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 |