Marijuana reform slowly takes shape in the South, after years in the making

• While medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana, laws still limit licensed dispensaries' growth.
• Alabama became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana in May.
• Mississippi medical marijuana advocates struggle to pass legislation despite 70% approval by voters.

Since Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use in 2012, 36 states have passed laws allowing it for medical or recreational purposes.

Approximately 68% of Americans are in favor of legalizing marijuana, according to a recent Gallup poll. The country has been steadily moving in the direction of ending marijuana prohibition and for a while, it seemed like the South was the outlier.