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{{CLshort}}As of June 2021, 18 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of '''marijuana for recreational purposes'''.
{{marijuana}}
As of June 2022, 19 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes, and 37 states and D.C. had legalized marijuana for medical purposes.<ref name=ncsl>[https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx ''National Conference of State Legislatures'', "State Medical Cannabis Laws," accessed June 11, 2022]</ref><ref>[https://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/marijuana-overview.aspx ''National Conference of State Legislatures'', "Cannabis Overview," accessed June 11, 2022]</ref><ref>''This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court''</ref>


At the [[#Federalism question|federal level]], the cultivation, distribution, and use of marijuana have remained federal offenses.<ref name=arguments>[http://www.drugrehab.us/news/pros-cons-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/ ''DrugRehab.us'', "Pros and Cons of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana," accessed August 24, 2016]</ref>
{{TLDRbox
 
|Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana after Governor [[Dan McKee]] (D) signed legislation on May 25, 2022.
{{TLDRbox|As of June 2021, 18 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized marijuana for recreational purposes; 12 through citizen initiatives, one through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, and six through bills approved by state legislatures and signed by governors.<section end=rec/> An additional 13 states had decriminalized '''recreational marijuana''' usage.
|Marijuana legalization measures are on the 2022 ballot in [[Maryland Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)|Maryland]] and [[South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)|South Dakota]].
|Vermont was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana through an act of the legislature when [[Phil Scott|Gov. Phil Scott]] (R) signed it into law on January 22, 2018. Illinois (2019), New York (2021), New Mexico (2021), Virginia (2021), and Connecticut (2021) had also done so as of June 2021.<ref name=Vermont>[http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/370139-vermont-governor-signs-marijuana-legalization-bill ''The Hill'', "Vermont governor signs marijuana legalization bill," January 22, 2018]</ref><ref name=IL2019>[https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/06/25/illinois-recreational-marijuana-law-governor-jb-pritzker/ ''CBS 2 Chicago'', "Governor JB Pritzker Signs Recreational Marijuana Law," June 25, 2019]</ref><ref name=VirginiaLegalization>[https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?212+sum+HB2312 ''Virginia State Legislature'', "HB 2312 Marijuana; legalization of simple possession, etc." accessed April 7, 2021]</ref><ref name=NMLegalized>[https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=2&year=21s ''New Mexico Legislature'', "House Bill 2," accessed April 12, 2021]</ref>
|[[#Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures|In 2020]], voters in three states (Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey) approved measures to legalize recreational marijuana and two states (Mississippi and South Dakota) approved measures to create a medical marijuana program. The Mississippi initiative was overturned by the state supreme court in 2021. Governor [[Tate Reeves]] signed medical marijuana legislation in 2022.
|By 2019 population estimates, roughly '''46 percent''' of Americans {{Greener | start = 1/1/2022 | before = live| after = lived}} in a state (or Washington, D.C.) with legalized recreational marijuana; '''71 percent''' {{Greener | start = 1/1/2022 | before = live| after = lived}} in states with legalized medical marijuana.
}}
}}


==Overview==
===Recreational marijuana===
<section begin=rec/>


As of June 2021, 18 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized marijuana for recreational purposes; 12 through citizen initiatives, one through a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, and six through bills approved by state legislatures and signed by governors.<section end=rec/> An additional 13 states had decriminalized '''recreational marijuana''' usage. In those states, while recreational marijuana usage was illegal, violation typically results in a fine rather than arrest or jail time for first-time offenders.<ref>[https://www.mpp.org/issues/decriminalization/ ''Marijuana Policy Project'', "Decriminalization," accessed March 2, 2020]</ref> Based on 2019 population estimates, roughly 40% percent of Americans {{Greener | start = 1/1/2021 | before = live| after = lived}} in a jurisdiction with legalized recreational marijuana.
'''See the sections below for further information on the following topics:'''
# '''[[#Marijuana laws by state|Marijuana laws by state]]'''
# '''[[#Noteworthy events since 2022|Noteworthy events since 2022]]'''
# '''[[#Upcoming statewide marijuana ballot measures|Upcoming statewide marijuana ballot measures]]'''
# '''[[#Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures|Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures]]'''
# '''[[#Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana|Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana]]'''
# '''[[#Political context of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana|Political context of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana]]'''
# '''[[#Marijuana ballot measures since 1972|Marijuana ballot measures since 1972]]'''


In 2012, Voters in [[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Colorado]] and [[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Washington]] became the first to legalize recreational marijuana when they did so through citizen-initiated measures.


The [[Vermont State Legislature]] approved a bill in mid-January 2018 to allow recreational marijuana, and [[Phil Scott|Gov. Phil Scott]] (R) signed it into law on January 22, 2018. Vermont was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana without voters approving a citizen initiative.<ref name=Vermont/><ref>[http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/334958-vermont-governor-vetoes-marijuana-legalization ''The Hill'', "Vermont governor vetoes marijuana legalization," May 24, 2017]</ref> The following states also legalized recreational marijuana through legislative action instead of a ballot measure:
==Marijuana laws by state==
* On June 25, 2019, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law legalizing the use and possession of recreational marijuana.<ref>[https://apnews.com/7b793d88f3c84417b83db0f770854960 ''Associated Press'', "Illinois becomes 11th state to allow recreational marijuana," June 25, 2019]</ref>
===Recreational marijuana===
* On March 31, 2021, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a marijuana legalization bill.
As of June 2022, 19 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.<ref>[https://learnaboutsam.org/mj-laws-map/ ''Smart Approaches to Marijuana'', "MJ Laws Map," accessed June 15, 2022]</ref><ref name=ncsl/><ref>[https://www.mpp.org/issues/legalization/map-of-state-marijuana-laws/ ''Marijuana Policy Project'', "Map of state marijuana laws," accessed June 15, 2022]</ref><ref>''This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court''</ref>
* On April 7, 2021, the Virginia Legislature approved a gubernatorial substitute for a bill designed to legalize recreational marijuana effective July 1, 2021.  
*In 11 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana.
* On April 12, 2021, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) House Bill 2 legalizing and regulating recreational marijuana.
*In one state, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval.
* On June 22, Connecticut Gov. [[Ned Lamont]] (D) signed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana.
*In seven states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.
 
