Marijuana is legal for more than half of Americans

Marijuana is legal for more than half of Americans, per Axios.

More than 155 million Americans will reside in states where marijuana is legal following the approval of legalization referendums in Maryland and Missouri.

This brings the total to 21 states where individuals aged 21 and older can legally possess marijuana, marking a significant change since Colorado and Washington pioneered full legalization ten years ago.

The approval in Maryland garnered nearly two-thirds of votes, while Missouri supported legal weed by a 6% margin. However, Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota rejected recreational legalization measures, marking the first time multiple states have defeated such referendums on Election Day.

President Joe Biden recently declared his intention to grant pardons to individuals with federal marijuana possession convictions, affecting approximately 6,500 people. Additionally, he directed federal agencies to assess whether marijuana should undergo reclassification under federal law. Andrew Kline, a lawyer at Perkins Coie and former director of public policy for the National Cannabis Industry Association, described the potential reclassification of marijuana as "potentially completely transformational for this industry." He emphasized that it marks the first instance of bold federal-level action in this regard.