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20 Years After Tupac's Death, Much Has Changed in the World of "Bomb-Ass Weed"
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Since we've lost Pac, the marijuana landscape in the U.S. has transformed greatly.
Published on September 14, 2016

Today marked the 20th anniversary of the death of 2pac. The marijuana landscape has transformed greatly since the days of the rap legend spitting “I'm smoking bomb ass weed, feeling crucial" in "Ambitionz Az A Ridah." 

The 2016 elections, which stand to mark a red letter day for marijuana legalization as proposals appear on numerous ballots, take place less than two months after the 20th anniversary of the rappers death.

A lot has changed since we lost Pac in the world of pot. MERRY JANE highlights the major moments:

Nov. 5, 1996



California Proposition 215, or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, became law on the fifth of November. Its' 20 year anniversary is coming up before the November 8 election.

Nov. 25, 1997

2Pac’s first posthumous album R U Still Down? is released

Nov. 3, 1998
Alaska, Oregon and Washington are the second, third and fourth states to legalize medical marijuana.

Nov. 2, 1999
Maine becomes the fifth state to legalize medical marijuana. The law "provides a simple defense, which means the burden is on the state to prove that a patient’s medical use or possession was not authorized by statute."

June 14, 2000


Hawaii is the sixth state to legalize medical marijuana, becoming the first state to enact a law removing criminal penalties for medical marijuana through the state legislature.

Nov. 7, 2000
Colorado and Nevada become the seventh and eighth states to legalize medical marijuana.

March 27, 2001 


2Pac’s second posthumous album Until The End of Time is released.

Nov. 26, 2002
Better Dayz, 2Pac’s third posthumous album is released.

Nov. 2, 2004
Montana becomes the 10th state to legalize medical marijuana with  62% voter approval.

Dec. 14, 2004


2Pac’s posthumous Loyal to the Game is released.

Jan. 3, 2006
Rhode Island is the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana after Legislature overrides a veto by the governor.

Apr. 20, 2006
The FDA announces its opposition to smoked marijuana for medical purposes.

Nov. 21, 2006



Pac’s Life, 2Pac’s final posthoumous full studio album is released.

March 13, 2007
New Mexico is the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana

Nov. 4 2008
Michigan is the13th state to legalize medical marijuana.

Jan. 11, 2010
New Jersey is the 14th state to legalize medical marijuana.

July 27, 2010

Medical marijuana is legalized in DC allowing patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other ailments to possess four ounces of the plant.

Nov. 2, 2010
Arizona is the 15th state to legalize medical weed.

May 13, 2011
Delaware is the 16th state to legalize medical marijuana.

May 31, 2012
Connecticut is 17th state to legalize medical marijuana.

Nov. 6 2012
Massachussets becomes 18th state to legalize medical marijuana.

Nov. 6 2012
Colorado’s Amendment 64 passes, leading to the legalization of marijuana recreationally across the state in January of 2014.

Nov. 6, 2012


Washington’s Initiative 502 passes. Marijuana is legalized for recreational purposes in January 2014.

Nov. 6 2012
Washington, DC voters overwhelmingly vote for legal pot.

Apr. 14, 2014
Maryland becomes the 21st State to Legalize Medical Marijuana.

May 29, 2014
Minnesota is the 22nd state to legalize medical marijuana thanks to SF 2470.

July 5, 2014
New York is the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana as Andrew Cuomo signs Assembly Bill 6357.

Nov. 4 2014
 Oregon legalizes Marijuana initiative, Measure 91, passes legalizing marijuana through a statewide ballot.

May 3, 2015 
The governor of Puerto Rico legalizes medical marijuana in the US territory via executive order.

Interestingly, Pac might have wanted to stop smoking pot at certain points. Multiple attempts on his life had led him to conclude he needed to be more cognizant. 

As of June 2016, 25 states and Washington D.C. have legalized cannabis for medical use. Many more could join the fun come November.

There are marijuana proposals this coming election in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and more. 2016, much like 1996, the 20th anniversary of losing Pac might mark a historical year - especially for “where that bomb ass hemp be.

This marks the first anniversary of Pac’s death since the passing of his mother Afeni Shakur, who died earlier this year.   

Originally titled Tupac, All Eyez on Me, is the upcoming American biographical drama film directed by Benny Boom, produced by LT Hutton, David C. Robinson, James G. Robinson and written by Steven Bagatourian, Stephen J. Rivele, Christopher Wilkinson, Ed Gonzalez, and Jeremy Haft. The late Afeni Shakur served as an executive producer on the film until her death earlier this year 

The film stars Demetrius Shipp, Jr. (Tupac Shakur), Danai Gurira (Afeni Shakur), Kat Graham (Jada Pinkett), Dominic L. Santana (Suge Knight), Jamal Woolard (Biggie Smalls), Annie Ilonzeh (Kidada Jones), Lauren Cohan (Lelia Steinberg), Grace Gibson (Faith Evans), Harold House Moore (Dr Dre.)

Watch the latest trailer here. 

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Justin O'Connell
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Justin is a California-based writer who covers music, cannabis, craft beer, Baja California, science and technology. His writing has appeared in VICE and the San Diego Reader.
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