Ballot measures legalizing recreational marijuana {{Greener| start=11/3/20 9pm CST|before=are|after=were}} approved by voters at the November 2020 election in  [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Arizona]], [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Montana]], [[New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)|New Jersey]], and [[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|South Dakota]].  


The New Jersey measure was the first legislatively referred measure to legalize recreational marijuana.


The measure in South Dakota was ruled unconstitutional on February 8, 2021. The case was appealed to the state supreme court, which upheld the lower court ruling.
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The map below details the legal status of recreational marijuana by state as of March 2021.


{{RecreationalMarijuanaLegalityMap-Current}}
The following table provides information about when and how recreational marijuana became legal.


The following table provides information about when and how recreational marijuana became legal.<br><br>
{| class="bp table sortable" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
 
{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
! colspan="6" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Timeline and process of recreational marijuana legalization
! colspan="6" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Timeline and process of recreational marijuana legalization
|-
|-
Line 48: Line 46:
| [[Colorado]] || 2012 || [[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Initiative]] || 55.32% || 45.68%
| [[Colorado]] || 2012 || [[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Initiative]] || 55.32% || 45.68%
|-
|-
| [[Washington]] || 2012 || [[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Initiative]] || 55.7% || 44.3%
| [[Washington]] || 2012 || [[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Initiative]] || 55.70% || 44.30%
|-
|-
| [[Alaska]] || 2014 || [[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Initiative]] || 53.23% || 46.77%
| [[Alaska]] || 2014 || [[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Initiative]] || 53.23% || 46.77%
Line 70: Line 68:
| [[Illinois]] || 2019 || [[2019 Illinois legislative session|Legislation]] || ''N/A'' || ''N/A''  
| [[Illinois]] || 2019 || [[2019 Illinois legislative session|Legislation]] || ''N/A'' || ''N/A''  
|-
|-
| [[Arizona]] || 2020 || [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative]] || 60.03% || 39.97%<ref name=unofficial/>
| [[Arizona]] || 2020 || [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative]] || 60.03% || 39.97%
|-
|-
| [[Montana]] || 2020 || [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative]] || 56.90% || 43.10%
| [[Montana]] || 2020 || [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative]] || 56.90% || 43.10%
Line 83: Line 81:
|-
|-
| [[Connecticut]] || 2021 || [https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2021&bill_num=1201 Legislation] || ''N/A'' || ''N/A''
| [[Connecticut]] || 2021 || [https://cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&which_year=2021&bill_num=1201 Legislation] || ''N/A'' || ''N/A''
<!--
|-
|-
| [[South Dakota]] || 2020 || [[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative]] || 54.18% || 45.82%
| [[Rhode Island]] || 2022 || [http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText22/Proposed22/H7593A.pdf Legislation] || ''N/A'' || ''N/A''
-->
|-
|-
|}
|}


South Dakota voters approved [[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|a recreational marijuana legalization initiative]] on November 3, 2020. The measure was overturned, however, by a circuit court and by the state supreme court upon appeal.<ref name=unofficial/>


===Medical marijuana===
===Medical marijuana===
{{Greener | start = 11/30/2017 | before = {{Verbatim marijuana}}|after =}}
As of June 2022, '''medical marijuana''' was legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Thirteen states (shaded grey in the map below) did not provide for a medical marijuana program.<ref name=ncsl/>
::''See also: [[Medical marijuana]]''
*Of the 37 states, 18 states established medical marijuana through the ballot initiative process. In 19 states, medical marijuana programs were established through legislation.
{{#section:Medical marijuana|medicalmarijuana}}
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</script></html>


===Trifecta analysis===
==Noteworthy events since 2022==
Below is a list of events related to marijuana legalization. Events are listed in reverse chronological order. Do you know of something else that should be included here?  Email us at [mailto:editor@ballotpedia.org editor@ballotpedia.org].


A [[state government trifecta]] occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. At the start of 2021, there were 15 Democratic trifectas, 23 Republican trifectas, and 12 states with a divided government.


Of the 18 states that had legalized recreational marijuana as of June 2021, 12 had Democratic trifectas, two had Republican trifectas, and four had divided governments.
*'''May 25, 2022''': Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana after Governor [[Dan McKee]] (D) signed House Bill 7593, the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, into law on May 25, 2022.<ref>[https://norml.org/blog/2022/05/25/rhode-island-becomes-19th-state-to-legalize-marijuana-for-adults/ ''NORML'', "Rhode Island Becomes 19th State to Legalize Marijuana for Adults," accessed June 16, 2022]</ref>


