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Predicting the Future of Pot around the World. With cannabis now legal in one entire country and in certain cities and providences in across the world the only question is where will it be given the okay by the State next? The following are a few forecasts of the next countries to go green in a few years.

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United States
Despite initiating the war on drugs, opinions among citizens and lawmakers has changed considerably in America with respect to pot. With a majority of Americans favoring legalization, in addition to a growing level of tolerance for cannabis culture – particularly among Millennial – this position seems to be stuck in the American zeitgeist. Furthermore, politicians seem to be responding to the opinions of their constituents as evident by recent victories which include legalization in certain states and cities, as well as a reduction in enforcement in some areas at the local level. With this trend continuing the legalization of cannabis in the USA at the federal level seems inevitable. The key question is when? According to some source this could happen as quickly as five years or less. Oregon representative Earl Blumenauer has predicted that, based on current trends, legalization will occur in less than five years.

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Canada
While it hasn’t taken the draconian stance its southern neighbor used to Canada has had a rocky legal relationship with cannabis in the past. While the plant is technically illegal to possess in most provinces it can be grown and trafficked under certain conditions. Now this mostly means the plant can only be grown for industrial purposes, but it is also permitted to be cultivated by civilians for personal medical use if said citizens can acquire a license. This policy could be expanded though, as the New Democrats have favored decriminalization, and the Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau have advocated for full cannabis legalization. Predicted to be a polarizing issue in the coming 2015 elections, if the Conservatives – who are opposed to the policy change – lose footing in Parliament, then marijuana legalization may very well pass in Canada in as quickly as about a year.

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Australia
Another country where ganja possession is in a legal grey zone depending on which state you are in, at the federal level marijuana sale and transportation is still completely illegal throughout Australia. This could change though as a whooping eighty-five percent of Australians think the plant should be legalized. Activists have had their support bolstered recently with the story of an Australian infant who had been effectively treated for seizures with a cannabinoid derivative, until the authorities interfered. Angered by this encroachment Australian citizen’s seem to be even more resentful of the governments arcane policy and interference. Given this drastic disparity in public opinion political change on this issue must surely happen soon.