Just five years ago,
recreational marijuana wasn't legal anywhere within the United States, ranging from the Lower 48 to Alaska and down to Hawaii. The movement for recreational marijuana began in both Colorado and Oregon, although eight states and Washington, D.C., have both given the seemingly-harmless drug the green light.
Few, if any, deaths have been linked directly to marijuana. Cannabis is a safe alternative to its legalized, liquid counterpart - alcohol - not to mention virtually every harmful psychoactive substance available, both illegally and legally.
Let's dig into nine mind-blowing facts regarding the leafy green substance, its legality, and use within the United States.
Legalized Marijuana Sales Are Off The Proverbial Charts
According to the commercial market research firm
New Frontier Data, calendar year 2016 was home to $6.6 billion in revenues from legalized marijuana, including both recreational and medicinal marijuana.
The $6.6 billion sum beaks down to $4.7 billion related to strictly medical-use marijuana, with the remaining $1.9 billion tied to legalized recreational-use sales.
Experts predict that, by year 2025, the legalized marijuana industry will grow to an astounding $24 billion in revenue.
As Early As Next Year, Missouri May See Legalized Marijuana
With the solid majority of states in America recognizing legalized marijuana in either a recreational or medical capacity, it makes sense that it could become legalized in some form nationwide before we know it.
A piece of legislation titled the
Missouri Marijuana Legalization Initiative could be voted on as early as November 6, 2018, which would perform the following functions in the Southeastern, traditionally-conservative state:
- Marijuana wouldn't be recognized as a controlled substance in the state.
- The substance would be fully legalized for both medicinal and personal usage.
- Marijuana could be sold legally, although restrictions on such commerce is yet to be heard.
- All prisoners currently held in the state of Missouri that had been incarcerated for incidents related to marijuana would be freed, given no persons are currently serving time for violent offenses.
It's great to see a "Bible Belt" member potentially pushing for the legalization of marijuana in less than one calendar year from today.
First Illinois Saw Medical Marijuana; Could Indiana Be Next?
As of earlier this year, in September, 32 states allowed the distribution of medicinal cannabis to needy patients with legitimate illnesses.
Just like states Southeast of Indiana, its residents have generally been conservative, history indicates. However, Indiana state representative Jim Lucas
is aiming to pen a bill that legalizes both recreational and medicinal marijuana.
Although the bill could grossly stimulate the state's economy, Lucas understands he must first quell the stigma of cannabis usage in Indiana - not necessarily and easy barrier to overcome.
Though Canada Has Decriminalized Marijuana, Full Legalization Is Still Not In Place
Many people, both marijuana users and not, know that Canada has upheld the decriminalization of marijuana for some years. Although it's decriminalized, the leafy substance hasn't been legalized in the nation -
yet.
Currently, Uruguay is the only country on planet Earth to regulate a commercial market of legalized marijuana. Canada could become the second to do such as early as mid-2017, thanks to Justin Trudeau's proposition of such a plan last year.
All adults over 18 would be able to grow a maximum a four plants per house, hold up to 30 grams of marijuana, and be able to use the drug without limit, under the bill's provision.
California Could Soon Legalize Marijuana Completely
Though California legalized the medicinal use of marijuana some 25 years ago, the Golden State still hasn't fully legalized the drug.
California's Bureau of Cannabis Control, formerly the Bureau of Medical Cannabis Regulation, has been scrambling to legalize the drug in the state. Some businesspeople involved in the trade are worried about overreach, although regulation will undoubtedly provide consumers with higher product standards than ever before.
Weed Is Legal In Massachusetts, Though There's Nowhere To (Legally) Buy It
Late last year,
Massachusetts legislators moved to make marijuana entirely legal. However, there's no place to currently purchase the drug for recreational use.
Patients with legitimate medical problems can purchase the drug under a doctor's supervision, of which over 100 based in Massachusetts can prescribe it, in one of several stores across the state.
Once legislation is worked out, stores will soon enough be able to legally sell marijuana intended for recreational use.
Some Negative "Facts" About Marijuana Are Actually Tree
Regulatory bodies in the United States have long provided the public with falsified, inaccurate information regarding marijuana usage. However, while many "facts" propagated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and related bodies are entirely false, some sentiments are actually true.
Research has indicated that marijuana has
adverse effects on learning, memory, and attention. Irresponsible usage of marijuana - believe it or not, it's not very difficult to use irresponsibly - can result in school failure.
Further, those who abuse cannabis during their teenage years can cause problems in cerebral development - that's why, to use it recreationally, states require users to be 21.
Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Centers Often Incur Marijuana-Dependent Patients
It's true that marijuana has little potential to cause physical dependence. However, heavy, long-term smokers can experience adverse lifestyle effects from eating, smoking, or otherwise abusing marijuana.
According to the
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality of SAMHSA, marijuana abuse is currently the most commonly-treated substance abuse problem in America. While most can use marijuana responsibly, some are inherently prone to addiction - be careful.
Californian Marijuana Taxes May Soon Increase
California state taxes on medicinal marijuana will
increase in January of 2018. Some areas will tax the substance at an astounding 45-percent rate, causing more marijuana users to obtain their medicine or recreational drug from the black market.
Increased support for the black market will undoubtedly result in some users using moldy, outdated, or otherwise tarnished marijuana.
