After a middling showing from cannabis in the November 2022 election (with state legalization measures going 2-for-5), it’s hard to say how political momentum may shape reform efforts in 2023. We’re as hopeful as ever, on one hand, but at the same time it’s not like legalization has sped up in any meaningful way. We’re still waiting with bated breath for action from the federal government, and most state legislatures present a Democrat-Republican schism that leaves cannabis as little more than a coin toss.
And yet we do enjoy prognosticating at the start of the year. Surely, by year’s end, at least a few states will have passed some measure of cannabis reform, advancing the fragmented U.S. market in some way. We report on those efforts throughout the year, and we’re taking our best shot at predicting what may happen.
Here, we’ve put together our annual list of states that are likely to legalize, states that might legalize, states “to watch” closely for signs of legalization, and wild cards—where surprises await in legislative sessions.
To find out which ones, click on Cannabis Business Times