Over the past seven months cannabis legalization advocates have achieved some remarkable victories in states across the nation. So far 2019 has been a hallmark year.
Those big wins include:
- Full adult-use legalization in Illinois, passed via the state Legislature
- The passage of long-overdue medical marijuana reforms in New Jersey
- Cannabis decriminalization in New York State
- A rapid rise in public support for legalization
- Progress on legalization and banking reform bills in Congress
- Near-unanimous agreement on federal cannabis legalization among presidential candidates
There have been setbacks as well. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut all failed to pass adult-use legalization measures. Back in January, those states looked to be on a fast track to passage. But along the way a number of state legislators got cold feet and backed away from the bills.