It’s an election year in America, and once again marijuana was on the ballot. Four states voted on marijuana, while many others listed candidates with a clear stance on marijuana legislation.
Legalization Matters
Don’t live in Missouri, Utah, Michigan or North Dakota? November’s election still matters. While these elections were most important to the citizens of the states where they were held, they also have global importance. State policy impacts federal policy, and since the 1970s, marijuana legislation in the United States has influenced global policy.
But has prohibition helped anything? Many activists and politicians believe that it is responsible for more violence and death than drugs could ever cause. As a result, activists, patients, and growers have pushed legalization efforts over the last five years – attempting to end the War on Drugs.
Every vote in any town, state or country is a push toward a prohibition-free world. For a well-researched introduction to the problems of marijuana prohibition worldwide, watch this full-length award-winning documentary, Breaking the Taboo online.
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2018 US Marijuana Election Results
Citizens in four states voted on marijuana, but the entire country owes a round of applause to the people of Texas. It is in this great state that Pete Sessions, one of the House of Representative's leading adversary against federal legalization lost reelection. Although Texas isn’t one of the states we were concerned about, Sessions tendency to kill any cannabis legislation that has appeared in the House of Representatives makes his loss worthy of mentioning.
Missouri
Voters in Missouri had a few options to choose from, and Amendment 2 was the clear winner. Amendment 2 legalizes medical marijuana in the ‘Show-me’ state, taxes it as 4% and gives the proceeds to services for veterans. This is higher than the proposed tax rate from Proposition C and significantly lower than the 15% suggested in Amendment 3. The state will form at least 24 dispensaries to serve patients.
The biggest win is for growers! The winning amendment allows up to 6 flowering plants with doctor’s approval. This means, very soon it will be legal for patients to grow in Missouri!
North Dakota
It seems that North Dakota wasn’t quite ready for recreational marijuana, with the no’s winning by a clear majority. While the state has an active medical program and has reduced possession of a small amount to a misdemeanor, it is still illegal to consume marijuana without a medical reason in this state.
Although the measure was initiated by citizens, opponents claimed that much of the campaigning was done by outside interests and that enacting it would be too difficult. Although advocates couldn’t pass a law that would fully legalize marijuana and expunge the records of those that were previously charged, we hope that the momentum from this election will help push forward change.
2018 US Marijuana Election Results - Image powered by Leafly.com
Michigan
The question of full legalization in Michigan was unclear until the last minute – showing how close this year’s election was, but the voters of Michigan pulled it off. Michigan is now the first Midwest state to legalize recreational marijuana. The marijuana legalization initiative legalizes recreational marijuana for those 21 and up and permits home-growing of up to 12 plants! Marijuana will be taxed at 10%.
It’s important to remember, however, that although the state legalized marijuana municipalities can still ban it. This will most likely not be the case in Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids – areas that had already decriminalized, but voters should stay tuned to see what happens in 2019.
Utah
Another close race was in Utah. The official votes have not confirmed it, but the local Fox channel has. Medical marijuana is now legal in Utah. Proposition 2 approved the use of non-smokable marijuana and for qualifying conditions. It does not tax the patient and establishes independent dispensaries to provide marijuana products.
The proposition was highly opposed by the Mormon church, an institution that helped establish the state of Utah and is still highly influential. However, voters were still able to gain enough votes in the election. Before legalization, Utah had an active CBD program.
Ohio & Wisconsin
Marijuana legalization in Ohio is well on its way. Five Ohio cities decriminalized marijuana – including Dayton and the Cincinnati superb of Norwood - decriminalized marijuana by an overwhelming majority, leading the way for more areas to do the same. Ohio has full legalization on the ballot in 2019.
Wisconsin also responded favorably to the question of marijuana with 14 counties including advisory questions on the ballot. 12 hours after the polls closed, nearly all of them approved the idea of either medical or recreational marijuana.
Other States
A few more states also voted in favor of marijuana, although it wasn’t explicitly on the ballot. Both New Mexico and Minnesota elected pre-legalization governors that ran on platforms of legalizing marijuana in their states and hopefully will live up to their campaign promises. California’s newly elected governor is also pro-legalization, although that state has already legalized.
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