My apologies for allowing 4/20 to come and go without any pot legalization discussions here on the Buzzyblog. Guess you can say that it blew right by me.

On the pot legalization front however, there has been a recent, major development that also came and went without much comment nor publicity: the Feds are readying to downgrade pot from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug (click here.) (I wasn’t able to find any explanation as to why these Schedules are listed as Roman Numerals instead of simply as 1, 2 or 3. Go figure.)

As for the downgrading itself, most of you are probably saying “So what?” However, and not to get too in the weeds here (sorry) discussing all this, it IS a very BFD that will have some significant repercussions (click here for more explanation of that impact.)

Regarding how many States now have legalized weed, the answer seems to be all over the place (which seems appropriate considering we are having a pot-related conversation right?) If you care to wade thru the “not-legal-but-decrimiminalized” differentiations (click here.)

The overall numbers however appear to be – 38 States with Medical legalization and 24 with legalization. Four additional States have legalization on their upcoming 2024 ballots (click here.) Even in Florida, where good ideas and people go to die, the legalized pot measure has a decent chance of passing this time around. Advocates are not holding their breath however. (Get it?)

I landed on the following map here that shows you the current legal status of pot in each State. Note that if you go to the link (click here) and the map, it also permits you to hover over the State with your cursor to identify each State and thus helps you in learning where our States are as well as showing you pot legalization status. Call that either a Twofer or a Tootful whatever your preference may be!

I am reminded of something my Mom would often relay whenever a discission of pot came up. She would note “I remember hearing J. Scott listening to this Puff the Magic Dragon song and thinking what a nice little song it was. Years later, I couldn’t believe it when I found out that it was about smoking pot!”

Remember Affleck and De Niro having this conversation?

Who woulda thought – my Mom and De Niro having something in common!