of Democrats and 61% of Republicans.

Additionally, a new Gallup poll asking Americans to compare the relative harm of using cannabis, alcohol, and several tobacco-based substances found that cannabis is viewed as the least harmful of the eight substances included in the survey. 75% of the poll respondents consider tobacco ‘very harmful’, while only 27% feel the same about marijuana. Additionally, the poll found that cannabis is now more commonly used than cigarettes, with 24% stating that they either smoke marijuana or use edibles. Gallup also found that support for legalization is holding steady at 68%.

FBI Report Shows Over 200,000 Individuals Were Arrested for Cannabis in 2023

While 24 states have moved to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and over, the harsh truth is that cannabis prohibition and criminalization continues to shatter lives across America. According to data from the FBI, over 220,000 people were arrested nationwide in 2023 for cannabis-related offenses. 

The data compiled through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program shows that the overwhelming majority of these arrests were for simple possession. That’s more than 25 arrests every hour. This staggering reality underscores that our fight for cannabis freedom and justice is far from finished — and that we must move with even greater urgency to dismantle the failed approach of prohibition. 

Adult-use Legalization Ballot Measures Fall Short

Three states had measures that would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over on the November ballot. Unfortunately, these measures came up short. 

In Florida, the ballot measure secured a 55.88% majority of voter support for the adult-use cannabis measure, but fell just shy of the 60% threshold required for passage. This marks the first time a majority in a Southern state voted for legalization — a major shift in public sentiment that bodes well for the future.

After heartfelt and hard-fought campaigns to secure adult-use legalization in North Dakota and South Dakota, the votes fell short of the majority support necessary for passage in both states. 

Local Marijuana Ballot Measures Approved

On the local level, Texas voters in Dallas, Lockhart, and Bastrop had local cannabis decriminalization measures on their ballots in November, all of which passed with strong support. These local moves will help build momentum for statewide decriminalization in the Lone Star state. Meanwhile, after Kentucky became the 38th state to legalize medical cannabis in 2023, localities had to decide whether or not to allow cannabis businesses to operate within their localities (referred to as an opt-out option). Of the 106 Kentucky counties and cities with ballot measures on allowing medical cannabis providers to operate, all 106 passed.

Louisiana Expands its Decriminalization Law

In June, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed MPP-backed legislation into law that removes jail time and reduces penalties for possessing cannabis paraphernalia to a fine. Possession of up to 14-grams of cannabis was already a fine-only offense, but the “decrim" law did not extend to paraphernalia. 

The legislature also pushed back the medical cannabis program’s sunset date to 2030. MPP continues to build support for ending cannabis prohibition in the Bayou State, while rolling back criminalization and expanding freedom along the way.

MPP at the Willie Nelson Concert Tour

MPP's director of state policies, Karen O'Keefe, and our allies in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire attended the Outlaw Music Festival Tour to spread the word about MPP's work to end cannabis prohibition. Thank you to the folks at Willie's Reserve for having us! 

Legalization Bills Defeated in Hawai’i and New Hampshire 

Hawai’i missed an opportunity to legalize adult-use cannabis this year, with a Senate-passed bill dying in the House Finance Committee after clearing three other House committees. While this is disappointing, legalization got further this year than ever before.

Despite legalization passing the New Hampshire House, passing the Senate for the first time, and having the governor’s support, it did not make it past the finish line. As a result, New Hampshire continues to be an island of prohibition surrounded on all sides by states where cannabis is legal. 

Looking Ahead…

We still live in a country where nearly a quarter of a million people are arrested for cannabis every year, and millions of patients in need are still unable to get safe and reliable access to medical cannabis. With a new presidential administration and a new Congress taking shape, we must capitalize on this window of opportunity to press for comprehensive federal reform. We’ve outlined steps the Trump administration can take to advance cannabis policy reforms and will continue to push for advancements at the federal level. At the same time, we need to redouble our efforts to roll back the war on cannabis at the state and local level to sustain forward momentum and put added pressure on Congress to act.

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Most of the results of the 2024 elections are in, and while a large majority of Americans support legalization, cannabis policy reform ballot initiatives received mixed results across the country.

In Nebraska, voters overwhelmingly approved companion medical cannabis ballot measures — Measure 437 and 438! Both measures received more than two-thirds majority. Nebraska is now the 39th state to legalize medical cannabis. However, prohibitionists filed suit to try to block the will of the voters from taking effect. A trial is underway and relief remains uncertain.