==Background==
*'''May 24, 2022''': Delaware Governor [[John Carney]] (D) vetoed a bill that was designed to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. The Delaware State Legislature passed House Bill 371 by a 26-14 vote in the House and 13-7 vote in the Senate.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-05-24/delaware-governor-vetoes-marijuana-legalization-bill ''U.S. News'', "Delaware Gov. John Carney Vetoes Marijuana Legalization Bill," accessed June 16, 2022]</ref>
<table class="navbox" style="margin-top:auto; margin:auto; width:auto; font-size:100%; border:none; background-color:#ffffff;"><tr><td><div class="bp-dropdown-menu centered tab-dropdown">
<small>
*<span style="font-size:110%;">'''ON THIS TAB:'''</span>
* [[#History|History]]
* [[#Legalization in the United States|Legalization in the U.S.]]
**[[#Recreational marijuana|Recreational use]]
**[[#Medical marijuana|Medical use]]
* [[#History of marijuana on the ballot | Timeline]]
</small>
</div></td></tr></table>
===History===
[[File:Cannabis Plant.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A cannabis plant]]
Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since 1937, when [[Congress]] prohibited its use for recreational, industrial, and therapeutic purposes with the Marihuana {{sic}} Act of 1937. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the drug and all its cannabinoid forms were classified as Schedule I substances, belonging to the same class as heroin (cocaine, by contrast, is a Substance II drug). Schedule I substances are considered to have a high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use; being classified as such made distribution of marijuana a federal offense. The table below compares Schedule I and Schedule II substances.<ref>[https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml ''U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration'', "Drug Scheduling," accessed September 16, 2016]</ref>


{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="75%" tr="align:center"
*'''February 2, 2022''': Mississippi Governor [[Tate Reeves]] (R) signed a medical marijuana bill (Senate Bill 2095) into law on February 2, 2022, after a [[Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)|voter-approved initiative]] to legalize medical marijuana was overturned by the state supreme court in 2021.<ref>[http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2022/pdf/history/SB/SB2095.xml ''Mississippi State Legislature'', "Senate Bill 2095," accessed June 16, 2022]</ref>
! colspan="2" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Schedule I and Schedule II substances
|-
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Schedule
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Substances
|-
| Schedule I || Heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, peyote
|-
| Schedule II || Combination products with less than 15 milligrams of hydrocodone per dosage unit (Vicodin), cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, Ritalin
|-
| colspan="5" align="left" style="background-color: #C8CCD0"| <small>'''Source''': [https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml ''U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration'', "Drug Scheduling," accessed September 16, 2016]</small>
|}
<br>
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has been the federal agency working to eradicate the growth of marijuana on American soil since 1979 through its Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP). In 2014 the program "was responsible for the eradication of 3,904,213 cultivated outdoor cannabis plants and 396,620 indoor plants for a total of 4,300,833 marijuana plants ... In addition, the DCE/SP accounted for 6,310 arrests and the seizure in excess of 27.3 million dollars of cultivator assets. The program also removed 4,989 weapons from cannabis cultivators."<ref>[http://www.dea.gov/ops/cannabis.shtml ''U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency'', "Domestic Cannabis Eradication / Suppression Program," accessed May 27, 2016]</ref>


===Legalization in the United States===
==Upcoming statewide ballot measures on marijuana==
'''Medical''':
Below is a list of ballot measures that have been certified or could potentially be certified for the 2022 ballot.


The first marijuana-related ballot measure appeared on [[California Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 19 (1972)|California's ballot in 1972]]. Proposition 19, which would have decriminalized the use of marijuana by adults, was defeated, with 66.5 percent of voters opposing the measure. Twenty-four years later, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana with 1996's [[California Proposition 215, Medical Marijuana Initiative (1996)|Proposition 215]]. [[Alaska Medical Marijuana Act, Measure 8 (1998)|Alaska]] and [[Oregon Medical Marijuana, Measure 67 (1998)|Oregon]] followed suit in 1998. {{#section:Marijuana laws in the United States|MedMarijuanaStatus}}
===Statewide ballot measures===
'''2022 certified measures''':
{{#dpl:
|category = Certified, marijuana, 2022
|include = {Ballot box}:statusimage
|notnamespace = Template
|mode = ordered
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
|secseparators = &nbsp;,
}}


'''Recreational''':
'''2022 potential measures''':
{{#dpl:
|category =  Marijuana, 2022
|notcategory = Certified, marijuana, 2022
|namespace =
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
|format=,\n#[[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]]
}}


{{#section:Marijuana laws in the United States|RecMarijuanaStatus}}
===Local ballot measures===
{{LBMScope2022}}
 
'''Local marijuana on the ballot:''' This topic refers to local ballot measures regarding the local regulation of marijuana sales and use.
 
'''2022:'''
{{#dpl:
|categorymatch =  Local marijuana,%
|category = Local ballots, 2022
|namespace =
|mode=ordered
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
}}


====History of marijuana on the ballot====
==Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures==
::''See also: [[History of marijuana on the ballot]]''
The following table provides information on states that have legalized recreational marijuana or medical marijuana through state ballot measures.
{{#section: History of marijuana on the ballot |marijuanahistory}}


