| Thirty-six gubernatorial seats are being contested on Nov. 8 ballots, with at least eight states—Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon and Pennsylvania—set to have a new governor in 2023. The winner of each race will of course gain executive power to advance and pursue new and revised state policies and programs, including medical and adult-use cannabis. A few of the highlights, as outlined by the Cannabis Business Times team in this week’s gubernatorial roundup, include: In Idaho, Kansas and Nebraska, which have some of the most restrictive cannabis policies in the nation, a new governor could impact any upcoming medical or adult-use legalization efforts.In more mature cannabis markets like California and Oregon, government officials continue to seek new strategies and regulations to combat the illicit market and help struggling businesses thrive.In Arkansas, Maryland and South Dakota, voters will also be casting ballots on adult-use cannabis legalization measures, and the gubernatorial races hold major implications for program rollouts should those initiatives pass. (Missouri and North Dakota also have 2022 adult-use ballot measures, but no gubernatorial races are unfolding there this election cycle.)
What’s at stake in your state as gubernatorial races heat up across the country? -Melissa Schiller, Senior Digital Editor |
