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The Tuesday Count: Marijuana legalization advocates target 2016

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September 30, 2014

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Edited by Tyler King

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GMO-labeling and marijuana legalization are two movements with different success rates at the ballot box. Momentum is building behind the movement to legalize recreational marijuana, and inspired proponents are aiming to put the issue on a number of state ballots in 2016.[1] The GMO-labeling movement, on the other hand, hasn't won a statewide ballot battle yet, but that could change in 2014.[2] Recently, GMO opponents have successfully enacted local bans in Jackson County and Josephine County, Oregon, and will now have the chance to do so in Maui County, Hawaii.[3]

Marijuana advocates gear up for 2016

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and allies are gearing up for at least eight marijuana legalization initiative battles in 2016. Emerging victorious in Colorado and Washington in 2012, marijuana legalization supporters hope to generate more momentum in 2014, with initiatives in Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. Voter approval of all three would galvanize supporters going into 2016, while a defeat in any would be a blow to the movement.[1] Except in Nevada, proponents haven't formally filed or started gathering signatures yet. Currently, California advocates are looking to establish a "diverse coalition of activists, organizations, businesses and community leaders... to draft the most effective and viable proposal possible," according to MPP Executive Director Rob Kampia.[4] Mason Tvert, Director of Communications for MPP, echoed Kampia, saying, "That’s our goal in Massachusetts: to get a large group of stakeholders, and write the best possible law."[5] MPP is planning to push initiatives in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada.[1][4] Chris Lindsey of Montana's MPP is crafting an initiative.[6] A Wyoming initiative is being sought by Wyoming NORML.[7] Mississippi for Cannabis is hoping to make their state the first in the south to legalize marijuana.[8] The following is a list of proposed marijuana legalization initiatives for 2016:

Spotlight

Maui County Genetically Modified Organism Moratorium Initiative (November 2014): Maui County's first successful initiative - a moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - will remain on the ballot after Second Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Loo overturned a temporary injunction against printing ballots containing the Shaka Movement's GMO measure.[3]

Shaka Movement representatives stated, "The judge clearly understands that Maui's first-ever successful citizens' initiative should not be blocked by a well-funded corporate campaign designed to thwart the democratic process."[3]

Attorneys for Citizens Against the Maui County Farming Ban stated they would investigate the ruling to see if any further legal action could be taken against the initiative. Meanwhile, the opposition group has spent large sums on a relentless ad campaign featuring half a dozen ads broadcasted during news blocks and prime time. The group spent over $80,000 on ads in just the first week of September.[3][9]

See also

2014 ballot measures
Tuesday Count • 2014 Scorecard

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Time, "The Marijuana Legalization Votes That Will Matter in 2014," September 29, 2014
  2. ↑ Governing, "Why GMO Labeling May Finally Win Voters' Approval in Colorado and Oregon," September 12, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Bellingham Herald, "Judge rules GMO measure can appear on Maui ballots," September 16, 2014
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Washington Post, "Marijuana advocates start their 2016 legalization fight in California today," September 24, 2014
  5. ↑ CommonWealth Magazine, "Group plans bid for Mass. marijuana legalization," June 10, 2014
  6. ↑ NBC Montana, "Montana marijuana initiative organizers set eyes on 2016," January 20, 2014
  7. ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "NORML submits initiative to legalize marijuana in Wyoming, for 2016 ballot," January 14, 2014
  8. ↑ The Clarion-Ledger, "Group seeks ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in MS," September 30, 2014
  9. ↑ Honolulu Civil Beat, "Ad Watch: Pro-GMO Group Calls Maui County Measure a ‘Farming Ban’," September 8, 2014
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