Most Marijuana Legalization Measures Passed
Voters in Guam started the wave when a medical marijuana proposal passed with 56 percent of voters approving it.
Although some polls suggested the outcome for pro-marijuana measures on several states' Nov. 4 ballots was too close to call prior to election day, organizations backing them were confident—so confident that the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project created a YouTube video two weeks ago predicting at least 15 states and the District of Columbia will have legalized pot by 2019.
Both of the night's most important legalization measures passed in Oregon and Alaska by narrow margins: Alaska's was passed 52-48 and Oregon's 54-46, according to MPP's election tracker website. Florida voters were by a 58-42 margin in favor of a constitutional amendment to allow medical marijuana use by patients with debilitating medical conditions, but it required 60 percent to pass.
Besides Oregon (Measure 91), Alaska (Ballot Measure 2), and Florida (Amendment 2), there were legalization, medical marijuana, or decriminalization measures on ballots in the District of Columbia (Initiative 71), California (Proposition 47), New Jersey (Public Question 1), two cities in Maine, and two New Mexico counties. By the time voters in those jurisdictions went to their polling places Nov. 4, voters in Guam already had passed a medical marijuana proposal with 56 percent approval, Cameron Miculka reported for Pacific Daily News. Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a group opposing legalization measures, listed 48 local legalization or decriminalization measures being voted on.
Alaska's Measure 2 pitted MPP, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska against SAM. The campaign was urging supporters to vote Nov. 4 via its Facebook page, which had an impressive 5,401 likes as of election day.
The District of Columbia's measure easily passed, 69-31, while only one of Maine's two local measures passed, in South Portland.