STATES THAT ARE VOTING ON CANNABIS THIS ELECTION YEAR

Five states that will be voting on legal cannabis this 2020 election.

This November 3rd, five states will have the opportunity to vote on legalizing marijuana for recreational or medical use. For one state it will be for both, making it the first state to do so. Below is a breakdown of the five states voting on legal cannabis this election year:

  • ARIZONA (RECREATIONAL)
  • MONTANA (RECREATIONAL)
  • MISSISSIPPI (MEDICAL)
  • NEW JERSEY (RECREATIONAL)
  • SOUTH DAKOTA (MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL)

ARIZONA

Arizona is looking to legalize marijuana on a recreational level this November 3rd election with Proposition 207 — or also known as the Marijuana Legalization Initiative — is on the ballot in Arizona that will legalize the possession and use of marijuana for people who are at least 21 years old, enact a tax on marijuana sales and require the state Department of Health and Human Services to develop rules to regulate marijuana businesses.

Proposition 207 will place a 16 percent tax on marijuana sales, the revenue from this tax would be divided between community college districts, sheriff, and the fire department to name a few.

MONTANA

Montana will be voting on an initiative as well as an amendment this election year: one for the legalization of marijuana with an imposed tax of 20 percent that also includes the resentencing and/or expungement of marijuana-related crimes. The second is an amendment to establish a minimum legal age for the possession, use and purchase of marijuana similar to the regulation of alcohol in the state constitution. Below are the two initiatives:

Montana I-190 (Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment) - Voting “yes” on this amendment will legalize the possession and use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21, impose a 20 percent tax on marijuana sales, require the Department of Revenue to develop rules to regulate marijuana businesses and the most important one: allow the resentencing or expungement of marijuana-related crimes.

Montana CI-118 (Marijuana legalization and Tax Initiative) - Voting “yes” on this amendment will allow for the legislature or a citizen initiative to establish a minimum legal age for the possession, use and purchase of marijuana that would be similar to the regulation of alcohol.

In 2004, Montana voters approved I-148, a citizen-initiative approved to allow the use of medical marijuana and this will be the first time that the state votes to allow the use of marijuana on a recreational basis.

MISSISSIPPI

Mississippi is voting on an initiative to legalize marijuana on a medical level for qualified patients with a question for voters to choose their preferred version:

Initiative 65 - Voting for this initiative will allow medical marijuana treatment for more than 20 specified qualifying conditions, allow individuals to possess up to 2.5 ounces and tax marijuana sales at the current state sales tax rate of seven percent.

Alternative Initiative 65A - Voting for this initiative will restrict the use of marijuana to terminally ill patients; require pharmaceutical-grade marijuana products and treatment oversight by licensed physicians/nurses/pharmacists; leave tax rates, possession limits and other details to be set by the legislature.

NEW JERSEY

New Jersey will be voting on legalizing marijuana on a recreational level with what is being referred to as Public Question 1, also known as the Marijuana Legalization Amendment. If voters vote “yes,” the state will legalize the possession and use of marijuana for people age 21 and older and legalize the cultivation, processing and sale of retail marijuana.

This would be a big step for the Garden State as it would make it the first state in the Mid-Atlantic region to legalize marijuana if passed.

SOUTH DAKOTA

The state of South Dakota will have two different initiatives on the November 3rd ballot: one that will legalize the use of marijuana on a medical level while the other on a recreational one. Below are the two

Initiated Measure 26 (medical) - Also known as the Medical Marijuana Initiative. Voting “yes” on this initiative will establish a medical marijuana program in the state for individuals with a debilitating medical condition as certified by a physician. This would allow for patients to possess a maximum of three ounces.

Constitutional Amendment A (recreational) - Also known as the Marijuana legalization Initiative. Voting “yes” on this amendment will legalize marijuana for recreational use for individuals 21 and older, allow the possession or distribution of up to one ounce, and require the South Dakota State Legislature to pass laws providing for the use of medical marijuana and the sale of hemp by April 1, 2022. Under this amendment, marijuana sales would be taxed at 15 percent.

South Dakota is the first state to vote on both recreational and medical marijuana within one election.

If you are a resident in these five states, be sure to make your voice heard this November 3rd to make a change by turning in your mail-in ballots early or by safely showing up to your local polling station near you.

To find out more about what your state is voting on this year, click here.

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