Marijuana Business Magazine October 2018

CANNABUS¬NESS BY THE NUMBERS F rom a legalization standpoint, 2018 has the potential to be another banner year for the cannabis industry. Advocates in two decidedly conservative states, Missouri and Utah, gathered enough signatures to get medical marijuana on the ballot. Meanwhile, voters in Michigan and North Dakota – which also helped elect Donald Trump in 2016 – will decide the fate of recreational cannabis ballot initiatives in their states in November. Earlier this year, Vermont and Oklahoma passed legalization measures, meaning a total of six states could legalize some form of cannabis by the end of 2018. By contrast, only one state – West Virginia – legalized marijuana in 2017. Here’s a closer look at the legalization landscape: Marijuana Legalization Efforts Ramping Up in 2018 Source: Marijuana Business Daily, U.S. Census Bureau Number of states that already have passed legalization measures in 2018. Vermont legalized the possession – but not sale – of recreational marijuana through the Legislature in early 2018, while Oklahoma voters in July approved a ballot initiative legalizing medical cannabis by a 14-point margin. Number of states with initiatives on the 2018 ballot to legalize medical marijuana. Voters in Utah and Missouri will go to the polls Nov. 6 to potentially legalize marijuana in their states for the first time. Number of states with initiatives on the 2018 ballot to legalize recreational marijuana. Legalization advocates in North Dakota and Michigan gathered enough signatures to put adult-use cannabis on the 2018 ballot, while similar campaigns in Arizona and Oklahoma came up short. Percentage of the U.S. population that will live in a state with recreational marijuana if initiatives in Michigan and North Dakota pass. Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in nine states plus the District of Columbia, and 21% of the U.S. population lives in a state where adult-use cannabis has been legalized. Portion of the U.S. population that will live in a state with legal cannabis if voters in both Utah and Missouri pass medical marijuana legalization initiatives in November. Currently, 31 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, and 65% of the U.S. population lives in a state with legal cannabis. 68% 25% 2 2 2 10 • Marijuana Business Magazine • October 2018