==Major issues==
{|class="bptable sortable"  
<table class="navbox" style="margin-top:auto; margin:auto; width:auto; font-size:100%; border:none; background-color:#ffffff;"><tr><td><div class="bp-dropdown-menu centered tab-dropdown">
<small>
*<span style="font-size:110%;">'''ON THIS TAB:'''</span>
* [[#Usage|Usage]]
* [[#Crime and incarceration|Crime and incarceration]]
* Arguments
**[[#Arguments supporting marijuana legalization|Arguments in favor of legalization]]
**[[#Arguments opposing marijuana legalization|Arguments against legalization]]
* [[#Public opinion | Public opinion]]
</small>
</div></td></tr></table>
===Usage===
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 27.7 million American citizens aged 12 and older were current marijuana users in 2018 (meaning that they had used marijuana within the past month). This amounted to roughly 10.1 percent of the population aged 12 and older. See the table below for further details, including breakdowns by age bracket.<ref>[https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2018-nsduh-detailed-tables ''Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration'', "2018 NSDUH Detailed Tables (Table 1.7B)," August 20, 2019]</ref><ref>[https://datafiles.samhsa.gov/study-series/national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-nid13517 ''Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration'', "NSDUH data files page," accessed March 2, 2020]</ref>
{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
! colspan="5" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Marijuana usage as a percentage of the population by age bracket, 2002-2018
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Year
! State || Year || Measure || Yes || No || Origin || Type
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 12 and older
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 12 to 17
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 18 to 25
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 26 and older
|-
|-
| 2002||6.2%||8.2%||17.3%||4.0%
| Alaska || 1998 || [[Alaska Medical Marijuana Act, Measure 8 (1998)|Measure 8]] || 58.67% || 41.33% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2003||6.2%||7.9%||17.0%||4.0%
| Nevada || 1998 || [[Nevada Medical Marijuana Act, Question 9 (1998)|Question 9]] || 58.65% || 41.35% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2004||6.1%||7.6%||16.1%||4.1%
| Oregon || 1998 || [[Oregon Medical Marijuana, Measure 67 (1998)|Measure 67]] || 54.60% || 45.40% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2005||6.0%||6.8%||16.6%||4.1%
| Washington || 1998 || [[Washington Medical Marijuana, Initiative 692 (1998)|Initiative 692]] || 58.97% || 41.03% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2006||6.0%||6.7%||16.3%||4.2%
| Maine || 1999 || [[Maine Medical Marijuana for Specific Illnesses, Question 2 (1999)|Question 2]] || 61.41% || 38.59% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2007||5.8%||6.7%||16.5%||3.9%
| Colorado || 2000 || [[Colorado Medical Use of Marijuana, Initiative 20 (2000)|Initiative 20]] || 53.78% || 46.22% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2008||6.1%||6.7%||16.6%||4.2%
| Nevada || 2000 || [[Nevada Medical Marijuana Act, Question 9 (2000)|Question 9]] || 65.38% || 34.62% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2009||6.7%||7.4%||18.2%||4.6%
| Montana || 2004 || [[Montana Medical Marijuana Allowance, I-148 (2004)|I-148]] || 61.81% || 38.19% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2010||6.9%||7.4%||18.5%||4.8%
| Michigan || 2008 || [[Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative, Proposal 1 (2008)|Proposal 1]] || 62.66% || 37.34% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2011||7.0%||7.9%||19.0%||4.8%
| Maine || 2009 || [[Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 5 (2009)|Question 5]] || 58.87% || 41.13% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2012||7.3%||7.2%||18.7%||5.3%
| Arkansas || 2016 || [[Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, Issue 6 (2016)| Issue 6]] || 53.11% || 46.89% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2013||7.5%||7.1%||19.1%||5.6%
| Montana || 2016 || [[Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative, I-182 (2016)|I-182]] || 57.87% || 42.13% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2014||8.4%||7.4%||19.6%||6.6%
| North Dakota || 2016 || [[North Dakota Medical Marijuana Legalization, Initiated Statutory Measure 5 (2016)|Measure 5]] || 63.79% || 36.21% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2015||8.3%||7.0%||19.8%||6.5%
| Missouri || 2018 || [[Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)|Amendment 2]] || 65.59% || 34.41% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2016||8.9%||6.5%||20.8%||7.2%
| Oklahoma || 2018 || [[Oklahoma State Question 788, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (June 2018)|State Question 788]] || 56.86% || 43.14% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2017||9.6%||6.5%||22.1%||7.9%
| Utah || 2018 || [[Utah Proposition 2, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018)|Proposition 2]] || 52.75% || 47.25% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| 2018||10.1%||6.7%||22.1%||8.6%
| Mississippi || 2020 || [[Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)|Ballot Measure 1]] || 68.52% || 31.48% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
|-
| colspan="5" align="left" style="background-color: #C8CCD0"| <small>'''2017- 2018 Source available''': [https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2018-nsduh-detailed-tables ''Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration'', "2018 NSDUH Detailed Tables (Table 1.7B)," August 20, 2019].<br>''Earlier data can be found [https://datafiles.samhsa.gov/study-series/national-survey-drug-use-and-health-nsduh-nid13517 here]''.</small>
| South Dakota|| 2020 || [[South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)|Initiated Measure 26]] || 69.92% || 30.08% || Initiative || Medical marijuana program
|-
| Montana || 2009 || [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|I-190]] || 56.90% || 43.10% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Alaska || 2014 || [[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Ballot Measure 2]] || 53.23% || 46.77% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| California || 2016 || [[California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)|Proposition 64]] || 57.13% || 42.87% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Massachusetts || 2016 || [[Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)|Question 4]] || 53.66% || 46.34% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Maine || 2016 || [[Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)|Question 1]] || 50.26% || 49.74% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Nevada || 2016 || [[Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)|Question 2]] || 54.47% || 45.53% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Michigan || 2018 || [[Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)|Proposal 1]] || 55.89% || 44.11% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Arizona || 2020 || [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Proposition 207]] || 60.03% || 39.97% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Montana || 2020 || [[Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)|CI-118]] || 57.84% || 42.16% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| New Jersey || 2020 || [[New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)|Public Question 1]] || 67.08% || 32.92% || Referral || Recreational legalization
|}
|}


===Crime and incarceration===
==Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana==
According to the [[FBI]], there were 10,310,960 total arrests in the United States in 2018, the most recent year for which full data were available. Of that total, an estimated 1,167,296 arrests were related to drug abuse violations. Marijuana violations comprised the highest percentage of that subtotal. Of all drug-related violations, 36.8 percent, or 429,565, were related to marijuana possession; 4.4 percent, or 51,361, were related to the sale or manufacture of marijuana.<ref>[https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/topic-pages/persons-arrested ''Federal Bureau of Investigation'', "2018: Crime in the United States (Persons Arrested)," accessed March 2, 2020]</ref>
The following table compares a selection of ballot measure provisions, such as  possession limits, local control, taxes, and revenue dedications.


