The new year is just around the corner. With it comes new goals, aspirations, and plenty of political speculation.
Cannabis advocates are already guessing what states could pass plant-centric reform in 2024. Also still on the table is the federal rescheduling of marijuana, which many predict could come ahead of November’s presidential election.
Several states are poised to tackle cannabis legalization next year. From competing bills in the Midwest to a well-funded initiative in the South, here are some states that could be next to legalize.
Hawaii
The Aloha State came incredibly close to legalizing adult-use cannabis earlier this year after SB 669 passed by a landslide in the state Senate. However, the bill was not scheduled for a vote in the House, further delaying reform.
Efforts were recently boosted by the introduction of a new cannabis legalization roadmap presented by Hawaii’s Attorney General Anne Lopez. The legislation calls for a 10 percent cannabis sales tax and a 4.25 percent excise tax. An emphasis on bringing legacy operators into the legal market is a big component of the measure.
Hawaii was an early adopter of medical marijuana, passing legislation in 2000. Adult use has remained more controversial, but with the AG, Governor, and Senate on board, 2024 could be the year of full legalization.
South Dakota
Voters in South Dakota approved an adult-use legalization bill in 2020, as well as a bill to legalize medical marijuana. However, the recreational bill was eventually overturned due to an alleged violation of South Dakota’s single-subject rule for ballot measures. Another adult-use bill failed in 2022.
Cannabis advocates may have another shot at adult-use legalization in 2024. Two proposals have been issued, although it remains to be seen which, if any, will end up on the ballot come November.
The first measure, supported by the group South Dakotans For Better Marijuana Laws, would legalize the “possession, use, and distribution” of cannabis for adults 21 and over. The second initiative sets up a regulatory framework for a legal cannabis market in addition to legalizing possession and home cultivation. The latter is still awaiting a final recommendation from the state’s attorney general, at which point signatures of support for ballot inclusion could begin.
Florida
A measure to legalize cannabis in Florida has earned more than enough signatures to land on the 2024 election ballot. However, a challenge to the initiative recently reached the state Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide if the bill will reach the voters. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed the motion, arguing that the bill is “confusing” for people who may not understand that marijuana would still be a federally illegal substance even if it’s legalized in the state.
Smart & Safe Florida, the political committee behind the measure, has seen incredible financial support from multi-state operators currently running medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. Trulieve has donated more than $39 million alone. Until the Florida Supreme Court rules on the measure, it remains to be seen if the money was well spent.
Nebraska
Medical cannabis advocates in the Cornhusker State are hoping 2024 is the year Nebraska finally adopts reform. Nebraskans For Medical Marijuana is heading up efforts to get two measures on the ballot next year. One would offer protections for medical cannabis patients and caregivers, while the other would create a regulated market.
A similar measure failed to qualify for the 2022 ballot. In 2020, a medical marijuana bill did garner enough signatures for the election but was overturned by the Nebraska Supreme Court. Advocates of the 2024 initiatives must collect close to 125,000 signatures by July to put the issue to the general voter pool.
For cannabis advocates in the places above, 2024 could be a year of significant progress. Federal marijuana legalization may be on the horizon, but it will likely still be up to the states to decide if they want to adopt reform.
