100 Days Until 5 States Vote on Legalizing Cannabis, 3 on Legalizing Medical Cannabis

100 Days Until 5 States Vote on Legalizing Cannabis, 3 on Legalizing Medical Cannabis

In exactly 100 days – on November 8th – the 2016 general election will take place, and voters in six states will have the opportunity to legalize cannabis for everyone 21 and older; voters in two additional states will be given the ability to legalize medical cannabis.

Here’s a look at these eight initiatives:

1. Nevada

Question 2 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, as well as the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, for those 21 and older. Cannabis retail outlets – supplied by licensed cultivation centers – would also be legalized. (This is all similar to the other state’s initiatives).

Polling from just a few days ago shows that 50% of voters in the state support legalization, with 41% opposed.

 

2. Missouri

Under Missouri’s proposed initiative, the medical use of cannabis would be legal for those with a variety of conditions – such as cancer, epilepsy, PTSD and migraines – given they receive a recommendation from a physician. Patients would be allowed to possess at least up to six ounces of cannabis (more if suggest by a physician), and cultivate up to six cannabis plants. The measure would also legalize state-licensed cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries.

 

3. Maine

The following is the exact questioning that will appear on the ballot this November 8th; “Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?”

According to polling released in May, 55% of Maine voters are likely to vote “Yes”.

 

4. California

According to its official state summary, Proposition 64 – the Adult Use of Marijuana Act – would “Legalizes marijuana and hemp under state law”, “Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry”, and “Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15% of sales price, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves.”

Recent polling shows that 60% of California voters support legalizing cannabis, indicating that the measure is in good position to be approved this November.

 

5. Massachusetts

Question 4, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, permits adults to possess (up to ten ounces) and to cultivate (up to six plants) personal use quantities of cannabis and establishes licensing for its commercial production and retail sale. Commercial for-profit sales of cannabis will be subject to taxation, while non-commercial exchanges of marijuana will not be taxed.

 

6. Arizona

If passed into law, Initiative 5 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, and the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, for those 21 and older. State-sanctioned cannabis cultivation centers and retail outlets would also be legalized.

 

7. Florida

In 2014 United for Care’s initiative to legalize medical cannabis received over 50% of the vote, but failed to become law as it required 60% (being a constitutional amendment). The group made some slight tweaks to the measure, and have once again placed it on the ballot, but this time with more solid polling numbers.

The initiative would legalize the use and state-licensed distribution of medical cannabis for those with a wide range of medical ailments. According to polling released this month, 77% of Florida voters support the measure, which has been titled Amendment 2.

 

8. Arkansas

Arkansas’ initiative – put forth by Arkansas for Compassionate Care -would allow doctors to recommend medical cannabis to patients with certain debilitating or life-threatening medical conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, Crohn’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder Alzheimer’s disease, llupus, autism, and Parkinson’s disease. Patients would be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces, and up to 38 dispensaries would be allowed to operate in the state supplying patients with a means of safe access to their medicine. Patients who live 20 or more miles from a dispensary would be authorized to cultivate up to five mature cannabis plants and five seedlings.

According to polling conducted by Talk Business & Politics/Hendrix College/Impact Management Group – released in September – 84% of voters in Arkansas support legalizing medical cannabis.

 

 

If you live in any of these eight states, please vote! If you can’t (or even if you can) – spread the word!