Cannabis on the ballot this 2022 midterms

Map credit and courtesy of disa.com

There comes a time where the power of the people for marijuana outweighs the old guard policy of a racist, segregated past. And this election is proof that the people still have the power to change their state's policy and hopefully the nation's as five more states enter into the midterm elections.

Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, and both North and South Dakota are on the ballots this year. Despite being a lesser popular election cycle, nonetheless we'll be seeing several more states join the majority of the union that already has a pathway to cannabis.

In Arkansas, they already have medical cannabis but this election may allow users to have a recreational opportunity for all who lives in the southern state. Recent polls show the majority of the people support legalization but that margin is small. If passed, adults will be able to purchase an ounce of the medicine.

In Maryland, the passing legislation will allow adults to possess 1.5 ounces, cultivate two plants and will expunge individuals arrested from prior possessions. Polls show more than 70% of the people are in favor of legalization. Maryland already has a medical marijuana program.

In Missouri, passing legislation will allow adults to possess three ounces and grow six plants in their private residence. The margin for support is right under 50%, so there may be a snag on this state.

In N. Dakota, like Arizona, lost their first chance of legalizing it in 2018. But after revisions to tighten the legislation rules, the northern D will get another opportunity to have adults possess one ounce and grow three plants for home use.

In S. Dakota, you'll be free and legal to possess one ounce and grow up to three plants, but the policy for building a market for recreational sales is in limbo. There's a good chance that this legislation won't pass, since polls indicate those opposing it is slightly more than 50%. But the Dakotas do have some sense of promising change if the other neighboring states adopt their own version of legalized medicine.

Nonetheless we all can be happy to think some of these states will win and push us towards a better national policy regarding marijuana. I sure hope to live in a country where anywhere we go, we'll be able to smoke without John Q Lawman sniffing us out, literally.

I hope you all voted this election. And I hope you voted to help your community, your neighbors, friends and loved ones. I hope you all voted using empathy, remorse, courage, and dignity for our fellow American. I know our world is totally crazy at the moment and politics doesn't make it better. But whatever it may be, let's hope this election brings a nation together, to progress forward, cannabis or not. And personally I hope we'll be able to talk to our fellow neighbor, even though we may not agree on a lot of things, just maybe we can be a little nicer to one another.

-Pinky