420 with CNW — Voters Could Decide on Marijuana
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As the wave to enact cannabis reform gains momentum across the country, we take a look at some of the states in which marijuana ballot measures may be on the cards this year.
In Ohio, advocates who submitted voter signatures last year were told that they needed an additional 13,062 voter signatures to see their initiative cleared by the secretary of state. On Jan. 13, 2022, this group turned in an extra 29,918 voter signatures and now await the verdict of state officials on whether the needed number of valid signatures was attained. The legislature will then have a chance to enact the reform, otherwise the measure will be voted on during this year’s ballot.
In Florida, campaigners are looking to reform the medical marijuana law that was approved by voters back in 2016. One measure is aimed at making changes to the list of the qualifying conditions by adding nine mental health conditions to that list of eligible health conditions if one is to use medical marijuana in the state. Another measure is altering the definition of “medical marijuana use” so that it encompasses the cultivation of a maximum of nine cannabis plants.
In Arkansas, voters may decide the fate of two possible initiatives. One campaign is seeking to legalize recreational cannabis for individuals who are at least 21 years old, while the other initiative is aimed at decriminalizing cannabis, giving limited protections to companies in the cannabis industry and creating regulations to govern the cannabis sector. The deadline for both campaigns to gather at least 89,151 voter signatures is July 8, 2022.
In Idaho, marijuana advocates are back to qualify an initiative to establish a medical cannabis program. Initially, they had wanted to see this initiative on the ballot in 2020, but COVID-19 brought their plans to a halt. However, they promised to return this year. May 1, 2022 is the deadline for the submission of voter signatures in support of this campaign, as well as another campaign designed to end the prohibition of recreational cannabis use by adult residents of the state.
In Oklahoma, there are three measures that could appear on this year’s ballot. Two of these measures are geared to make changes to Oklahoma’s constitution so that a recreational cannabis program can be implemented with sales taxed at 15% while the third measure aims at creating a new regulatory body to replace the current Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority.
South Dakota, Missouri and North Dakota also have campaigns underway to put cannabis policy reform measures on this year’s ballot. It remains to be seen which of these initiatives will eventually receiver voter endorsement and become law, thereby expanding the potential market for new and existing sector players such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC).
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