Voters in five states will decide on marijuana legalization measures this November, in what could be a big win for the legalization movement in states such as New Jersey and Arizona. As the vote nears, it appears that pro-pot campaigns are flush with cash while anti-marijuana groups are under funded. That’s a big switch from 2016, when major donors spent millions in a failed attempt to derail legalization. In 2020, advocates for adult-use legalization in Montana have raised more than $7 million, and in Arizona backers have kicked in $3.5 million—mostly from cannabis companies and PACs. If polls are correct, the cash-rich legalization supporters are likely to steamroll to victory.
Meanwhile, the issue of marijuana decriminalization was briefly mentioned during nomination hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, when New Jersey Senator Cory Booker spoke about racial disparities in the enforcement of marijuana laws. Booker didn’t ask any specific questions about cannabis policy issues, while Barrett did say she’s had regular discussions about the topic throughout her career.
And finally, an analysis of posts on social media site Reddit reveals that consumers of CBD products regularly use them for health conditions that have other, proven treatments. Nearly two-thirds claimed CBD helped with mental health conditions, including autism and depression, and 1 in 4 said a CBD product helped with orthopedic problems, despite the fact that only one CBD-based drug has been approved by the FDA (for a rare form of epilepsy). A flood of unsubstantiated therapeutic claims by CBD makers is fueling the use of the marijuana-derived compound, possibly endangering public health if patients ignore or downplay conventional therapies.