2018 has definitely been one of the greenest years yet for cannabis legalization and the “green rush” has no signs of slowing down.

On the 1st of January 2018 when California legalized recreational cannabis, becoming the 9th fully legal state in America the road was set. We also saw South Africa decriminalizing cannabis for private adult use in a landmark judgement in September of 2018.

Canada became the second country in the world to legalise cannabis nationally and even ran out of cannabis in dispensaries on day 2 of it being legal. Even in the conservative Far East, South Korea this week made amendments to their laws relating to medical cannabis even though a couple months earlier they were issuing warnings to Korean citizens partaking in recreational cannabis in legal Canada!

2019 is certainly already looking like a good year for many medical and recreational users that still face hefty fines and sentences. Many countries have suggested that they are investigating old and outdated cannabis propaganda laws and will adjust them accordingly. With developed countries like the United States and Canada leading the way and showing off the many benefits of legalization, many government officials would be stupid not to take notice.

With over half of all states in America allowing safe access to medical marijuana and almost 10 states that have fully legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, more states will follow suit in 2019. Even though the federal law still lists cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic with no medical value and potential for abuse we are seeing cracks in the wall and something Congress will need to hopefully address in 2019. Congress has just agreed on a proposal for the Hemp Farm Bill that could make hemp legal to grow in the United States for the first time in over half a century.

The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) changed their tune and approved their first cannabis-based medicine known as Epidiolex in July 2019 and more will follow soon. Recently the UK Home Office approved a ladies use of cannabis oil for her son’s epileptic disease.

After Hannah Deacon and her son were removed of their expensive medicines seized after importing them on a flight from  America, the Home Office approved the “medicines” due to public outcry and the nation’s headlines. This news quickly gained steam and reached every corner of the world and finally, the young boy was allowed using the only treatment that allowed him to live a better quality of life.

With the relaxation of both medical and recreational cannabis laws, much new needed studies are being conducted on cannabis and the results are surprisingly promising and something that should not be ignored. Governments are not only looking at the medical potential of cannabis but the fat cats that govern us are seeing the huge benefits of taxing a legal and regulated market. With projections of the legal cannabis market to reach billions of dollars worldwide by 2020, we will see 2019 as another landmark year for cannabis legalization.