Which eastern state will legalize first?

[BabyFacedFinster]

In terms of recreational use, there seem to be a lot of highs and lows for the eastern states as each has their trials and tribulations.

Vermont had a lot of promise a few weeks ago, but the legislature just voted on a weak, bullshit version designed to continue research on the topic... and put it off.

Massachusetts has a nasty group of politicians fighting it tooth and nail.

Maine, NY, Rhode Island?

Thoughts?

 

[TeeJay1952]

It is always baby steps. I live in Med state. I am getting 3rd card renewal. I must have note from Doctor permitting me to grow my own.. I have to pay my first Doctor to send files to "Specialist" who tells State it is OK for me to determine my treatment regimen. I then pay State for this right. Pretty stupid and cumbersome but compared to jail and confiscation not so bad.
I can't wait for full legalization so I can finally find out if the "Specialist" is an opportunist or proponent. I feel more free than ever before but there is freedom left to obtain.

 

[nosmoking]

DC is already legal for recreational. There is no dispensary system for rec however, so it's still all grow your own or "trade only" up to 2 ounces. Because of this the DC black market for Marijuana has only gotten larger IMO.

MD, NC, DE, OH, ME, MA, RI, NJ and VT have decriminalized it.

VA, however treats a Possession of Marijuana like a DUI.

OHIO and PA both have recreation support, however they have failed at their past attempts. This may be their year but I doubt it as I think the presidential election will take too much focus away from real issues. I honestly believe Vermont may be the first. They are the most laid back about it and already have a legal medical program. They also have support for recreational.

Norml has a good amount of info for this and they even have a map where you can see what states have medical and which have decriminalized and which have actually gone as far as legalization. You can find that map here- http://norml.org/states

I feel like the Southeast has made no progression with marijuana. NC is the only state in the Southeast region to have decriminalized. No medical or rec for the Southeast region. It's going to be a state in the Northeast region that goes legal first. I too am interested in which one!

 

[GetLeft]

Hmmmm. NJ? Christy gets booted out and they do an over-night about-face (maybe to keep AC afloat)?

PA? Heck I didn't think medical would make it here so quickly! Why not rec? Someone in the PA NJ NY MD DE area has to be thinking abead.

I'd say VT but they've got a funny way of making rules up there. Forward thinking as a state but at the local level they can be as backward thinking as the next.

My money's on NJ.

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

Massachusetts has some misguided politicians fighting it:
https://www.leafly.com/news/headlin...-effort-to-fight-legalization-in-massachusett
"Legalization would "put our children at risk and threaten to reverse our progress combating the growing opioid epidemic so this industry can rake in millions in profits," said Baker, a Republican who believes marijuana can be a so-called gateway drug to more dangerous narcotics."

Idiot! Cannabis is not a gateway to heroin. Cannabis helps get people off heroin. Moron

Vermont has no chance for another couple years.

 

[Delta3DStudios]

Some cities in Florida have started to decriminalize small amounts (3/4 an ounce), Orlando is the next big city to decriminalize - the vote is happening this Monday.

There's big talk that Florida Medical may be put on the ballot this year, but we'll see - it failed last time it was on the ballot, but hopefully there's more support this time

 

[ClearBlueLou]

I'll say an odd word for Georgia being the first in the east:

YES, there are plenty of signs that the state is in fact one big plantation - not the least of which is that the Gov is 'smart' enough to know which side has the butter, and to do as he's told (re: Ga's version of NC HB2, where Deal did exactly that - to much outcry from the 'religious' community).

The simple fact is that slavery and 'heritage' has always been more about MONEY and the "born to rule" mentality that's infected the South since the secessionary bs began than it has been about the specific character of the folks at the bottom of the heap...being at the bottom of the heap justifies what happens down there, "nuthin' personal".

There is in fact MONEY in legalized cannabis, and the salvers here are as I say all about the money, and they'll take it from anyone, every chance they get. The nonsense 'battle' over CBD oil pretty much proves it: the entire back-room wrangling was as much about adjusting idiot attitudes as it was about any particular principle, no NORML required.

With all the 'groundwork laid this year, I expect that next year they will all just agree to line up and take the money.

