Medical and Recreational Cannabis Legalization Up for Vote in 9 States – Here’s How You Can Help
There are eight states with cannabis legalization initiatives up for a vote this November (and one up for a vote either in 2018, or in a special election next year); five that would legalize cannabis for all uses – for those 21 and older – and four that would legalize medical cannabis. With the election just a month away, it’s vital for proponents of cannabis law reform to get involved in helping these initiatives get passed into law.
Below are details about how you can get involved – both in terms of donating money, and donating time – in all nine of these efforts:
Recreational Cannabis Legalization Initiatives:
Nevada
Nevada’s Question 2 was the first of the recreational cannabis initiatives to officially make the November ballot, and things have been relatively quiet since. Advocates recently purchased around $1 million in ad space, and opposition groups have begun to sprout up. According to polling released at the end of September, 53% of voters in Nevada support the initiative,
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
California
California’s Proposition 64 is currently in the best position among the five legalization initiatives up for a vote this November, with polling showing that 64% of voters in the state are in support of legalizing cannabis. However, nothing can be taken for granted as the tides can change quickly, and polling isn’t always accurate. In you support legalization, get involved!
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
Arizona
If California’s Proposition 64 is in the best position of this year’s group of legalization initiatives, than Arizona is in the worst. Recent polling shows that exactly 50% of voters in the state say they are in support of legalizing cannabis; 40% are opposed to the move, meaning that 10% remain undecided (the highest percentage of undecideds among the five recreational cannabis initiatives).
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
Massachusetts
In July Massachusetts’ Question 4, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, was polling at just 41% support, with 51% opposed. However, things have turned around quickly as a poll released last week found that 53% of voters in the state favor Question 4, with 40% in opposition. Although the campaign isn’t currently seeking campaign volunteers (though spreading the word is always useful), donations are welcome and incredibly helpful
To donate click here.
Maine
Maine’s Question 1 is in good shape, but it’s close; polling released in May found that 55% of voters are in support of the initiative. This one will certainly come down to the last minute, and the campaign is seeking both volunteers and donations.
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
Medical Cannabis Legalization Initiatives:
Florida
Florida’s Amendment 2 is in good position at the moment, with polling from July showing that 77% of voters in the state support the measure. However, polling was similarly high in 2014, when an almost identical measure failed at the ballot despite receiving over 50% of the vote (as with this measure, it requires 60% to pass). This makes it vital for proponents of medical cannabis legalization in Florida – and those outside of the state – to get involved in making sure that the 60% threshold is met this time.
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
Oklahoma
Very little reliable polling has been done on Oklahoma’s medical cannabis initiative, making it difficult to predict how the election will turn out. What is known is that Oklahoma is one of the more conservative states in the country, so passage here will show just how far public opinion has changed on the issue. This is also the only initiative on this list that won’t be voted on this year; the measure will be up for a vote in 2018, unless lawmakers agree on a special election next year.
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.
North Dakota
North Dakota is in a similar position, with very little polling being done in recent months to give a good glimpse into where things stand. However, a 2014 poll found that a plurality of voters in the state support legalizing medical cannabis, and public support for medical cannabis in general has risen substantially in the last couple years, so there’s reason to be optimistic. There’s also plenty of reason to be cautious, too, so those in and out of the state should get involved in helping to spread the word!
To volunteer or donate click here.
Arkansas
Arkansas’ situation is a bit confusing, as there are now two initiatives on the November ballot that would legalize medical cannabis. However, more proponents of medical cannabis seem to be in support of the measure put forth by Arkansas for Compassionate Care. This is the group behind the medical cannabis initiative that made the ballot in 2014 but was narrowly defeated, receiving over 48% of the vote.
This initiative, which was the first to make the ballot, allows patients to grow there own cannabis if they don’t live close to a dispensary, whereas the other initiative doesn’t.
To volunteer click here.
To donate click here.