This multi-part series will explore the states most likely to legalize medical or recreational cannabis in 2020. Check out Part I here.
More and more states have been legalizing cannabis for either medical or recreational use. While this years virus has caused some delays in the application process in states that have already legalized, new states are still looking to start cannabis programs in their states. Two states that are considering legalizing medical marijuana in 2020 are Idaho and South Dakota.
Idaho
Idaho is considered a strict state and cannabis possession can result in years of jail time or expensive fines. Currently, the state does not even allow CBD with a low-THC content. Despite this, the state still may choose to legalize medical cannabis. Many of the surrounding states have already legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and the bordering country of Canada.
There is a proposal to put medical cannabis on the ballot for the upcoming elections in November, but it will be required 55,057 signatures by May 1 to be added. According to a poll in the Idaho Politics Weekly, 73% of people in Idaho support legalizing cannabis for medical use, while almost 43% of people in Idaho are in favor of legalizing recreational cannabis.
South Dakota
The state will have two ballot options in the upcoming November elections, allowing citizens to vote for legalized medical and recreational cannabis simultaneously. 25,524 signatures were collected to add the options to the ballot, surpassing the 16, 691 required signatures by December 2019. It is likely that in November, South Dakota will become the first state to allow people to vote for both medical and recreational cannabis at the same time.
In the past, the state has been critical about cannabis legalization. Several attempts have been made to legalize, but none have been successful. In 2018, legalization supporters were unable to collect enough signatures to move the decision to a vote. Currently, cannabis laws in South Dakota are still strict – fines can be expensive and simple possession of cannabis paraphernalia can result in a misdemeanor and up to 30 days in prison.
It is possible that legalization in these two states could encourage legalization efforts in other states. As more states legalize, it is becoming more likely that a federal cannabis law could be enacted. Although nationwide legalization may be a while off, 2020 will still be a big year for cannabis.