2024 marked the third attempt to take medical cannabis to the ballot in Nebraska. In 2020, advocates collected enough signatures to put a constitutional medical cannabis initiative on the ballot. Just three months before Election Day, the state Supreme Court issued a deeply flawed court ruling that prevented voters from deciding the issue. In 2022, families tried again. The 2022 effort, which was largely volunteer, came just a few thousand signatures away from meeting the required threshold to qualify. 

In Texas, there were local measures to decriminalize cannabis in Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart, all of which passed. Meanwhile, voters in over 100 counties and cities in Kentucky passed local measures to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their jurisdiction. 

Three states had measures that would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over on the ballot. Unfortunately, these measures came up short. 

In Florida, just shy of six million Floridians voted in favor of Amendment 3, which would have ended cannabis prohibition in the Sunshine State. But after receiving 55.9% of the votes cast, it was short of the 60% needed for passage. The legislature continues to have the authority to improve cannabis policies, including incremental steps, such as decriminalization and/or allowing homegrow for medical patients. However, so far it has shown no appetite to do so.

Adult-use cannabis legalization also fell shy of passage in South Dakota. This comes after a long and hard-fought battle by South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws, on a shoestring budget. MPP was proud to have its own Matthew Schweich serve as the leader and spokesperson on the ground in South Dakota.

South Dakota voters had approved an MPP-backed legalization measure in 2020, only to have the state Supreme Court outrageously throw out the measure based on a “single subject” ruling. That forced 2024’s Measure 29 to be extremely simple, and to lack many features of other legalization laws that can help build popular support. It simply included legal possession and cultivation, without any regulated sales or taxation.

In North Dakota, voters rejected Measure 5, a legalization ballot measure that would have allowed adults 21 and older to use cannabis at home without punishment – while also allowing possession of limited amounts of cannabis.

While these defeats are a major disappointment, several other states where voters ultimately legalized cannabis saw defeats before success, including Colorado, California, Alaska, Oregon, and Nevada.

With the mixed results of this election, it’s important to take stock of how far we’ve come. Twenty-four states have legalized cannabis for adults since 2012 — and six of those states have been added to the list in just the past two years. Support for cannabis policy reform has sky-rocketed over the last decade, with 68% of Americans now in favor of legalization. Additionally, both major party presidential candidates prominently featured the issue of legalization in their campaigns in an unprecedented manner this election season, and while Florida didn’t cross the 60% threshold needed for passage, it was the first time a majority of voters in a Southern state voted to legalize cannabis. 

Our movement continues to advance with each election cycle, and we won’t stop fighting to end cannabis prohibition in every corner of the country.

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The cannabis legalization movement took major strides forward in 2023, with three more states legalizing adult-use cannabis and one more approving medical cannabis. Now we have our sights set on more promising cannabis policy reform opportunities in the months ahead. Lots of state legislatures are reconvening, and with hundreds of thousands of people still being arrested for cannabis every year, we need to stand up and double down on our mission to end cannabis prohibition nationwide. If we’re able to gather the necessary resources to sustain robust advocacy efforts, these are some of the key states where we have the best shot to secure more victories in 2024!

On the legalization front, there are several states that are on our radar. Efforts to legalize adult-use cannabis are underway in Hawaii, New Hampshire, Florida, and South Dakota. In South Dakota, activists are hopeful to make another attempt at legalizing cannabis for adult use via the 2024 ballot. In Florida, signatures have been submitted to place the question of adult-use legalization on the 2024 ballot, although the initiative is tied up in court. Meanwhile, we are engaged in a legislative push for cannabis legalization in Hawaii and New Hampshire, two states that have become islands of prohibition in recent years as surrounding states have successfully legalized cannabis. Activists are also laying the groundwork in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, which are all possible prospects, but will likely be a multi-year effort.

There are also a handful of states that are poised to make progress regarding medical cannabis legalization. In South Carolina, a medical cannabis legalization bill will start where it left off in 2023, awaiting a Senate floor vote. Similarly, a medical cannabis bill in North Carolina will pick up in 2024 where it left off — awaiting action by the House of Representatives. In Wisconsin, Republican legislative leaders suggested they may move on medical cannabis this year, but action has been slow to materialize. In Nebraska, patient advocates and community leaders are regrouping after a series of setbacks in recent years and charging ahead with another effort to let voters decide the fate of medical cannabis on the 2024 ballot.

The MPP team has the experience and policy knowledge to help get these efforts across the finish line, but we’re counting on your support to keep driving our movement forward. Chip in today to sustain our work to change laws and change lives state by state!

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