New York Legislation: In the last five weeks alone, the US has made big announcements which, you'd be forgiven for thinking, signalizes that the country is well on its way for an (albeit almost) total adoption of marijuana; if not recreationally, well then certainly medically. There is, without a doubt, a broader acceptance of cannabis happening across the country.
Let's look at some of this recent news.
New York Legislation
Possibly the biggest news of today comes straight out of New York City, where Governor Andrew Cuomo has just revealed that he has appointed a work-group to draft legislation for consideration in the upcoming session.
This brings New York another step closer to marijuana legalization.
A previous step also happened this week, when District Attorney Cyrus Vance announced that marijuana possession and use would no longer be a prosecutable offense in the city; a decision which may have prompted the Governor to act on bringing in a new definitive legislation for cannabis.
Back in January, a multi-agency study was commissioned by New York state which focused on recreational marijuana being legalized. The study was largely in favor of bringing legal recreational marijuana to the state.
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This proposed legislation would, of course, have to pass the legislature before it becomes law, but none-the-less this week marks a turning point for marijuana in New York City.
Moving further inland, Jefferson City in Missouri, also has some positive news today; its residents will soon get a chance to weigh in on three proposals to legalize medical marijuana in the state.
Missourians will decide three medical marijuana proposals; two would amend the state constitution to legalize medical marijuana and the third would change state law to allow for its use.
Petitions were approved by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to be put forward on the November 6th ballot.
And then, of course, the predominantly Republican state of Oklahoma, a little over one month ago passed the legalization of medical cannabis. This too was a vote that started by means of a public petition.
With the business opportunities that the cannabis industry would open for the US, it's no doubt too big a potential to miss.
Featured Image: Deposit Photos/belchonock
