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In 2016, Democrats at the national convention in Philadelphia made history by adding marijuana legalization to the national party platform. Marijuana, which has been illegal in the US on a national level since 1971, has made something of a comeback in recent decades. Beginning with California’s legalization of medical marijuana in 1996, 31 states have since legalized it for either medical or recreational purposes.

This drive has been primarily driven by blue states across the country, due to Republican opposition to drugs. However, there have been some notable exceptions, such as Oklahoma. Overall, though, the drive for legalization has happened on a state level, because of red-state opposition. Republican opposition may be faltering, however. This begins in places such as my home state of South Dakota.

South Dakota has always been a Republican-dominated state. Since South Dakota became a state, Democrats have only controlled the state House of Representatives one time, in 1935. This one-party domination has, at least since the 1970s, meant that social policies would remain conservative. The prevailing attitude has begun to change, however.

On November 4, petitioners to legalize medical marijuana turned in 80,000 signatures. This is over four times the required number of signatures and represents almost one-tenth of the total state population. Supporters hope this shows a state ready to move forward with the times.

Support for reform has not just happened on a local level, either. During last year’s legislative session, the state legislature passed a bill to legalize industrial hemp. While this is not directly related to weed, it is a promising step in the right direction.

I should note that marijuana decriminalization is not, historically, unknown. In the late 1970s, South Dakota briefly decriminalized marijuana possession, though the legislature quickly repealed the law.

Opposition remains strong, however. The bill passed in South Dakota last year was vetoed by the governor, Kristi Noem, who claimed that the state was not ready for the plant yet. This veto, while overridden in the state House, was upheld by one vote in the state Senate. Kristi’s opposition shows a Republican establishment still hung up on the War on Drugs.

South Dakota is not the only red state wrestling with the question of marijuana. Montana, while having two statewide Democratic officials (their governor, Steve Bullock, and Senator Mike Tester), is still reliably red, voting for Donald Trump by a margin of 20 points in 2016.

However, the winds of change have blown into Montana, much as they have blown into South Dakota. In July of this year, the office of Montana’s Secretary of State received two ballot initiative submissions to legalize recreational marijuana. This push, while unlikely to succeed, is representative of a broader culture shift sweeping across the country.

Marijuana legalization is a controversial topic, but the winds of change seem to be blowing in its favor. Whatever the current politics of the drug, the future certainly looks green.

Scott Howard is a constitutionally-minded conservative freelance writer with a focus on fiscal matters and foreign policy. He has been an active contributor to The Liberty Hawk. You can follow him on Twitter: Follow @thenextTedCruz

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