Election Week Recap: Is Cannabis at a Crossroads?
From Jersey To Oklahoma, This Week’s Elections Revealed Who’s Serious About Reform—Here’s The Highlights From Across the US
It’s been a big week for the country…and for cannabis.
Elections across the U.S. just wrapped up, and while cannabis wasn’t at the top of every ballot, the results are going to have a major ripple effect on what happens next for legalization, home grow, and the future of this industry.
So let’s break it down—what changed, what didn’t, and what it all means for the road ahead.
New Jersey: IS Home Grow ON THE HORIZON?
If you live in New Jersey, you already know how wild it is that you can buy legal cannabis, but can’t legally grow a single plant at home.
That could soon change.
Newly elected governor Mikie Sherrill has publicly said she supports legalizing home cultivation—a big shift from her predecessor.
New Jersey’s adult-use market is thriving on paper, but it’s been criticized for shutting everyday people out. Allowing home grow would finally give residents a way to participate without needing a license, an investor, or a million dollars.
This move would also bring New Jersey in line with most other legal states, and put more power in the hands of the people, helping to increase access in spite of sky-high dispensary prices.
If it passes, expect conversations around how many plants are allowed, who can grow, and whether the state adds new testing or safety requirements.
But make no mistake—this would be a major step forward for access, autonomy, and justice in one of the East Coast’s biggest markets.
Virginia: A Governor Who’s Actually Ready to Legalize
Down in Virginia, voters just flipped the script.
Abigail Spanberger won the governor’s race—and she’s made it clear she supports establishing a legal adult-use cannabis market.
Virginia legalized personal possession a while ago, but never built the retail side of the system. That means people can legally have cannabis… they just can’t legally buy it. Make it make sense.
With a new administration that actually supports regulation and retail, Virginia could finally move from limbo to launch. For brands, this means a new mid-Atlantic market might be opening up in the next few years.
Spanberger’s team hasn’t released a detailed plan yet, but if she sticks to her campaign promises, this could be the biggest policy turnaround Virginia’s seen since its first decriminalization bill.
Oklahoma: Adult-Use Push Stalls Out
Meanwhile in my home state of Oklahoma, things aren’t looking as bright.
Advocates there tried to get adult-use cannabis on the 2026 ballot—but the campaign fell short on signatures.
That means legalization is off the table for now, and medical cannabis will remain the only legal option.
This might not sound like a huge story, but it’s a reminder that momentum can disappear fast. Even states with thriving medical programs can hit political roadblocks when funding, messaging, or public trust waver.
For entrepreneurs and investors eyeing new markets: this is your cautionary tale. Expansion isn’t guaranteed, and the grassroots work still matters.
Oklahoma’s situation shows how fragile reform can be when there’s no unified movement behind it.
What To Watch Next
Here’s what I’ll be keeping my eye on:
New Jersey: How quickly Governor-elect Sherrill moves on home grow—and whether she ties it to bigger conversations about small business and equity.
Virginia: Whether Spanberger prioritizes a retail rollout and if she supports social-equity licensing for those harmed by prohibition.
Oklahoma: If activists regroup for another ballot push…or if lawmakers finally step up to modernize the system.
Federal level: Rescheduling is still sitting on the President’s desk, and the longer it stalls, the more the states will keep doing their own thing—which might actually be a good thing for innovation and local control.
This election reminds us that cannabis reform is still a patchwork—progress in one state, pause in another.
But one thing is clear, if we want change, we can’t continue to wait for it at the Federal level. Our best chance is with grassroots advocacy in our own communities.
Cannabis reform isn’t a spectator sport. It’s something we build together, through every vote, every conversation, and every ounce of advocacy.
The path forward isn’t always linear, but it’s always alive. So stay curious, stay engaged, and keep growing—because change is coming from the ground up.
Bless the blunt
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