Recreational Marijuana Use Just Got Legalized In A Bunch More Places

Image courtesy of DEARTH !

Yesterday, voters in nine states voted on ballot initiatives related to marijuana — decriminalizing it, regulating it, taxing it, or legalizing for either medical or recreational marijuana use. So who voted yay, dude, and who voted nay?

Overall, there were a lot more approved measures than defeated, with one very close contest still ongoing as of Wednesday morning.

Arizona: Voters said NO (52% to 48%) to Proposition 205, which would have legalized the recreational use and ownership of marijuana by adults ages 21 and over.

Arkansas: Voters said YES (53% to 47%) to Issue 6, which proposed to amend the state constitution to legalize medical use of marijuana for 17 specific health conditions, create a state commission, and set up a taxation scheme for it. The vote supports enacting the law, which would permit sales beginning March 1, 2018.

California: Voters said YES (56% to 44%) to Proposition 64, which legalizes the use of recreational marijuana for adults ages 21 and over, and establishes a regulatory body, licensing criteria, and taxation scheme for cultivation and sales. The yes votes supports the law, most provisions of which would start on January 1, 2018.

Florida: Voters said YES (71% to 28%) to Amendment 2, which will expand the state’s medical marijuana laws to explicitly allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as a treatment for patients suffering from a broader range of illnesses and conditions than currently.

Maine: As of 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Question 1 is still UNDECIDED, with YES votes in the lead by a slim margin. The initiative proposes to legalize recreational marijuana use and ownership up to 2 1/2 oz for residents ages 21 and up, and would create a regulatory and taxation scheme under which recreational marijuana could be sold and used in the state. We’ll keep an eye on these results and update this post when we get more information.

Massachusetts: Voters said YES (54% to 46%) to Question 4, which legalizes recreational use and ownership of marijuana in certain amounts (1 oz in public, 10 oz at home) and creates a commission to tax and regulate it similarly to state regulation of alcohol. It’s slated to take effect in December.

Montana: Voters said YES (57% to 43%) to Initiative 182, the Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative, which proposed to repeal the existing three-patient limit on medical marijuana providers in the state and will permit more physicians to prescribe marijuana to more patients. The issue will now be referred to the state legislature to take up and create law on.

Nevada: Voters said YES (54% to 46%) to Question 2, which proposed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the amount of one ounce or less, for adults ages 21 and over. The proposal will now go on to the state legislature to consider making law.

North Dakota: Voters said YES (64% to 36%) to Initiated Statutory Measure No. 5, which legalizes strictly regulated medicinal use of marijuana. Qualified patients could purchase amounts up to 3 oz or, if living more than 40 miles from the nearest registered dispensary, grow small amounts legally at home.

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.