According to Gallup polls, more than two-thirds of Americans support legalizing cannabis for adults’ use. State-by-state polling shows majority support in every single state. Yet only 21 states (and D.C.) have passed laws to legalize and regulate cannabis for individuals over 21.
Those states that have legalized cannabis are blue, red, and purple: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. (Voters in South Dakota passed a legalization law in November 2020, but it was overturned in court.)
MPP played a leading role in the campaigns to enact 12 of the 21 legalization laws, including the first two states to legalize cannabis through the state legislature, rather than the ballot box — Illinois and Vermont.
Below you will find more information about those laws and how they are working, along with materials to make the case for allowing adults to use a substance that is safer than alcohol.
NOTE: Most of these materials have not been updated yet to reflect that Missouri and Maryland voters legalized cannabis on November 8, 2022, bringing the total number of legalization states to 21.
The Case for Legalizing Cannabis and Regulating Sales