Local Decriminalization Efforts | Cannabis Life Network

Local decriminalization efforts in last week’s midterm elections should not go unnoticed. While Maryland and Missouri legalized cannabis in the US midterm elections, these minor ballot measures are just as important.

In fact, it can be argued that local efforts are superior to nationwide top-down enforcement. Just as liberals don’t want to live in gun-free states, many conservatives don’t want legal marijuana stores in their cities.

The solution is called decentralization. you make yourself Live and let live. As long as people’s mobility rights are not violated, what’s the problem?

With that in mind, let’s examine some of the local decriminalization efforts from last week’s midterms.

Local decriminalization efforts in Texas

Texas will likely be the last state to legalize recreational cannabis. Assuming they ever do. But some cities have now taken the ban into their own hands.

Local decriminalization efforts in Austin is old news. Last year, the city council passed a resolution to end the arrest and criminal prosecution of people for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

But last week, lesser-known cities of San Marcos, Denton, Harker Heights, Killeen, and Elgin decriminalized cannabis.

The Texas Chapter of NORML was of course happy about it. However, they caution against this kind of “patchwork” enforcement policy based on location.

Local decriminalization efforts in Ohio

Local decriminalization efforts in Ohio also resulted in five municipalities approving ballot measures for cannabis. The communities of Corning, Kent, Shawnee, Rushville and Laurelville decriminalized cannabis.

In Ohio, 25 cities have now decriminalized cannabis.

Rhode Island says yes to more cannabis

Cannabis is already legal in Rhode Island. But local authorities can say no to legal cannabis stores in their cities. Following last week’s midterms, 25 communities in Rhode Island will now allow cannabis businesses to operate.

However, Rhode Island residents can wait a long time for their local bureaucracy to approve the paperwork.

Colorado is decriminalizing magic mushrooms

Photo by Richard Vogel/AP/Shutterstock (10255885a)

Ten years ago, Colorado became the first state alongside Washington to legalize cannabis. That year, Colorado led local decriminalization efforts related to psychedelics like magic mushrooms.

Proposition 122, known as the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022, means that possession, cultivation and distribution of certain psychedelics are no longer a criminal offence.

These psychedelics include:

• Psilocybin “magic” mushrooms
• dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
• ibogaine
• And mescaline

The law also creates “healing centers,” which must be licensed by state regulators, where the public “can purchase, consume, and ingest psychedelics under supervision.”

This shows that local decriminalization efforts can really pay off. The question is, why stop at drug prohibition? Why not make every political issue local and remove the DC bureaucracy from the picture altogether?