2018 was an exceptional year for cannabis. Advocates and supporters of cannabis legalized cannabis in Canada for recreational adult use on October 17th of 2018. America also saw more states join the ranks of positive cannabis reform ending the year with 33 states having access to legal medical cannabis and 10 with legal recreational adult use cannabis.

America’s President Donald Trump also signed the 2018 Farm Bill which officially removed a form of cannabis called hemp from the Controlled Substance Act. Going into 2019 the House of Representatives is under Democratic control.

Moving into 2019

Several of the Democrats in the House of Representatives have made cannabis legalization a priority during their campaigns. 2019 is a year that will likely see many new bills introduced that support ending decades-old draconian cannabis prohibition.

In Oregon a bill is in the works that would allow the state of Oregon to transport cannabis to other states that have passed legal cannabis laws. If all goes to plan cannabis can start hitting the road from Oregon to elsewhere in the next two years.

United States Surgeon General has also expressed concern with the current scheduling of cannabis. He believes the scheduling impedes the medical community’s ability to effectively research and study cannabis and cannabinoid medicine therapies.

It’s Time for Change or All Will Stay the Same

Countries like the United States are going to have to look at seriously reforming their cannabis laws unless they want to fall behind in global trade. In addition, if they do not, they will continue to see the health and wellbeing of citizens decline.

Unless changes are made to current US laws regarding cannabis, companies making investments like Marlboro are also going to take their billion-dollar investments elsewhere which will significantly impact the American economy in a negative way.