Canada, the second nation to legalize recreational marijuana after Uruguay, appears to have had a global impact as more nations come on board.
New Zealand plans a referendum on legalization during next yearâs election and Mexico also appears headed that way.
Luxembourg is poised to become the first European country to legalize recreational marijuana, and South Africa is moving in that direction. Israelâs Parliament approved a law allowing exports of medical marijuana. Thailand legalized medicinal use of marijuana, and other Southeastern Asian countries may follow South Koreaâs lead in legalizing cannabidiol, or CBD.
In the United States, recreational marijuana is legal in 10 U.S. states, while medicinal marijuana is legal in 33. Illinois is the latest to weigh the issue.
The industry now employs at least 250,000 people, more than work in coal mining (52,300), says New Frontier Data.
With files from Associated Press