Cannabis Reform Already Tops List of Ballot Initiatives for 2016!

As the nation prepares for holiday feasts and
cannabis reform proponents celebrate the fact that there are now double the
number of recreational cannabis legal states, it is very clear that cannabis
reform of a much greater kind is already shaping up to be probably the most
important, far reaching political litmus test for 2016.

Oregon’s market development will drive
recreational sales and focus all next year as the market now moves towards rec
realization.  A nasty fight about taxes
looms as the successful ballot initiative faces its first challenge— a proposal
by the Oregon state organization representing the cities who wish to add local
sales taxes beyond those just approved by voters.  This is a major fight brewing, and has been
since the beginning of midsummer when the prices of licensing went through the roof
in every state. High taxes, particularly in Washington, have been criticized by
both the business community and users.

Slow market development in Alaska (post
recreational vote) is also going to push the issue in 2016 elections. Alaska,
which had no infrastructure set up on the dispensary front at the time of the
vote, will face challenges more similar to Washington State this year than
Colorado.

Other interesting aspects downstream of
this year’s vote will continue to push the conversation forward in the District
of Columbia as well.  It is widely
expected at this point that the temperature on Capitol Hill has thawed to the
point, driven by voter reform, to allow the rec market here to proceed.

These real time market developments will
also impact voter initiatives now on the table in Nevada, Arizona, California,
Texas, Florida, Connecticut and Maine (at minimum) who are now in the process
of qualifying (or in Nevada’s case celebrating that they have) for putting
either rec or medical reform in front of voters or state legislatures as soon
as next year, or qualifying for ballot presence in 2016. 

In fact, Nevada Organizers just submitted
over 200,000 signatures to qualify for rec use in 2016 and they are likely to
be only the first, not the last.  With
the infamous Texas ‘Lege now set to begin debate in early January, the process
of reform will continue to roll on, even in some of the most intransigent
states from the beginning of the year.

Cannabis reform is in the air and it is
likely to stay that way as a pungent reminder as more change is to come.