It’s 2024, and while the smell of legal weed drifts freely through much of the U.S., a handful of states are still clinging to prohibition like it’s 1937 and Reefer Madness just hit theaters. This isn’t about medical marijuana laws with a wink and a nod or states that allow CBD oils but shun THC. No, this is about the hardliners—the states where getting caught with a joint can still tank your job, your wallet, or even your freedom.
Take Idaho, for example. It’s a land of majestic mountains, potatoes, and apparently, an unshakable commitment to keeping weed illegal. Idaho’s lawmakers have dug in so deep they even banned hemp at one point, terrified that farmers might sneak in something stronger. The logic? Weed is a gateway drug. The problem? The rest of the country has already walked through the damn gate.
Then there’s Kansas, where the only thing higher than the wheat fields is the amount of skepticism toward cannabis reform. Sure, Missouri legalized medical and recreational weed right next door, but crossing the border with so much as a gram in your glove box can still earn you a criminal record. It’s as if Kansas is afraid that legalization might mess with its reputation for…being Kansas.
But why are these states so dead set against legalization? Money? Politics? Some unholy alliance between Big Pharma and the ghost of Harry Anslinger? The reasons are as varied as they are frustrating.
The Usual Suspects: Politics and Perception
First, there’s the political divide. Many holdout states skew conservative, and for decades, weed has been lumped in with the culture wars. Legalizing cannabis isn’t just about letting people toke up; it’s about admitting that all those D.A.R.E. assemblies lied to you. For lawmakers who’ve built careers on “tough on crime” rhetoric, flipping on weed can feel like a betrayal of their base.
Then there’s the “think of the children” argument. Opponents warn that legalization will lead to a generation of stoned teens skipping algebra to raid the Taco Bell drive-thru. Never mind the fact that studies from states with legal weed show no significant increase in underage use. Fear sells, and nothing scares parents more than the idea of their kid becoming a burnout.
And let’s not forget about money. Legalizing weed means regulating it, which means taxing it. You’d think states would be lining up to cash in—Colorado’s raked in over $15 billion in weed sales since 2014—but some politicians worry about the costs of enforcement, education, and addiction treatment. Others just don’t want to lose that sweet, sweet federal grant money tied to anti-drug initiatives.
The Human Cost of Prohibition
While lawmakers argue over outdated stereotypes, real people are paying the price. In prohibition states, a simple possession charge can ruin lives. Lost jobs, suspended driver’s licenses, and thousands of dollars in fines are just the beginning. Black and brown communities bear the brunt of these laws, arrested at far higher rates than white users despite using cannabis at similar rates.
Medical marijuana patients also get the short end of the stick. In states like Alabama (until very recently), patients suffering from chronic pain or debilitating illnesses had to choose between suffering in silence or risking jail time for seeking relief. Meanwhile, in neighboring states with legal weed, patients can walk into a dispensary and leave with products that won’t destroy their liver like opioids.
Even businesses feel the squeeze. Farmers in prohibition states miss out on the booming hemp industry, and small businesses lose out on the economic boost dispensaries bring to towns. In some places, the only thing keeping the local economy afloat is the steady stream of residents crossing state lines to buy legal weed.
What’s Next?
The tide is turning, but slowly. Polls consistently show that the majority of Americans support legalization, even in conservative states. Ballot initiatives, like the ones that flipped Oklahoma and Missouri, have proven that when voters—not politicians—make the call, weed wins.
But for now, residents in prohibition states remain stuck in limbo, watching legalization sweep the nation like the weed version of FOMO. Until lawmakers stop clutching their pearls and start embracing reality, millions of Americans will continue living in states where the War on Drugs never really ended.
So, to Idaho, Kansas, and the rest of the holdouts: the rest of us are lighting up without you. Catch up, or get left behind in a cloud of smoke.
Keep it weird,
