Why State and National Legislatures Continue to Stall on Full Marijuana Legalization: A Story of Hypocrisy and Inaction

As someone who's felt strongly about this issue for years, I can tell you firsthand the frustration of marijuana's legal limbo in America. Picture this: after a night of heavy drinking, you wake up late for work, feeling like death warmed over—head pounding, stomach churning, productivity shot. Now contrast that with my old routine when I was smoking weed regularly and not sweating drug tests: I'd be in bed by 7 or 8 PM, spend my off time chilling with PlayStation, and munch on whatever DoorDash delivered. No drama, no regrets the next morning. Yet, here's the kicker—why is it that you can go out, drink all night, potentially hit and kill someone on the road, and still show up to work the next day without a hitch? But if you go home, smoke some weed, play video games, and eat Cheetos, you risk getting fired over a failed drug test. This double standard isn't just unfair; it's downright hypocritical. And while some progress has been made at the state level, state and national legislatures are dragging their feet on full legalization. It's time for the nation to step in and fix this mess.

The Current Landscape: Patchwork Progress Amid Federal Stagnation
As of October 2025, marijuana legalization in the U.S. remains a fragmented mess. Forty states, three territories, and the District of Columbia allow medical cannabis use. Recreational use is legal in 24 states and DC, with more considering ballot measures or legislation. For instance, in May 2025, New Hampshire's House passed a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis with state-run stores, though it stalled in the Senate. Federally, however, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, lumped in with drugs like heroin as having "no accepted medical use" and high abuse potential—despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The Biden administration has pushed for rescheduling to Schedule III, which would recognize medical benefits and ease some restrictions, but the DEA's latest update on October 8, 2025, indicates the process is ongoing without a firm timeline. Bills like the States Reform Act (SRA) aim to remove marijuana from the CSA entirely and create a federal regulatory framework, but they've languished in Congress. Even Republican senators are starting to acknowledge the need for federal alignment with state laws. So why the holdup? It's a toxic brew of historical inertia, powerful lobbies, and outdated federalism concerns.

Reasons Legislatures Won't Pull the Trigger: Vested Interests and Outdated Fears
At the heart of the delay are deep-rooted reasons why Congress and remaining holdout states refuse to fully legalize. Historically, marijuana's federal prohibition stems from the 1930s, fueled by sensationalist media campaigns linking it to violence and the rise of synthetic painkillers that big pharma pushed as alternatives. Fast forward to today, and the resistance is more about money and power. The alcohol industry, for one, has hypocritically lobbied against cannabis legalization, fearing competition—WikiLeaks even exposed their behind-the-scenes efforts to keep pot illegal while profiting from booze.

Then there's the prison-industrial complex and law enforcement groups, which benefit from the billions spent on enforcement. Federal legalization would disrupt interstate commerce barriers, allowing legal sales across state lines, but current laws prevent that, stifling the industry and keeping black markets alive. Federalism plays a role too: while states can diverge from federal policy (as they have), Congress hesitates to create a unified framework, citing the 10th Amendment and avoiding preempting state laws. Critics argue this creates a policy gap, where federal prohibition isn't uniformly enforced, leading to inconsistencies that violate equal protection rights.

In states that haven't legalized, like Idaho or Wyoming, conservative lawmakers cling to outdated stigmas, ignoring public opinion—polls show over 60% of 

Americans support federal legalization. But change is slow because the federal government rarely shifts its drug stance quickly, as seen with decades of inaction. Rescheduling might happen, but full descheduling? Experts say it could be a decade away due to these entrenched barriers.

The Blatant Hypocrisy: Alcohol Gets a Pass While Weed Gets the Boot
This brings us to the elephant in the room: the glaring double standard between alcohol and marijuana. Alcohol, responsible for thousands of deaths annually from drunk driving and health issues, is fully legal and socially accepted. Taxpayers foot billions for alcohol-related rehab, yet policies demonize marijuana as more dangerous. As one Florida legalization campaign ad put it, banning cannabis while allowing alcohol is hypocritical—adults can drink responsibly (or not), but pot users face job loss over a urine test.

Studies show marijuana's social stigma is harsher than alcohol's, despite alcohol causing more harm in terms of addiction, violence, and fatalities. Even universities enforce "alcohol is okay, pot is evil" rules, ignoring the irony. And governments? They're the biggest hypocrites—raking in cannabis tax revenue in legal states while banning their own employees from using it. If we're serious about public health, why not regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol, highlighting the intellectual dishonesty of current laws?

My personal experience underscores this: weed helped me maintain a balanced life without the hangovers or risks of alcohol. Yet, fear of drug tests forced me to choose between relaxation and my job. How many more productive people are we sidelining over this?

Time for Action: The Nation Must Step Up
It's not right, and it's not sustainable. State legislatures in holdouts need to follow the lead of places like California and Colorado, where legalization has boosted economies without the predicted societal collapse. Nationally, Congress must pass comprehensive reform—deschedule marijuana, create federal regulations, and end employment discrimination based on off-duty use. Contact your representatives; support initiatives like those from NORML. The hypocrisy has gone on long enough. Let's legalize responsibly and treat adults like adults.

Capitol and Cleats covers the intersection of politics, policy, and everyday life. Views expressed are those of the author.