===Arguments supporting marijuana legalization===
'''''Click "Show" to expand the table.'''''
Proponents of the legalization of recreational marijuana make the following general arguments in support of their position:<ref name=arguments>[http://www.drugrehab.us/news/pros-cons-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/ ''DrugRehab.us'', "Pros and Cons of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana," accessed August 24, 2016]</ref>
# '''Increased revenues for state and local governments''': Proponents argue that, by making recreational marijuana legal, state and local governments can levy taxes on cannabis products, thereby generating revenues for government services.
# '''Enabling law enforcement officers and criminal justice officials to focus on other crimes''': Proponents argue that, If recreational marijuana use is legalized, law enforcement officers and criminal justice officials will be able to spend more time pursuing other crimes, such as violent offenses.  
# '''Improved safety via regulation''': Proponents argue that, if marijuana is legalized, it will be subject to government regulation, which may result in a safer product.


===Arguments opposing marijuana legalization===
{| class="bptable collapsible collapsed" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" style="width:100%; text-align:top; font-size:80%"
Opponents of the legalization of recreational marijuana make the following general arguments in support of their position:<ref name=arguments>[http://www.drugrehab.us/news/pros-cons-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/ ''DrugRehab.us'', "Pros and Cons of Legalizing Recreational Marijuana," accessed August 24, 2016]</ref>
|-
# '''Addictiveness''': Opponents argue that any revenues generated by marijuana legalization could be offset by the costs of treating users who become addicted the drug.
! colspan="6" align= "center" style="color:white; font-size:110%"|'''Comparison of marijuana ballot measure provisions, 2012-2020'''
# '''Gateway drug''': Opponents argue marijuana functions as a gateway drug, leading users to experiment with and become addicted to other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
|-
# '''Health''': Opponents argue that marijuana use can lead to a host of health problems, including lung cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and mental health conditions.
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:15%; font-size:110%"|Measure
 
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:17%; font-size:110%"|Possession limits
===Public opinion===
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:15%; font-size:110%"|Homegrown plants
<section begin=MarijuanaPublicOpinion/>
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:17%; font-size:110%"|Local control
Gallup, a national polling firm, first began surveying Americans about legalizing marijuana use in 1969. At that time, only 12 percent of all adults supported legalization. Since then, support for legalization has increased significantly. In 2019, a majority of American adults—66 percent—supported legalization. The table below breaks down support for legalization by age bracket.<ref>[https://news.gallup.com/poll/267698/support-legal-marijuana-steady-past-year.aspx ''Gallup.com'', "U.S. Support for Legal Marijuana Steady in Past Year," October 23, 2019]</ref><ref>[http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx ''Gallup.com'', "In U.S., 58% Back Legal Marijuana Use," October 21, 2015]</ref>
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:17%; font-size:110%"|State taxes
 
