As it stands today, 33 states and Washington D.C. have authorized the medical use of marijuana. Eleven of those states and Washington, D.C also allow the personal ‘adult-use’ of marijuana.  With 2020 being a presidential election year, efforts to include marijuana on this years’ ballot are rampant! While most of the past marijuana laws where approved by a majority vote of the people, a trend that we expect to see more are legalization efforts through state Legislature actions. 

More than a dozen states could adopt new legalization to authorize the medical or personal adult use of marijuana. Here is a look at the states with legalization efforts planned this year. 

Medical Marijuana

Alabama – A state that has long had some of the strictest laws on marijuana use, the Alabama Legislature is working on a program that would legalize the medical use of marijuana for specific medical conditions, in 2020. The draft bill, which prohibits smokable flow and edibles, has a strong likelihood of passing.

Idaho – If enough signatures are collected in time, voters in Idaho will decide on a medical marijuana initiative.

Mississippi – Alabama’s neighbor and a state that also is known to have strict laws on marijuana use, voters in Mississippi will have a chance to cast their vote on a medical marijuana program in 2020.

South Dakota – While largely remaining quiet on the topic of marijuana legalization in years past, voters will be asked to decide on both medical marijuana and adult-use legislation on the same ballot, in 2020.

Adult ‘Personal Use’ Marijuana

Arizona – Legalization committees are back at again in 2020. There is two potential adult use of marijuana initiatives that may qualify for the November ballot.

Arkansas - Voters could decide on a ballot initiative to legalize the personal adult use of marijuana if enough signatures are gathered to qualify.

Connecticut – After some talk about the legalization of adult marijuana use last year and now feeling the effects of adult-use legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts, Connecticut lawmakers have organized conversations with New York and others in hopes of delivering a regional approach to legalization in 2020. 

Missouri – Voters could decide on a ballot initiative to legalize the personal adult use of marijuana if enough signatures are gathered to qualify. 

Montana – After a back and forth battle in the ultimate adoption of medical marijuana regulations, legalization committee efforts are seeing support for a ballot initiative for Montana voters in 2020. These efforts may also put pressure on state Legislatures to craft a pre-emptive bill. 

New Jersey – State lawmakers have voted to put the issue of legalizing the personal adult use of marijuana on the November 2020 ballot, where it is being reported to have a good chance of passing.

New Mexico – After legislation efforts to legalize the adult use of marijuana stalled in 2019, the Governor’s legalization advisory group is setting the stage for an agreeable approach to legalization in 2020. 

New York – After failed attempts in 2019, Governor Cuomo has again made marijuana legalization a top priority in 2020. 

North Dakota – Voters could decide on a ballot initiative to legalize the personal adult use of marijuana if enough signatures are gathered to qualify.

Ohio – Voters could decide on a ballot initiative to legalize the personal adult use of marijuana if enough signatures are gathered to qualify.

Oklahoma – Voters could decide on a ballot initiative to legalize the personal adult use of marijuana if enough signatures are gathered to qualify.

South Dakota – While largely remaining quiet on the topic of marijuana legalization in years past, voters will be asked to decide on both medical marijuana and adult-use legislation on the same ballot, in 2020.

Vermont – The state Legislature authorized the personal adult use of marijuana and permitted home grows back in 2018. Last year the Vermont Senate passed a commercial sales program that the state House of Representatives will likely officially adopt in 2020.

We will continue to keep a close eye on the progress of these efforts and, most importantly, any impacts that they might have on workplace drug screening programs.