It’s been only almost six years since the first week of November 2012, when Colorado and Washington became the first two states in the Union to legalize recreational marijuana. It’s been only four-and-a-half years since December 2013/January 2014, when public sales of the wacky weed weren’t a criminal offense. Oh, how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time.
Now, nine states have laws on the books making recreational marijuana sales and use legal. A further twenty have legalized medical marijuana use, but have yet to address the recreational issue. So even though more than half of these United States have declared one form or the other of marijuana use legal, the federal government still views marijuana sales and use as on par with that of heroin or cocaine.
The states that have taken steps to legalize public pot sales can offer a whole list of benefits. The states—and the federal government—that haven’t decriminalized recreational and medical marijuana, are still holding tight to a list of disadvantages.
What are those pros and cons? Honest Marijuana has compiled the most common legalization of cannabis pros and cons here in one place for your edification.