US may legalize cannabis at the federal level

US federal marijuana law has long been at odds with the state's actual legal situation. Some or all of cannabis is legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Two more states are on the verge of decriminalization. And while California makes $300 million from legal cannabis, federal law puts it on par with amphetamines and heroin. The resolution of this contradiction has been brewing for a long time, and finally, bill S.420 was submitted to the US Senate, which should legalize marijuana throughout the country.

After the bill passes and enters into force, the DEA will have 60 days to remove cannabis from the list of narcotic substances. Also, law S.420 provides for the taxation of marijuana, the issuance of permits for retail trade and special labeling, like alcohol and tobacco products. The adoption of the bill will be a big step forward and an example for the rest of the world. So far, only one G20 country, Canada, has fully legalized marijuana, and according to recent studies, this has not led to an increase in smokers. Since November 2018, the use of cannabis for medical purposes has been legal in the UK.

The states of New Mexico and Hawaii are preparing to legalize marijuana

New Mexico and the Hawaii Senate committee have already approved a cannabis legalization bill. If local conventions pass it, adults over 21 can store up to 57g of marijuana and grow up to 6 plants for their own use. The bill also spells out mechanisms for regulating the legal cannabis market and an amnesty for some articles related to marijuana trafficking.

At the beginning of the year, there was a forecast that 15 more US states would legalize cannabis in 2019.