Expanding Legalization: Which State is Next? Pt II

Read Part 1 here.

Since the early days of legalization in states like California, Colorado, and Washington, the landscape of the cannabis industry has changed dramatically. In fact, the United States cannabis market of today hardly resembles what it did just 8 short years ago. In the central United States, recreational and medical legalization efforts may be expanding to include states like Missouri, Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Missouri

Missouri legalized medical marijuana in 2018, although legal sales of cannabis did not start until late 2020. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services manages the industry in the region including the licensing process.

The Missouri cannabis industry got off at a great start, with “about 125 medical cannabis dispensaries open across the state.” While Missouri originally issued 192 dispensary licenses, not all dispensaries are operational yet.

Due to expanding legalization, and as seen in other U.S. states that have legalized medical marijuana, certain Missouri residents are now pushing for adult-use legalization. It is possible that recreational cannabis will make the ballot in 2022.

Idaho

Currently, Idaho has no legal cannabis industry – either medical or recreational.

Since Idaho has not yet had a successful legalization effort, advocacy groups in the region are at the “ground floor” in even getting cannabis recognized as a legitimate medicine. Part of this process is presenting the people of Idaho with qualifying conditions that medical cannabis is known to help. If the people of Idaho are convinced of the value of medical marijuana, and enough signatures are gathered, they could be voting on legalization in 2022.

One advocacy group, the Idaho Citizens Coalition, wrote the Personal Adult Marijuana Decriminalization Act (PAMDA) to outline a potential legal market. Interestingly, the proposed adult-use market would not allow for the legal sales of cannabis within Idaho’s borders – but allows for people to bring it back from neighboring states for personal use.

South Dakota

Voters in South Dakota chose to legalize both recreational and adult-use cannabis in the 2020 elections. This historic legislation made South Dakota the first state to ever legalize both in a single vote.

Since then, not much progress has been made. According to Measure 26, as of July 21, 2021, medical patients are able to possess small amounts of cannabis and grow up to 3 plants. However, there is no place to legally purchase medical cannabis in South Dakota.

As of right now, advocacy groups are hard at work in South Dakota in hopes of getting recreational cannabis use back on the ballot in 2022. Additionally, law makers advanced a bill this past October with the purpose of legalizing adult-use cannabis.

Nebraska

The state of Nebraska has not yet legalized medical or adult-use cannabis, though the state came extremely close to legalizing medical cannabis with LB 474, also known as the “Medicinal Cannabis Act.” While medical cannabis has a good deal of backing with the citizens of Nebraska and certain politicians, it has not been enough to pass the in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature.

Looking to 2022, the group Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is circulating 2 petitions that propose placing the legalization of medical cannabis on the ballot. In order to succeed, the group needs to get nearly 250,000 signatures of support before early July 7, 2022. Maybe Nebraska will join the many states already expanding the legalization of cannabis in the United States.

How Can Sapphire Risk Help?

Tony Gallo and the team of experts and consultants at Sapphire Risk Advisory Group have worked in 35 states and are prepared to work in Missouri, Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with more security best practices and cannabis industry updates!