And the First State to Announce Cannabis Legalization Initiatives for the 2016 Ballot Is. . .

The first state to announce plans to put legalization
on the ballot for 2016 has officially come forth, and is none other than Nevada.

According to The
Washington Post, The Marijuana Policy Project released a statement this
weekend that the measure in Nevada has received more than twice the necessary
signatures needed to pass, meaning it will definitely be brought to a vote.

“Voters will have the opportunity to end marijuana
prohibition next year and replace it with a policy that actually makes sense,” stated
Mason Tvert who runs communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, in their
statement.

The MPP is the same group that helped Colorado and Alaska
legalize. Although those states went the route of trying to get citizen votes
in order to legalize, this new initiative will be spread through a legislative
ballot. The group says they also plan on trying a similar tactic in Arizona, California,
Maine, and Massachusetts for 2016, and then Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont in time for 2017 legalization.

If this new measure passes, it would legalize up to one ounce
of recreational cannabis for possession by adults, similar to the rulings in
other states. The industry would also be licensed, regulated, and taxed by the
state department, like other legal states as well. The tax that is being
suggested is set at fifteen percent, and the revenue will go to funding public
grade schools.

So far, most legislators have not made public statements
about how they feel regarding this law. Although these new measures will
undoubtedly face some opposition, this seems to be the next logical step for
the brave new world of cannabis legislation and legalization.