Marijuana and the Midterms – what you should know

The 2022 midterm elections are fast approaching and the stakes are high in November. Democrats may have entered 2021 with a majority, but the past year and a half has seen a series of unfortunate events for the party and weak approval ratings for the president. This leaves the Republican Party confident and optimistic about the election cycle.

There are many important issues at stake in this election. The ever-looming and evolving COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with it is of immense concern to voters. The current astronomical gas prices, inflation and the economy in general also have top priority.

While these issues can have a major impact on the daily lives of many Americans, they are not the only issues voters care about. Marijuana legalization remains a major political issue and a top priority for many voters this election season. As a matter of fact, after a recent opinion pollA majority of Democratic voters consider passing legislation legalizing marijuana to be an important or top priority.

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There are several states that could have marijuana ballot measures in November. Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, and South Dakota are just a few states where a major vote will appear on the ballot, meaning marijuana legalization will likely play an even bigger role in these states’ elections.

Being a democratic politician no longer guarantees support from cannabis enthusiasts. Many voters are looking for real action, and soon. “Democrats, beginning with President Biden, must lead on cannabis policy or risk ceding the very real voter enthusiasm that inspires them to libertarian voices.” corresponding wealth. Democrats are running out of time to push hard for cannabis legalization before Republicans finally do it themselves.

It’s not just Democrats who are interested in legalizing marijuana. The latest Gallup opinion poll Data suggests that 2 in 3 Americans support marijuana legalization. These record-high numbers further show that marijuana is not a partisan issue. Any politician who takes a strong stance against marijuana, or one who is delayed in the legalization process, risks being ousted from his role if his district is in a competitive area.

Conservatives have noted this inaction, and according to Forbes, “Some Republicans are beginning to take actions of their own that could eventually lead them to reap the political rewards of legalizing a Democratic party that has every avenue to address this issue.” to own .”

RELATED: House Passes MORE Act to Legalize Weed at the Federal Level, But Don’t Get Too Excited

Take South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace, for example. She recently introduced herself a republican drafted one invoice Legalize cannabis at the federal level. Rep. Mace is up for re-election this year. It seems like in most states, regardless of your political party, supporting the legalization of cannabis, at least in some form, is a more promising route to victory than lobbying for continued prohibition.

What this means for the future of marijuana legalization remains unclear, but growing public support for marijuana is certainly beginning to shape the way politicians are campaigning on the issue.