Voters and lawmakers in three more states — Maryland, Missouri, and Rhode Island — enacted legalization laws. In total, 21 states — comprising nearly one-half of the US population — have now adopted laws regulating the responsible adult use of marijuana, production, and retail sales.
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Multiple states adopted laws 2022 limiting employers’ ability to either fire or refuse to hire employees solely based upon their off-the-job cannabis use. Specifically, lawmakers in California, the District of Columbia, and Rhode Island prohibited employers from discriminating against workers who test positive for carboxy-THC on a drug test, while protections for patients were enacted in several other states (e.g., Louisiana, Missouri, and Utah). In total, eight jurisdictions — California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Montana, and Rhode Island — have enacted statutes limiting employers’ ability to hire/fire workers for their marijuana use in certain circumstances, while more than half of medical cannabis access states have enacted similar workplace protections.
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President Joe Biden signed legislation into law facilitating the federal approval of cannabis-specific clinical research and drug development. It is the first time in over 50 years that a President has signed a stand-alone piece of legislation loosening federal marijuana prohibitions.
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The percentage of Americans who support adult-use legalization remains at record highs. National survey data compiled by Data for Progress reported that 74% of likely voters now “support ending the federal ban on marijuana.” Separate polls released this year by Gallup, Fox News, Monmouth University, YouGov, Politico, and several others similarly reported that the majority of Americans back legalizing cannabis.
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There is no buyer’s remorse on the part of the American people. In the era of state-level legalization, voters’ support for this issue has grown rapidly — an indication that these policy changes have been successful and are comporting with voters’ desires and expectations.
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What lies ahead for 2023? It will be one of our busiest years yet with several states, such as Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, working to advance legalization efforts legislatively. In a March special election, Oklahoma voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not to legalize marijuana for adults.
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Federally, we must also keep the pressure on Congress, building new alliances with incoming politicians, growing the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, and finding common ground on pro-reform policies that can succeed.
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We know you, NORML Nation, is relentless in the pursuit of marijuana justice. It's you who power our movement, and it's you whom NORML represents. Together, we will legalize America and bring cannabis freedom to all.
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