With the 2024 election behind us, it’s clear that no new state will be legalizing recreational marijuana this year. But there’s always hope for next year!
Currently 24 states have laws allowing for the possession and use of recreational marijuana, with all but Virginia also allowing licensed sales. Below is a look at the three states most likely to join these 24 in 2025.
Pennsylvania
In September, a bipartisan group of 17 House members introduced a comprehensive legalization bill allowing those 21 and over to possess and purchase up to 30 grams of marijuana, with licensed marijuana businesses regulated by the Department of Agriculture. Although the measure will need to be refiled in January, it was a clear sign of where some lawmakers would like to see the discussion go.
Following Tuesday’s election, in which Democrats held their one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House, Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D) confirmed there’s “will in the House to move forward” on legalization next session, saying “That is a new area that the Senate will be likely having to deal with in the very near future”.
Currently Republicans control the Senate, but with the above-mentioned measure having bipartisan support, marijuana legalization proponents are optimistic about 2025’s prospects.
Polling by Change Research, released last month, shows strong support for legalization in Pennsylvania, with over 60% of voters in five key House districts favoring regulated and taxed cannabis.
Hawaii
Senate Bill 3335, which would have legalized recreational marijuana for everyone 21+ and led to the creation of the Hawaii Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board to oversee the legal marijuana industry, passed through the Senate earlier this year by a vote of 19 to 6, and was subsequently approved by three House committees. However, it was killed by the chair of the House Finance Committee, meaning it never received a full House vote despite supporters being confident they had the votes.
Now, proponents of legalization plan to file a similar bill in 2025, with hopes that public pressure can help push the measure through the legislature.
A survey conducted last year found that 52% of Hawaiian adults support legalization, with 31% opposed.
New Hampshire
Earlier this year the New Hampshire Senate voted 14 to 10 to pass House Bill 1633. If enacted, the measure would have allowed individuals 21 and older to possess and use up to two ounces of marijuana, 10 grams of marijuana concentrates, and marijuana products containing up to 2,000 milligrams of THC. Additionally, it would create a system for licensed and regulated marijuana retail outlets, operated by the state, with a cap of 15 stores statewide and no more than one store per municipality. The bill also includes a marijuana sales tax set at 12.5%.
Despite having the support of the Senate and Governor Chris Sununu, the House of Representatives rejected the measure in a close 178 to 173 vote.
Advocates of the bill are planning to bring the issue back before the legislature in 2025, with just three more votes in the House needed to send the bill to the governor
A poll conducted earlier this year revealed that 65% of New Hampshire voters support legalizing marijuana.
