Election 2016 : Marijuana Everywhere!

The next election cycle is quickly approaching. Although the Presidential race takes top billing, Marijuana reform is front and center like it never has been before. Consider this, in your lifetime, have Presidential candidates ever had to take a firm public stance on whether to allow legal Medical Marijuana? They certainly will need to in this election. The choice to allow legal Marijuana boils down to individual state rights, a topic both sides of the aisle seem to support.

While few people are single issue voters, this years turnout will determine the future course of legal Marijuana in the United States. Some say, the flood waters are here, big business has already started to inject the industry with millions of dollars to fund new businesses. Others see this election cycle as the chance to insert a finger into the dike. If the momentum can be slowed, possibly a reversal of existing Marijuana laws can be achieved.

The 24/7 Wall St. website recently compiled a list of "The Next 11 States to Legalize Marijuana". It is a wonderful, in-depth look at the situation and many of the mitigating factors associated. Definitely a recommended read - http://247wallst.com/special-report/2015/08/12/the-next-11-states-to-legalize-marijuana/

They suggest these states will be the next to Legalize -

• Massachusetts

• Nevada

• California

• New York

• Vermont

• Minnesota

• Connecticut

• Maryland

• Rhode Island

• Maine

• Delaware

In most of the 11 states that will soon face the option to legalize Marijuana, poll numbers have been showing a majority of residents supporting some form of legalization. Positive poll numbers don't always equal legislation passing though. Florida was an example of this in 2014, when MMJ laws failed by 2.38% of the votes, but they are back this year in attempts to pass MMJ legislation.

Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and Washington D.C. already allow recreational Marijuana. California is one of the likely states to pass recreational laws on the 2016 ballot. California was the first state to legalize Medical Marijuana in 1996 , under Proposition 215. You can find information about this initiative and the other 10 potential states here --> http://ballotpedia.org/Marijuana_on_the_ballot#tab=By_year

States listed below will be voting on a variety of initiatives ranging from MMJ use to recreational laws. We encourage you to get out there and make your voice heard in 2016.

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• California

• Florida

• Georgia

• Idaho

• Maine

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• New Mexico

• Ohio

• South Dakota

• Wyoming

Seniors are amongst the most active voting demographic, we have the chance to make meaningful changes this election cycle. Hopefully, we will empower ourselves and others to emerge from the shadows. Science has repeatedly shown medicinal values in Marijuana, anecdotal evidence exists in massive quantities and with the fading stigmas, we hope new laws will be the final encouragement that some people need in order to try this multi-purpose natural medicine.

Get out there and VOTE!

#legal