More States Legalize Recreational and Medical Marijuana

The article, “More States Legalize Recreational and Medical Marijuana,” featured in SHRM, discussed how voters overwhelmingly approved state ballot measures to permit marijuana use.

"Attitudes seem to be changing about marijuana use," said Danielle Urban.  "Of course, some people don't think it should be legal, but overall many people appear to think that the money and efforts spent on enforcing marijuana laws should be spent on other priorities."

California will be an interesting state to watch because it has one of the largest economies in the world, Danielle said.

What happens in Arkansas and Florida will also be worth noting because the southern states generally haven't tolerated any marijuana use, Danielle said. It will be interesting to see if their medicinal laws are a pathway to legalizing recreational use in those states and if these new laws prove to be an inroad into the South, she added.

While President Barack Obama's administration made the decision not to enforce federal laws that conflict with state marijuana laws, it's difficult to predict if President-elect Donald Trump's administration will take the same stance, Danielle noted.

To read the full article, please visit SHRM.