The 1877 bargain ended federal occupation of the South and Northerners efforts to ensure the rights of Southern blacks. Todaythe Government of the United States abandoned you, the Republican governor of South Carolina told his African American supporters, as the last federal soldiers departed.
Already, 25 states have legalized medical marijuana, while four statesâAlaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washingtonâhave legalized recreational pot, as has Washington, D.C. Several more states could soon be joining those ranks.
Medical cannabis was legalized by ballot measure in Montana (2004), Michigan (2008), Arizona (2010), Massachusetts (2012), Arkansas (2016), Florida (2016), and North Dakota (2016). As of April 2017, 14 states have legalized by ballot measure and 15 have legalized by state legislature.