Cannabis Measures That Passed The Midterms You May Not Know About

The 2022 midterm elections were historic and surprised many on several fronts. In addition to unexpected Senate and House results, there has been an unusual number of historic ballot measures that have passed everything from abortion rights to cannabis legalization.

By now you’ve probably read that Maryland and Missouri were the twenty-first and twenty-first states to legalize adult recreational use of cannabis. North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas all saw their legalization electoral efforts fail. These ballot measures were the big headlines, but they weren’t the only cannabis ballot measures voted on in this election. In fact, there were several important, albeit lesser known, ballot measures passed during the midterm elections, all of which will help end marijuana prohibition and criminalization in the United States.

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5 Texas cities voted to criminalize marijuana possession

In conservative Texas, where recreational marijuana is illegal and the drug itself is still heavily criminalized, five cities have voted to change the position of cannabis in the eyes of the law. The Five Cities; Denton, Elgin, Harker Heights, Killeen and San Marcos have all passed voting measures that “broadly prohibit local police officers from either arresting or subpoenaing individuals for Class A or B marijuana offenses,” according to the statement NORMAL.

This is definitely a victory for these big cities, particularly in the deep red state of Texas, but these victories are beginning to create a hyper-localized and confusing framework for cannabis policy in the state of Longhorn. “While these local advances are important to mitigating harm to citizens and reprioritizing law enforcement time, they result in a patchwork of differing marijuana enforcement policies by location.” said Jax James, executive director of Texas NORML, who believes this prompts lawmakers to take statewide reform action by 2023.

5 Ohio cities voted for local decriminalization measures

Texas wasn’t the only state where multiple cities voted in favor of marijuana decriminalization measures. Citizens in five Ohio cities cast similar votes. The counties of Corning, Kent, Laurelville, Shawnee, and Rushville have all passed legislation decriminalizing marijuana

RELATED: Here are the big medium-term gains and losses for cannabis legalization

These five cities aren’t the only ones in Ohio, as 20 other cities have already taken this step, and many have done so through similar initiatives in the past. Corresponding To the petrol“The 20 jurisdictions across Ohio that have already passed local laws decriminalizing cannabis possession did so either through voter initiative or through their city councils.” This continued push forward has many in Ohio optimistic about the state’s chances of legalization imminent future concerns.

25 RI cities voted to allow new weed businesses in their area

Rhode Island may have legalized cannabis earlier this year, but it still found its way onto ballots in 31 cities and towns in this midterm election. These 31 cities were asked if they support new cannabis companies opening their doors in their cities – 25 voted yes.

RELATED: Industry thought leaders speak out on mid-term marijuana results

This overwhelming support indicates that many in Rhode Island are ready and eager for recreational cannabis in their state and in many individual cities. However, it is important to note that just because the city voted “yes” does not guarantee that a pharmacy will open its doors in that city in the near future. As WPRI News explained, “Even if your community voted yes, that doesn’t mean a store will open there. Recreational sales begin December 1 at existing medical marijuana dispensaries, and future store locations have not yet been suggested.”

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Colorado votes to decriminalize psilocybin and other psychedelics

Although this last measure is not directly related to cannabis, it is certainly historical and can at least be described as “cannabis-neighbouring”. Colorado citizens voted to decriminalize several psychedelics, including psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms. Proposition 122, known as the Naturopathic Health Care Act 2022 Decriminalizes the possession, cultivation and sharing of psilocybin, psilocyne, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine and mescaline, according to Time.

And if this message isn’t trippy enough, “It also paves the way for the use of all of these psychedelics in ‘healing centers’ — facilities licensed by the state regulatory agency where the public can purchase, consume and ingest psychedelics under supervision.”