Elections are creeping closer and closer, and while cannabis might not be on the ballot here in Oregon, it is in other places in the country. Though we might not be voting on these measures and bills, it is still important to be informed when it comes to cannabis nationally. Legislation tends to copy and paste across state lines, and in these tumultuous times, it’s our responsibility to stay informed and be active participants in our society.

It’s a good idea to look at the big picture of things when it comes to voting. Sure, we may not have measures here in Oregon, but elections still matter, especially for us as stoners and cannabis lovers, because local elections have a great impact. Local elections matter even if they don’t seem to at face value. Upset with the zoning of your city or town and how far out all the dispensaries are? Your local elected officials have a role in that. State-level elections also matter, because state officials set the taxes on cannabis. This means that you have to do your research when it comes to voting.

While party-voting has been most people’s approach to voting in elections since we turned 18, it is more pertinent now to be an informed and well-researched voter than just a party voter. Just because someone is a part of the same political party doesn’t mean that they feel the same way about cannabis (and so many other social problems and concerns). That is why doing your research is important and also not something that should be left to the last minute.

When it comes to cannabis on the ballot, there are typically four main areas that bills focus on: legalization, decriminalization, medicalization, and home cultivation. Legalization traditionally means that cannabis won’t be an illegal substance (on the state level) and has some level of state oversight. Decriminalization is important to understand because it doesn’t take away the illegality of cannabis; it just means that people aren’t charged with criminal penalties for possessing cannabis. Medicalization is when cannabis is legalized for medicinal use and requires medical cards from a medical professional. Home cultivation is related to the ability to grow cannabis plants at home for personal use.

Legalization

There are only two states with active legalization bills on the ballot. There were originally 14 states that had bills, but 12 are no longer viable. North Carolina has three separate bills: H413, S350, and S1072, while Pennsylvania has four different bills: SB120, HB20, HB1735, and HB1107. While both states are proposing legalization with these bills, Pennsylvania’s are focused on state-run dispensaries.

Decriminalization

Pennsylvania is the only state with active bills for decriminalization on the ballot. SB75 and HB758 are aimed at lowering the fine for possession to $25 and a $100 fine for smoking cannabis in public. With legalization on the table alongside these bills, they wouldn’t cancel each other out, but rather would make it so that if you are charged for possession, you won’t be in financial ruin from it. If legalization doesn’t pass in Pennsylvania, the decriminalization can still have positive effects, mainly for the financial impact being lessened when it comes to possession.

Medical Cannabis

Georgia’s bill has already become law, making it a fully medical state. North Carolina is the only other state with medicalization bills: HB1011 and SB984. These two bills would allow North Carolina to become a medical cannabis state and also integrate medical cannabis research. If North Carolina’s passes, the state will join Georgia as a state with a comprehensive medical cannabis program. Comprehensive medical cannabis programs are state- or territory-regulated frameworks that allow patients to legally use cannabis products containing more than just low-THC or CBD for certified medical conditions.

Home Cultivation

New Jersey and Pennsylvania are the only states with active bills relating to home cultivation. New Jersey’s bills would allow for recreational smokers to grow up to six plants at home, while medical smokers could grow between eight and 10 depending on which bills are passed (S2564 or S1758). Pennsylvania’s bill proposes that cannabis smokers can grow up to five plants at home, but they must be enclosed and locked.

While none of these bills directly impact us here in Oregon, they are important to be aware of for many reasons: in case you ever travel to that state, if you ever move there, and, most importantly, to be aware of the broader cannabis legal landscape. Until we have federal legalization, being well-informed is essential to ensure you are not unknowingly breaking the law, but also to make sure rights we already have regarding cannabis use aren’t being rolled back. So, be sure to do your research and stay informed because the legal landscape is always in flux, and most political candidates don’t make cannabis a central aspect of their campaigns, but they do have opinions on it.