2024 has already been a historic year for marijuana reform, and it’s shaping up to be even more significant with New Hampshire, Florida, and South Dakota all on track to legalize marijuana within the next six months.
(Photo credit: Getty Images).
While several other states could legalize marijuana this year, the three mentioned above not only have a real chance of doing so within the next six months, they seem increasingly likely to do so with each passing day.
That said, here’s a breakdown of the three states set to legalize marijuana this year.
New Hampshire
By a 14 to 9 vote, New Hampshire’s full Senate voted this week to pass legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana through its second reading, with one final vote required. The measure has already passed the House of Representatives 239 to 136, though it will need to go back to the House for a final vote of concurrence once it passes the Senate’s third reading, given it was amended in the Senate.
New Hampshire’s governor has long opposed legalizing marijuana, but he now says he will sign into law a marijuana legalization bill if it featured state-operated marijuana stores, as does the Senate version of the above-mentioned bill.
New Hampshire’s full Senate is set to vote next week to pass the measure through its final reading. If the House concurs with the Senate’s changes, it will be sent to Governor Chris Sununu. If the House does not concur, a conference committee will be established so the two chambers can coalesce around one bill text.
Florida
In November, voters will decide on Amendment 3, which would allow individuals aged 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates. These products would be available for purchase through licensed marijuana retail outlets and medical marijuana dispensaries that choose to obtain a dual license.
A University of North Florida poll released in November found that 67% of likely voters support Amendment 3, surpassing the 60% threshold required for the measure to become law as a constitutional amendment.
As of April, the campaign supporting Amendment 3 has raised over $55 million, exceeding the funding of any previous legalization campaign. For context, proponents of California’s successful Proposition 64 raised $25 million in 2016, while those behind Ohio’s Issue 2 (approved last year) raised just $7 million.
South Dakota
South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws recently submitted approximately 30,000 signatures for their initiative to legalize recreational marijuana for individuals aged 21 and older. This count significantly exceeds the 17,508 signatures required to qualify the measure for the November 2024 presidential election ballot. Although the initiative will not be officially placed on the ballot until the state confirms that a sufficient number of these signatures are valid (from registered South Dakota voters), the group has submitted enough signatures that more than 40% would need to be invalid for the measure to fail to make the ballot.
If enacted, the initiative would permit individuals aged 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at a private residence. Additionally, it would authorize a system of licensed and regulated marijuana stores to distribute marijuana and marijuana products.
For a list of the three states on track to legalize marijuana in 2025, click here.
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