How does recreational marijuana legalization affect your state?

Zip. No change in Georgia. The evil weed scares lawmakers.

Doctors can’t prescribe medical marijuana, but the state will get you a ‘get out of jail free ’ card . But – You have to be suffering from one these:

https://dph.georgia.gov/low-thc-oil-registry/low-thc-oil-registry-faq/low-thc-oil-faq-general-public

No recreational stuff. This is the Old South. Drinkin’ is OK, smokin’ isn’t.

Sales of snacks inexplicably went up in NY.

@WhyNow That’s a given!

We have medical marijuana laws
Possession of half an ounce of marijuana or less is a misdemeanor in North Carolina but does not carry potential jail time. At most a $200 fine may be imposed.

Possession of between half an ounce and 1.5 ounces is likewise a misdemeanor and is punishable by a minimum sentence of 1 day in jail and a maximum of 45 days, plus up to $1,000 in fines. Possession of between 1.5 ounces and 10 pounds is a felony punishable by at least 3 months in jail, as many as 8, and a fine of up to $1,000.

Possession of any amount greater than 10 pounds is automatically treated as possession with intent to distribute, a felony. But possession with intent can be charged for smaller amounts: The minimum penalty for possession of less than 10 pounds with intent is 3 months in jail, while the maximum is 8 months and $1,000.

A penalty of between 25 and 39 months imprisonment, plus a fine of at least $5,000, applies to possession of between 10 and 50 pounds with intent. If the amount is between 50 and 2,000 pounds, a prison term of between 35 and 51 months applies, along with up to $25,000 in fines.

Possession of between 2,000 and 10,000 pounds with intent is punishable by at least 70 months in prison, as many as 93 months, and up to $50,000 in fines. For weights of 10,000 pounds or more, the minimum penalty is 175 months in prison, the maximum is 222 months, and there is a potential fine of $200,000.

Now if you’re attempting to sell it there are longer jail times as well as fines, but possession isn’t a huge priority.

Just don’t decide to grow your own or they will bury you under the jail house

Recreational has been legal here in Massachusetts for years. This means that you can walk into any dispensary and be sure you’re buying quality, unlaced cannabis everywhere (approximately 400 dispensaries).

Tax revenue from cannabis now exceeds alcohol taxes. Other than that, nothing has changed. People now just have options to not contribute to the black market and crime. There is literally not a single downside.

I’m not a cannibis user. But I agree with @hat that there is no down side.

As with abortion, there are too many stanch Republicans here.

We just started having it here in NJ. Too soon to tell except there is a more pervasive skunk smell in some places.

Being a jazz aficionado in NYC I have come to believe that weed is illegal
because black and brown people enjoy it. I truly do. Even tho it does less
harm than booze. I have been in incredible jams while high.

I don’t know how it affects my state but it can affect me. I smell it everywhere and wonder how many people are walking around and driving while on that stuff. I think that if they would do it at home should be okay but on the road just seems dangerous to me :(

@hat Thanks. Medical has gone very well, so we’re hopeful legalizing will reduce crime.

Colorado here. Recreational cannabis has been legal here for over 10 years, medical for several years more. Medical prices are discounted. Anyone with a medical mj card (as well as any veteran or senior) gets the discounted prices. State sales taxes, cannabis taxes, and local excise and sales taxes usually add up to about 22%. These taxes have been used locally for such things as recreation centers, drug abuse programs and schools. Plus, quality control is much better than it was before legalization.