2028 Summer Olympics to be First to Occur in Area with Legal Marijuana
The Los Angeles Organizing Committee has reached an agreement with the International Olympic Committee to bring the 2028 Summer Olympics to Los Angeles, making it the first Olympic Games to occur in a region where marijuana is legal.
The agreement will make the 2028 Olympics the third to occur in California, with Los Angeles having hosted the games in 1984 and 1932. However, this will be the first time the Olympics has taken place in the city since California legalized marijuana last year.
As part of the deal, the International Olympic Committee will be given roughly $2.1 billion; money the city hopes to recoup through the heavy tourist traffic often brought forth by those attending the Olympics. It’s now expected that the 2024 Summer Olympics will take place in Paris, though that hasn’t been finalized.
In November California voters gave approval to Proposition 64. The initiative legalized the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for those 21 and older, and establishes a system of licensed cannabis retail outlets. These retail outlets, once open (expected sometime next year), will be open to everyone who’s 21 and older, including those from out-of-state.