 

[throwawaytre3s]

As a resident of New England I think it'll be one of them, but which is anyones guess. RI won't do it until a few years after MA does, VT will probably be the first in a few years, once the push gets stronger. Maine will do it's thing, but honestly, as a former resident, it's full of a lot of backwards hill folk who are terrified of the shadows on the wall, but overall aren't bothered by medical. So it'll probably come after MA and RI. CT will follow shortly afterwards.

 

[ghost]

OHIO and PA both have recreation support, however they have failed at their past attempts.

To be fair, Ohio didn't really fail. The vast majority of Ohioans are in favor of legalization, but the bill last year that was seeking to enshrine a corporate monopoly into the state constitution in perpetuity, was so bad and corrupt that the people had no choice but to vote it down.

 

[TeeJay1952]

@ghost It is a race tween Michigan and Ohio once again. Whoever is first I hope the other follows. (Hard to say that to a Buckeye)

 

[ghost]

@ghost It is a race tween Michigan and Ohio once again. Whoever is first I hope the other follows. (Hard to say that to a Buckeye)

Its just weird all the law and things. While MI has medical, the non-medical penalties are still draconian harsh. Meanwhile Ohio has decriminalized cannabis back in the 70's, but we no longer have a medical exemption due to shady lawmakers removing it many years back.

Though I know it was tongue in cheek, as to OH vs MI, I think that is more just the divisive nature of the power structure, and creating rivals where there should be none. OH and MI have so much in common, there is no reason why there should be so much of an "us vs them" mentality, and thus, there still is.

Cheers!

 

[CarolKing]

If your state has a good medical cannabis law that includes pain that might work well for the majority of the residence. A certification for cannabis that is assessable for patients too.

Also a law that includes flowers, medibles as well as concentrates. Washington State had a real lax medical cannabis law here. There was no oversight basically. We've had medical cannabis since 1998.

So now that cannabis is legal the state just rolled the medical into the recreational law. The state has its nose into everything now. They are taxing it to the hilt and has screwed over the patients in the mean time. The only growing is through state mandated farms and stores. Patients will be able to grow 15 plants if a doc signs off on it. They are allowing four person co ops. Patients will get 10% of the tax removed if they have their name on a registry. I don't grow my own meds.

I will renew my med cannabis card because I want to continue to buy and stock up before this July when the new law goes into affect. I foresee a lot of black market cannabis that will continue to be grown. I thought legal would be a good thing. It didn't turn out that way for me.

I'm hoping for medical cannabis for all the states. Cannabis should be legal without all the regulations and amount limits. I agree with a fair tax for cannabis. I don't agree with the state to be so involved in every step of the way.

Sorry a bit off topic.

 

[nosmoking]

To be fair, Ohio didn't really fail. The vast majority of Ohioans are in favor of legalization, but the bill last year that was seeking to enshrine a corporate monopoly into the state constitution in perpetuity, was so bad and corrupt that the people had no choice but to vote it down.

Whether you want to say they failed to bring a proper plan to the table or they failed to get an improper plan to pass your still saying they failed and I think we are on the same page!

 

[BabyFacedFinster]

I think all marijuana is medicinal in some form. Even with recreational folks, if you enjoy it and it relieves stress then it helps your body.

It is a shame that there is so much hypocrisy and ignorance about such a beneficial plant. Legalization may come for separate states but it will be a long time before vaping cannabis will be looked at the same as enjoying a glass of red wine. I think it will take a change in government leadership and lobbists from the "just say no" crowd to the millennial generation and beyond.

 

[stinkytofus]

Hopefully new york

 

[Crohnie]

For 2016 ballots: IMO, in this order.

1. Maine

2. Connecticut

3. Rhode Island

 

[Baron23]

"Legalization would "put our children at risk and threaten to reverse our progress combating the growing opioid epidemic so this industry can rake in millions in profits," said Baker, a Republican who believes marijuana can be a so-called gateway drug to more dangerous narcotics."

Not this person (Baker...not BabyFaced) is a complete moron. Wow, hard to believe he pulls a salary from the public trough for this kind of drivel.