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:19%; font-size:110%"|Revenue
{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| '''Support for marijuana legalization by age bracket, 1969 to 2019 (selected years)'''
! colspan="6" align= "center" style="; color:white; font-size:110%"|'''Marijuana legalization ballot measures that were approved, 2012-2020'''
|-
| [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Arizona Proposition 207]] ([[Arizona 2020 ballot measures|2020]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana<br>• 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana concentrate ||• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||• Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||• 16% excise sales tax||• community college districts<br>• police and fire departments and fire districts<br>• highways<br>• new criminal justice fund (restorative programs, mentoring, and behavioral health)
|-
| [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Montana I-190]] ([[Montana 2020 ballot measures|2020]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana ||• Individuals could grow up to four marijuana plants and four seedling in a private residence in a locked space ||• A local government is not allowed to completely ban marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, wholesalers, or retail stores from operating in its limits; cannot prohibit the transportation of marijuana on public roads in its jurisdiction by those who are licensed to do so; allowed to pass ordinances to regulate an adult-use provider or adult-use marijuana-infused products that operate in its jurisdiction ||• 20% sales tax ||• After the tax revenue is used by the Department of Revenue to cover costs associated with implementing the initiative, 10.5% of the remaining revenue would be appropriated to the state's general fund, and the remainder would be appropriated to conservation programs, substance abuse treatment, veterans’ services, healthcare costs, and localities where marijuana is sold
|-
| [[New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)|New Jersey Amendment]] ([[New Jersey 2020 ballot measures|2020]]) ||• Not specified ||• Not specified||• Not specified||• Subject to state sales tax<br>• Prohibits additional state sales taxes on marijuana ||• Not specified
|-
<!--| [[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A]] ([[South Dakota 2020 ballot measures|2020]]) {{Overturned}} Approved, then overturned ||• 1 ounce of marijuana ||• Individuals who live in a jurisdiction with no licensed retail stores could grow up to three marijuana plants in a private residence in a locked space, though not more than six marijuana plants could be kept in one residence at a time ||•A local government allowed to ban marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, wholesalers, or retail stores from operating in its limits; cannot prohibit the transportation of marijuana on public roads in its jurisdiction by those who are licensed to do so ||• 15% sales tax ||• After the tax revenue is used by the Revenue Department to cover costs associated with implementing the amendment, 50% of the remaining revenue would be appropriated to fund state public schools and 50% would be deposited in the state's general fund
|--->
| [[Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)|Michigan Proposal 1]] ([[Michigan 2018 ballot measures|2018]]) ||• 2.5 ounces of marijuana<br>• 0.5 ounces of marijuana concentrate ||•Grow up to 12 marijuana plants||•Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||•10% excise sales tax||•local governments<br>•K-12 education<br>•road and bridge maintenance
|-
| [[California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)|California Proposition 64]] ([[California 2016 ballot propositions|2016]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana<br> • 0.3 ounces of marijuana concentrate ||•Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||•Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||•15% excise sales tax<br>•$9.25/ounce cultivation tax for flowers<br>•$2.75/ounce cultivation tax for leaves||•youth drug education, prevention, and treatment<br>•prevent and fix environmental damage from illegal marijuana producers<br>•marijuana DUI prevention and negative health effects programs
|-
| [[Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)|Nevada Question 2]] ([[Nevada 2016 ballot measures|2016]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana<br>• 0.125 ounces of marijuana concentrate||•Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||•Permits local ballot measures pertaining to zoning and land use for marijuana establishments||•15% excise sales||•K-12 education
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Year
| [[Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)|Maine Question 1]] ([[Maine 2016 ballot measures|2016]]) ||• 2.5 ounces of marijuana and/or marijuana concentrate||• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||• Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||• 10% excise sales tax<br>•The legislature added a $20.94/ounce cultivation tax on flowers and mature plants; $5.88/ounce cultivation tax on marijuana trim; $1.50 tax per immature plant; $0.30 tax per immature plant|| •General Fund (legislature added public health programs and law enforcement programs)
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | All adults
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 18 to 34
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 35 to 49
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 50 to 64
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | 65 and older
|-
|-
| 2019 || 66% || 81% || 71% || 62% || 49%
| [[Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)|Massachusetts Question 4]] ([[Massachusetts 2016 ballot measures|2016]]) ||• 10 ounces of marijuana in one's home<br>• 1 ounce of marijuana in public<br>• 0.2 ounces of marijuana concentrate||• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||• Municipalities allowed to limit number of establishments and restrict the time, place, and manner of their operation<br>• Permits local ballot measures to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||• 3.75% excise sales tax (legislature increased to 10.75%)||• General Fund
|-
|-
| 2015 || 58% || 71% || 64% || 58% || 35%
| [[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Alaska Measure 2]] ([[Alaska 2014 ballot measures|2014]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana ||• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||• Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||• $50/ounce cultivation tax||• General Fund
|-
|-
| 2000/2001 || 33% || 44% || 34% || 30% || 17%
| [[Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)|Oregon Measure 91]] ([[Oregon 2014 ballot measures|2014]])||• 8 ounces of marijuana in one's home<br>• 1 ounce of marijuana in public<br>• 1 ounce of marijuana concentrate||• Grow up to 4 marijuana plants||• Permits local ballot measures to ban or limit marijuana establishments||• 17% excise sales tax (legislature added the excise sales tax)<br>• $35/ounce producer tax for flowers<br>• $10/ounce producer tax for leaves||• K-12 education<br>• drug prevention and treatment<br>• state police<br>• local law enforcement
|-
|-
| 1985 || 23% || 32% || 22% || 16% || 13%
| [[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Colorado Amendment 64]] ([[Colorado 2012 ballot measures|2012]]) ||• 1 ounce of marijuana<br> • 1 ounce of marijuana concentrate ||• Grow up to 6 marijuana plants||• Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||•Required the state legislature to enact taxes<br>•In 2013, the legislature's [[Colorado Proposition AA, Taxes on the Sale of Marijuana (2013)|Proposition AA]] enacted a 15% excise tax on unprocessed retail marijuana and 10% (increased to 15% in 2017) sales tax on retail sales||• K-12 public education<br>• Proposition AA added allocations for local governments, healthcare, substance abuse prevention and treatment, and law enforcement
|-
|-
| 1969 || 12% || 20% || 11% || 6% || 4%
| [[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Washington Initiative 502]] ([[Washington 2012 ballot measures|2012]])||• 1 ounce of marijuana<br>• 0.25 ounce of marijuana concentrate||• Illegal ||• Municipalities allowed to ban or limit marijuana establishments within their boundaries||•25% excise sales tax (legislature increased the tax to 37%)||• research<br>• drug prevention, public health education<br>• healthcare<br>• dropout prevention, intervention<br>• General Fund
|-
|-
| colspan="6" align="left" style="background-color: #C8CCD0"| <small>'''2019 source''': [https://news.gallup.com/poll/267698/support-legal-marijuana-steady-past-year.aspx ''Gallup.com'', "U.S. Support for Legal Marijuana Steady in Past Year," October 23, 2019]. ''Previous year data available [http://www.gallup.com/poll/186260/back-legal-marijuana.aspx here]</small>
|}
|}
<section end=MarijuanaPublicOpinion/><br>
====Support for legalization by political party affiliation====
According to a 2019 poll by Quinnipiac University, support for marijuana legalization differed according to political party affiliation, with Democrats and independents generally favoring legalization and Republicans generally opposing legalization. See the table below for further details.<ref name=qunnipiac>[https://poll.qu.edu/images/polling/us/us03062019_uenh42.pdf ''Quinnipiac University'', "U.S. Voters Oppose Trump Emergency Powers on Wall 2-1 Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 86% Back Democrats' Bill on Gun Background Checks," March 6, 2019]</ref>


{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
==Political context of recreational marijuana ballot measures==
! colspan="6" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Support for marijuana legalization by political party affiliation, 2019
The following table summarizes the political context in which recreational marijuana ballot measures were approved in twelve states.
 
