Which US states can legalize cannabis in November 2022?

Every two years, U.S. states can legalize cannabis on their own scale via popular initiative referendums presented during the midterms, mid-term elections, or during presidential elections.

This year, five states are proposing to vote for cannabis legalization on the November 8 ballot.

Many of these initiative proposals received overwhelming support from voters during the signature-gathering phase of the campaigns. In some cases, they collected double the number of signatures required.

Arkansas

Five organizations initially filed applications to get adult-use initiatives on the 2022 Arkansas ballot, but only one seems likely to succeed: Responsible Growth Arkansas.

The group is behind Arkansas's adult-use cannabis amendment, which would allow possession of up to one ounce of cannabis (28 grams). It would not legalize home growing.

The campaign had until July 8 to collect 89,000 valid signatures to qualify for the November 8 ballot. They provided double that number: 193,000 signatures.

On July 29, the authorities announced that the measure was qualified for the ballot.

According to a survey conducted last February, approximately 54% of Arkansas residents are in favor of legalizing adult use.

Maryland

The Maryland Cannabis Legalization Amendment has been certified and will appear on the November ballot.

It would legalize cannabis possession for adults from July 1, 2023. In addition, it requires legislators to put in place a regulatory framework for the program, via separate legislation.

The Maryland legislature has already addressed the latter issue, through House Bill 837. If Maryland voters pass legalization in November, Governor Larry Hogan (R) has said he will sign the bill :

• Adults would be able to buy and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis
• Possession of 1.5 to 2.5 ounces would only be subject to a fine, and would not be considered a criminal offence.
• Adults could grow two cannabis plants at home
• The state will automatically delete the records of people convicted of crimes deemed legal under HB 837.
• People previously charged with intent to distribute cannabis can apply to have their criminal record expunged after serving three years of their sentence

According to a survey from Goucher College published in March, 62 % of Maryland voters favor legalization. L’State had failed to legalize in 2018.

Missouri

On August 9, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced that the proposed legalization of adult use by Legal Missouri was qualified for the November ballot.

If passed, the constitutional amendment would authorize retail sales, tax cannabis at 6 % (with an additional 3 % local option tax), create equity licenses and automatically expunge the records of residents with non-violent marijuana offenses. Adults would be able to purchase and possess up to three ounces of cannabis.

North Dakota

On August 15, North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger (R) approved an adult-use legalization measure that will appear on the November ballot.

Although the New Approach North Dakota had less than three months to gather the signatures needed to place its legalization measure on the November ballot, it nonetheless triumphed... and it wasn't even close. The group needed to submit 16,000 signatures-2 % of the state's population-but in July, it submitted nearly 26,000.

The measure would legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, four grams of cannabis concentrate and up to 500 milligrams of edibles. Adults would be able to legally grow three plants at home. The state would be required to create a market of retailers and manufacturers, and set up testing and monitoring procedures.

South Dakota

May 3, 2022, South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws (SDBML) has submitted the signatures required to place a new adult-use legalization initiative on the November 2022 ballot.

On May 25, 2022, the South Dakota Secretary of State certified the signatures and placed the initiative on the November 8 ballot.

Although South Dakota have adopted legalization by a large majority on the November 2020 ballot, Governor Kristi Noem (R) used taxpayers' money to fund a lawsuit to overturn the vote. In November 2021, the state Supreme Court sided with Ms. Noem and overturned the approved measure.

The new initiative focuses on civil liberties: it would legalize personal possession and limited home cultivation, and reduce the corresponding criminal penalties.