What's Next for Legal Marijuana?

By 2025, the cannabis industry needs to be more relaxed.

The election is over and Donald Trump will return to the White House and Republicans will have more control in Congress. The election showed that the majority of Floridians want recreational activities, that medical marijuana will finally be available in Nebraska, and that cannabis was not a deciding factor in the election. With the House of Representatives firmly in Republican hands, Mike Johnson has more power in the fight against legal cannabis, but the industry is not yet ignored.

Nebraska passed two ballot initiatives Tuesday to legalize medical marijuana and regulate the industry. A whopping 67% of the population said “yes,” which is great for a traditionally conservative state. Nebraska was one of the few states that held back on medical marijuana. The legitimacy of the ballot initiatives is being questioned due to the discrepancy between forged signatures and fraudulent notarizations. This is a civil case, the decision of which is expected after the election has been clarified. The governor spoke out against cannabis. Those arguing on behalf of the petitioners said there was no “clear and convincing evidence” of fraud and that rejecting entire petitions would penalize thousands of Nebraska voters. If cannabis advocates and voters win the civil lawsuit, medical marijuana should be introduced by the end of 2025.

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While the initiative failed to reach the required 60% of votes in Florida, it received an impressive 56% of public support. The Sunshine State population statement is for fully legal weed, but it may take 4 years to become available. There are issues where Governor DeSantis is using public resources to combat the problem, hence my legal battles in Florida.

Some industry supported the new president, but the industry's biggest influence on the incoming administration will be alcohol and pharmaceutical companies. Alcohol alone is probably one of the biggest investors in the industry, with over $13 billion. Wana Brands, which is partially owned by Constellation, has launched hemp gummies that can be sold in most states and are just as effective as THC gummies. A clever extension of your products.

Cannabis is very popular among the public. According to Pew Research, more than 88% of the population supports legalization in some form. Even the traditional AARP has praised the plant's medicinal and health benefits. In December, the DEA's replanning will set a clearer path.