'''''Click "Show" to expand the table.'''''
 
{| class="bptable collapsible collapsed" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" border="1" style="width:100%; text-align:center"  
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" |
! colspan="9" align= "center" style="; color:white;"|'''Political context surrounding approved recreational marijuana ballot measures'''
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Democrats
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Republicans
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Independents
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Total
|-
|-
| Support for legalization || 73% || 40% || 64% || 60%
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:10%"|State
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:10%"|Measure
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:8%"|Year
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:7%"|Status
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:25%"|Presidential voting history (prior three elections)
! align="center" style="; text-align:center; width:15%"|State partisan control at time of vote
|-
|-
| Opposition to legalization || 20% || 52% || 31% || 33%
|Colorado ||[[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Amendment 64]]|| 2012 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Mixed (Bush-Obama-Obama) || Divided
|-
|-
| Undecided || 8% || 8% || 5% || 7%
|Washington ||[[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Initiative 502]]|| 2012 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Kerry-Obama-Obama) || Democratic
|-
|-
| colspan="6" align="align-left" style="background-color: #C8CCD0"| <small>'''Source''': [https://poll.qu.edu/images/polling/us/us03062019_uenh42.pdf ''Quinnipiac University'', "U.S. Voters Oppose Trump Emergency Powers on Wall 2-1 Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds," March 6, 2019]</small>
|Alaska ||[[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Measure 2]]|| 2014 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Republican (Bush-McCain-Romney) || Republican
|}
|-
<br>
|Oregon ||[[Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)|Measure 91]]|| 2014 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Kerry-Obama-Obama) || Democratic
However, the same poll found significantly higher support across all partisan affiliations for the legalization of medical marijuana. See the table below for further details.<ref name=qunnipiac/>
|-
 
|California ||[[California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)|Proposition 64]]|| 2016 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) || Democratic
{| class="marqueetable endorsements" style="border:1px solid #424949; border-radius:5px; text-align=center;" cellpadding="6px" width="100%" tr="align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" align="center" style="background-color: #424949; color:white"| Support for medical marijuana legalization by political party affiliation, 2019
|Maine ||[[Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)|Question 1]]|| 2016 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) || Divided
|-
|Massachusetts ||[[Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)|Question 4]]|| 2016 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) || Divided
|-
|Nevada ||[[Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)|Question 2]]|| 2016 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Obama-Obama-Clinton) || Republican
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" |  
|Michigan ||[[Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)|Proposal 1]]|| 2018 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Mixed (Obama-Obama-Trump)  || Republican
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Democrats
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Republicans
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Independents
! style="background-color:#C8CCD0; border-radius:0px;" | Total
|-
|-
| Support for legalization || 96% || 86% || 96% || 93%
|Arizona ||[[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Proposition 207]]|| 2020 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Mixed (Romney-Trump-Biden) || Republican
|-
|-
| Opposition to legalization || 3% || 12% || 3% || 5%
|Montana ||[[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Initiative 190]]|| 2020 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) || Divided
|-
|-
| Undecided || 1% || 2% || 1% || 2%
|New Jersey ||[[New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)|Amendment]]|| 2020 || <center>{{Approved}}</center> || Democratic (Obama-Clinton-Biden) || Democratic
|-
|-
| colspan="6" align="align-left" style="background-color: #C8CCD0"| <small>'''Source''': [https://poll.qu.edu/images/polling/us/us03062019_uenh42.pdf ''Quinnipiac University'', "U.S. Voters Oppose Trump Emergency Powers on Wall 2-1 Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds," March 6, 2019]</small>
<!--|South Dakota ||[[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Amendment A]]|| 2020 || <center>{{Approved}}/{{overturned}}</center> || Republican (Romney-Trump-Trump) || Republican
|--->
|}
|}


==Federalism question==
==Marijuana ballot measures since 1972==
::''See also: [[Preemption conflicts between state and local governments]]''
The following table lists marijuana-related ballot measures since 1972.  
[[File:Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg|thumb|200px|right|Seal of the United States Department of Justice]]
At the federal level, the cultivation, distribution, and use of marijuana have remained federal offenses. When states began to legalize it, first for medical and then for personal use, enforcement became more complicated because states enforce their own narcotics statutes. This caused a conflict between the federal and state governments: what was illegal at the federal level was now legal in some places at the state level. Consequently, the Obama administration in October 2009 encouraged federal prosecutors not to prosecute individuals distributing or using marijuana for medical purposes in accordance with state law.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx ''National Conference of State Legislatures'', "State Medical Marijuana Laws," April 18, 2016]</ref>


On August 29, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice made another announcement regarding its marijuana enforcement policy: "In a new memorandum outlining the policy, the Department makes clear that marijuana remains an illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act and that federal prosecutors will continue to aggressively enforce this statute ... Based on assurances that those states will impose an appropriately strict regulatory system, the Department has informed the governors of [Colorado and Washington, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2012] that it is deferring its right to challenge their legalization laws at this time."<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-update-marijuana-enforcement-policy ''U.S. Department of Justice'', "Justice Department Announces Update to Marijuana Enforcement Policy,", August 29, 2013]</ref>
Click '''[show]''' to expand the table.


