Justice

Where Marijuana Legalization Is on the Ballot in 2016

April 1st 2016

The marijuana legalization movement is in full swing this year, with 14 states currently considering ballot initiatives to legalize for either recreational or medical purposes, according to Ballotpedia. While 23 states already have legal marijuana systems in place, public opinion is quickly shifting in favor of cannabis reform (61 percent of Americans now support legalization) and voters in states across the U.S. will have the opportunity to continue the momentum in 2016.

marijuana-plantFlickr/Alex B - flic.kr

Legalization advocates believe that recreational marijuana, which has been adopted by four states and the District of Columbia, could make substantial gains this year. Marijuana Majority chairman Tom Angell tells ATTN: that he expects at least four states to pass recreational marijuana measures in November. He thinks this will effectively double the number of states where adults can legally purchase cannabis for personal use.

"It's going to be increasingly hard for prohibitionists, both within the [U.S. Department of Justice] and outside the government, to roll back our gains as we get more and more victories on the board," Angell told ATTN:. "Most importantly, I think it means that Congress is soon going to have to take this issue a lot more seriously than it historically has."

These states have marijuana legalization on the ballot in 2016.

1. Arizona

ArizonaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There are six marijuana-related initiatives that may appear on the ballot in Arizona in 2016, including two competing measures to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
  • Both recreational marijuana legalization ballots have the support of the Marijuana Policy Project, the largest organization dedicated to marijuana policy reform in the U.S.
  • The other ballots concern the legalization of industrial hemp, the elimination of a fee for medical marijuana applications, and a measure to legalize all drugs in Arizona.

2. Arkansas

ArkansasWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There are three marijuana-related initiatives that may appear on the ballot in Arkansas in 2016, including two competing measures to legalize medical marijuana and one to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
  • One of the medical marijuana measures has the support of the Marijuana Policy Project, while the prospects of the remaining two remain uncertain.
  • Arkansas has some of the most severe marijuana laws in the U.S. — more than 5,700 people were arrested for marijuana offenses in 2012 — and the bill requires at least 100,000 signatures by July 8 to qualify for the state ballot. 

3. California

Satellite photo of the California CoastFlickr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - flic.kr

  • There are 11 marijuana-related initiatives that may appear on the ballot in California in 2016, including at least five measures to legalize recreational marijuana in the state. 
  • One recreational marijuana measure, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, is backed by multiple reform organizations and advocates, including the Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, NORML, the California Medical Association, and California branch of the NAACP, and Napster founder Sean Parker. It is considered the most likely to pass.
  • A Probolsky Research poll conducted in February 2016 found that nearly 60 percent of California voters support the legalization of recreational marijuana, a historic high.

4. Florida

FloridaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

5. Maine

MaineWikimedia - wikimedia.org

6. Massachusetts

MassachusettsU.S.F.W.S. Northeast/Flickr - flickr.com

7. Michigan

Flint RiverWikimedia - wikimedia.org

8. Missouri

MissouriWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There are two marijuana-related initiatives that could appear on the ballot in Missouri in 2016, including one measure to legalize recreational marijuana, and another to legalize medical marijuana in the state.

8. Montana

MontanaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There are three marijuana-related initiatives that may appear on the ballot in Montana in 2016, including two measures to legalize recreational marijuana in the state.
  • The third initiative seeks to prohibit all drugs that are currently banned under federal law. That would include cannabis, which is listed as a Schedule 1 drug in the Controlled Substances Act.

9. Nebraska

NebraskaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

10. Nevada

NevadaFlickr/Ken Lund - staticflickr.com

  • There is one recreational marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the ballot in Nevada in 2016.
  • The legalization measures is backed by the Marijuana Policy Project and Nevada state Sen. Richard Segerblom.
  • "If we do this right, this will be a major boom to tourism, which is our economy," Segerblom said of the initiative.

11. North Dakota

North DakotaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There are two marijuana-related initiatives that may appear on the ballot in North Dakota in 2016, including one measures to legalize medical marijuana and another to legalize recreational marijuana.

12. Ohio

OhioWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There is one medical marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the ballot in Ohio in 2016.
  • The measure is supported by the Marijuana Policy Project.
  • A measure to legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio failed last year due to insufficient votes. The measure was controversial even among legalization advocates, many of whom felt the initiative would create a marijuana monopoly of growing operations.

13. Oklahoma

OklahomaWikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There is one medical marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the ballot in Oklahoma in 2016.
  • The measure would reclassify marijuana as an "herbal drug" that would be regulated by the Oklahoma State Dept. of Health.
  • Tax revenue from medical marijuana sales would go toward education and health services.

14. Utah

Utah May Be Bringing Back The Firing Squad For Death Sentences.Wikimedia - wikimedia.org

  • There is one medical marijuana legalization initiative that may appear on the ballot in Utah in 2016.
  • Two state legalization proposals were rejected by Utah lawmakers earlier this year, but advocates hope voters will push the medical marijuana measure forward.
  • A Dan Jones & Associates poll from November 2015 found that 35 percent of Utah voters "definitely favor" medical marijuana legalization while 26 percent "somewhat favor" the reform measure.

RELATED: Marijuana Could Change the 2016 Election

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