24 states have legalized recreational marijuana, and that number could rise this year.
In 2023 three more states joined the list of those that have legalized recreational marijuana; Delaware, Minnesota and Ohio. Whether through the legislative or initiative process, multiple other states saw momentum build for legalization efforts last year, with proponents hoping to continue the wave in 2024.
With that in mind, below are the six most likely states to legalize marijuana this year.
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Florida
Proponents of an initiative to legalize recreational marijuana have submitted more than enough valid signatures for it to appear on the November, 2024 ballot. A challenge by the state’s attorney general based on technicalities has the Florida Supreme Court considering whether or not the proposal should be removed from the ballot, but most legal experts expect the court to allow it to remain.
Given it’s a constitutional amendment, the initiative needs support from 60% of voters to be passed into law. Polling released in November by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found support among likely voters to be well above that, at 67%.
If passed into law, the initiative would allow those 21 and older “to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise.” Licensed marijuana retail outlets would be allowed to distribute the plant, with any of the state’s licensed medical-marijuana dispensaries allowed to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute such products and accessories.”
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Pennsylvania
In November a legislative committee held a hearing to discuss recreational marijuana legalization. No specific agreement was reached, but the hearing itself was a clear indication that the issue is on the forefront of many lawmakers’ minds.
In May State Representative David Delloso, along with 20 cosponsors, filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana. In July State Senators Dan Laughlin (R) and Sharif Street (D) introduced separate bipartisan legislation that also would have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
Neither measure advanced out of their respective chambers, but with the Democrats recently taking control of the House of Representatives and Governor Josh Shapiro now saying he supports allowing state-run marijuana retail outlets, advocates are hoping momentum is on their side and passage of a marijuana bill could be possible in the coming legislative session.
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Hawaii
In March Senate Bill 669 to legalize recreational marijuana was passed by Hawaii’s full Senate and sent to the House of Representatives. The measure passed overwhelmingly, 22 to 3.
Despite such strong support the House did not act on the measure prior to the end of the legislative session, but proponents of the measure plan to continue pushing for legalization when the 2024 session begins in January. According to polling released earlier this year, the public is on their side, with 52% of adults in Hawaii in support of legalizing marijuana, with just 31% opposed and 17% undecided.
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Wisconsin
In October a coalition of 36 state lawmakers filed Senate Bill 486 and Assembly Bill 506to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older. The companion bills would legalize the personal possession of up to five ounces of marijuana, and the personal cultivation of up to six marijuana plants. Licensed marijuana stores would be authorized to sell marijuana and marijuana products, with a 15% tax placed on marijuana sales.
Although the legislation is not currently supported by the majority of Republicans, who control the state’s legislature, it is supported by Governor Tony Evers, who included marijuana legalization provisions in his proposed state budget this year.
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New Hampshire
In April New Hampshire’s House of Representatives voted 272 to 109 to pass a bill that would have legalized recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older.
The measure failed to receive a vote by the full Senate, leading to Governor Sununu signing into law in August legislation creating a commission designed to prepare the state for the legalization of marijuana and give recommendations on how lawmakers can most effectively achieve that goal.
In September a legislative committee held a work session on House Bill 544, a proposal filed by State Representative Daniel Eaton that would legalize recreational marijuana like alcohol.
