Maybe this is the year we finally admit that legalization will happen eventually and just get it over with already.

Another year, another ray of hope that the New Hampshire government will finally wise up and legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Now I’m not saying that marijuana is the greatest thing and can cure all diseases, but using it is a personal choice that adults should be able to make on their own.

I once heard an estimate that half of the marijuana industry in America is located in California. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and while it has yet to legalize recreational marijuana, the medical marijuana industry in California is massive. The black market in California is also massive. According to the California Department of Finance, the taxes that the State of California would generate from a legal, regulated recreational marijuana market would top one billion dollars annually. Per SF Gate:

There are four states that have legalized recreational marijuana (and D.C.!) so far in America. Those of course are Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Colorado was the first to allow recreational marijuana sales (January 2014), followed by Washington (July 2014), and then Oregon (limited sales began October 2015). Alaska is still working out their rules, and Washington D.C. doesn’t allow sales (just possession, cultivation,and distribution for no consideration).

A New York company is preparing to market what it says is the world’s first kosher-certified marijuana.

The Orthodox Union has certified Vireo Health of New York’s non-smokable medical marijuana products, Vireo announced in a news release Wednesday. Vireo is one of five medical marijuana providers selected to participate in a New York state medical marijuana program that goes into effect next month; none of the others will be certified kosher.

With marijuana now legal in some form throughout 23 states, the number of Americans who fatally overdosed on the drug last year was significant: 

The newly autonomous Power 5 conferences may have changed the rulebook with cost-of-attendance stipends, but many of the 65 schools also have been lax about penalties for marijuana use by their student-athletes. 

According to The Associated Press, at least one-third of Power 5 conference schools are not punishing athletes as harshly as they were 10 years ago for testing positive for marijuana and other so-called recreational drugs. 

2016, in Massachusetts and beyond, will be The Year of Marijuana.

In the Bay State, it all kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 7, when the Secretary of State delivers to the legislature a petition signed by over 64,750 voters calling for a law repealing marijuana prohibition and replacing it with a system of regulation and taxation, similar to how we have handled the alcohol industry since prohibition died in 1933, and how Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska have handled the marijuana industry since voters repealed prohibition in those states.

Plans to grow Australia's first commercial crop of medical cannabis at Christmas Island have met resistance from some locals, who fear that islanders won't see the financial benefits and drugs may end up in the hands of local youths.

The cannabis proposal is the latest of a series of developments that have raised the ire of Christmas Island residents, who say the controversial detention centre damages efforts to grow the island's tourism industry and a reduction in the frequency of government-contracted planes means mail is frequently delayed.

Australian firm AusCann announced last month it will plant trial medical cannabis crops on Christmas Island, 2600 kilometres northwest of Perth.