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What States will Legalize Weed in 2025?
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Current Landscape
A Pew Research poll shows that more than two-thirds of Americans support cannabis legalization. This change in perspective is reflected in marijuana’s current legal standing, being medically allowed in 39 states and recreationally allowed in 24 of those.
Such change in opinion also promotes political pressure. Even many previously opposing Republicans are switching sides and leaning into legalization. Usually, under the support of its potential for economic growth.
Still, with the recent election of President Donald J. Trump, advocates aren’t sure what the next four years will look like. On a federal level, there’s no chance of legalization coming with this administration. Most are hoping for a simple reschedule – putting marijuana as a Schedule III substance rather than a Schedule I.
For this reason, most advocates focus on state-by-state efforts. And with that, a few states have a lot of potential.
Which States Will Legalize Weed in 2025?
This past election, cannabis was on the ballot in five states. It failed in all of them, except for a medical program in Nebraska.
Since this election is so recent, lawmakers and advocates have yet to begin campaigns concerning the next election season. Still, there are some efforts already in the works that may lead to cannabis legalization. These include:
Wisconsin
Governor Tony Evers (D) of Wisconsin recently announced that cannabis should be a top priority in the state’s 2025 sessions. As a longstanding proponent of ending cannabis prohibition in the state, such news doesn’t come as a surprise.
Still, Evers faces challenges because Republicans hold the majority in the state’s senate and house. There is some hope – Democrats garnered several seats this last election, breaking the Republican supermajority.
However, due to this imbalance, most advocates agree that a comprehensive legalization measure may not pass until the 2026 elections.
Pennsylvania
Democratic Representatives Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel plan to introduce legislation that would decriminalize marijuana and develop a regulated market. In the co-sponsorship memo, the legislators wrote:
“As a state that continues to criminalize recreational cannabis, Pennsylvania is now an outlier – 24 states have legalized the practice, including 5 of the 6 states that border Pennsylvania.”
They continued: “But legal or not, Pennsylvanians are consuming marijuana, whether by visiting bordering states, buying unregulated hemp loophole products [i.e. delta-8 THC] at gas stations and vape shops, or purchasing in the illicit market.”
This bill aims to give tax revenue income back to communities.
Texas
Democratic state Representative Jessica González has filed a bill to legalize adult-use marijuana and create a regulated market for production and state. This would legally allow adults aged 21 or over to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana (including up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrates).
Democratic Representative Penny Morales Shaw has also sponsored House Bill 1146, which would broaden the state’s low-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) medical marijuana program.
Kansas
A recent report found more than 1,000 Kansans hold a medical marijuana card in the neighboring state of Missouri. Furthermore, an undocumented number are going to the same state for their recreational supply.
With that, many lawmakers feel now is the time to legalize medical marijuana in the state. Still, the push for medical marijuana reform has been going on for years now with no progress. The simple reason: lawmakers agree cannabis isn’t a priority.
This is unfortunate as another report found that 73% of Kansas residents were in support of medical marijuana, with another 61% in support of recreational.
Factors Driving Legalization
While legislation differs by state, most follow a similar blueprint. When it comes to the criminality of this plant, the Marijuana Policy Project lays out the cons of cannabis laws in the U.S. with the following points:
- Criminalization is a waste of public resources.
- It prevents law enforcement from focusing on real crime.
- Prohibition ruins the lives of many Americans by putting them through the criminal justice system.
- These laws are disproportionately enforced.
- They breed violence.
- Regulation is the only means to control cannabis consumption.
Such points have been one of the driving factors in states that have already legalized. However, you’ll notice a trend if you look at a weed map – most of these states are Blue.
One of the biggest reasons we haven’t seen major strides in legalization within the last couple of years is that efforts are now switching to Republican states. With that, how advocates go about these efforts also has to switch.
For Republicans, one of the biggest draws is the revenue it can produce. In 2022, legalized states collected $3 billion in revenue. This naturally holds a lot of potential to give back to communities, whether through healthcare, education, or safety.
Challenges and Future of the Marijuana Industry
Still, the biggest challenge here remains that most Republicans aren’t concerned with cannabis. It should be noted that this doesn’t directly mean opposition. We’ve seen plenty of Republicans switch their stance on cannabis, including President Trump.
Instead, this means that Republicans are more concerned with other current policies. And as such, cannabis will likely continue to take a seat on the back burner.