On August 11, 2016, the federal government rejected a proposal to declassify marijuana as an illegal Schedule I drug and to allow [[Medical_marijuana|marijuana to be used for medical purposes]]. The [[Food_and_Drug_Administration|Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) stated that marijuana has not been proven scientifically to be medically safe or effective; therefore, the [[Drug_Enforcement_Administration|Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)]] could not allow the drug to be declassified.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/08/10/u-s-affirms-its-prohibition-on-medical-marijuana/?utm_campaign=2016-08-11%20Stateline%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew ''The Washington Post'', "U.S. affirms its prohibition on medical marijuana," August 11, 2016]</ref>
{| class="bptable sortable"
 
! State !! Year !! Measure !! Outcome !! Yes !! No !! Origin !! Topic
{{#section:Federal policy on marijuana, 2017-2018|2018FarmBill}}
|-
 
| California || 1972 || [[California Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 19 (1972)|Proposition 19]] || {{Defeated}} || 33.47% || 66.53% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
==Ballot measures==
|-
===Statewide measures===
| Georgia|| 1980 || [[Georgia Jurisdiction of Marijuana Cases, Amendment 9 (1980)|Amendment 9]] || {{Approved}} || 64.88% || 35.12% || Referral || Other
{{Marijuana}}
|-
Below are lists of the certified and proposed marijuana ballot measures that were intended for 2020 ballots:
| Oregon|| 1986 || [[Oregon Marijuana Legalization for Personal Use, Ballot Measure 5 (1986)|Ballot Measure 5 ]] || {{Defeated}} || 26.33% || 73.67% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
 
|-
====Potential marijuana-related ballot measures====
| Alaska|| 1990 || [[Alaska Marijuana Criminalization Initiative, Measure 2 (1990)|Measure 2]] || {{Approved}} || 54.29% || 45.71% || Initiative || Other
 
|-
'''2022:'''
| Arizona|| 1996 || [[Arizona Use or Possession of Controlled Substances, Proposition 200 (1996)| Proposition 200]] || {{Approved}} || 65.41% || 34.59% || Initiative || Other
{{#dpl:
|-
|category =  Marijuana, 2022
| Washington || 1997 || [[Washington Marijuana Decriminalization, Initiative 685 (1997)|Initiative 685]] || {{Defeated}} || 39.57% || 60.43% || Initiative || Other
|notcategory = Certified, marijuana, 2022
|-
|namespace =
| Alaska|| 1998 || [[Alaska Medical Marijuana Act, Measure 8 (1998)|Measure 8]] || {{Approved}} || 58.67% || 41.33% || Initiative || Medical
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
|-
|format=,\n#[[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]]
| Arizona|| 1998 || [[Arizona Probation Eligibility for Drug Offenses, Proposition 301 (1998)|Proposition 301 ]] || {{Approved}} || 53.54% || 46.46% || Initiative || Other
}}
|-
 
| Nevada || 1998 || [[Nevada Medical Marijuana Act, Question 9 (1998)|Question 9]] || {{Approved}} || 58.65% || 41.35% || Initiative || Medical
'''2021:'''
|-
{{#dpl:
| Oregon|| 1998 || [[Oregon Medical Marijuana, Measure 67 (1998)|Measure 67]] || {{Approved}} || 54.60% || 45.40% || Initiative || Medical
|category =  Marijuana, 2021
|-
|notcategory = Certified, marijuana, 2021
| Washington || 1998 || [[Washington Medical Marijuana, Initiative 692 (1998)|Initiative 692]] || {{Approved}} || 58.97% || 41.03% || Initiative || Medical
|namespace =
|-
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
| Arizona|| 1998 || [[Arizona Medical Use of Schedule 1 Drugs, Proposition 300 (1998)|Proposition 300]] || {{Defeated}} || 36.12% || 63.88% || Initiative || Medical
|format=,\n#[[%PAGE%|%TITLE%]]
|-
}}
| Oregon|| 1998 || [[Oregon Marijuana Possession as a Class C Misdemeanor, Measure 57 (1998)|Measure 57]] || {{Defeated}} || 33.54% || 66.46% || Initiative || Other
 
|-
====Certified marijuana-related ballot measures====
| Maine || 1999 || [[Maine Medical Marijuana for Specific Illnesses, Question 2 (1999)|Question 2]] || {{Approved}} || 61.41% || 38.59% || Initiative || Medical
 
|-
'''2020:'''
| California || 2000 || [[California Proposition 36, Probation and Treatment for Drug-Related Offenses Initiative (2000)|Proposition 36]] || {{Approved}} || 60.86% || 39.14% || Initiative || Other
{{#dpl:
|-
|category = Certified, marijuana, 2020
| Colorado || 2000 || [[Colorado Medical Use of Marijuana, Initiative 20 (2000)|Initiative 20]] || {{Approved}} || 53.78% || 46.22% || Initiative || Medical
|include = {Ballot box}:statusimage
|-
|notnamespace = Template
| Nevada || 2000 || [[Nevada Medical Marijuana Act, Question 9 (2000)|Question 9]] || {{Approved}} || 65.38% || 34.62% || Initiative || Medical
|mode = ordered
|-
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
| Alaska || 2000 || [[Alaska Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative, Measure 5 (2000)|Measure 5]] || {{Defeated}} || 40.88% || 59.12% || Initiative || Other
|secseparators = &nbsp;,
|-
}}
| Arizona|| 2002 || [[Arizona Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 203 (2002)|Proposition 203]] || {{Defeated}} || 42.65% || 57.35% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
 
|-
===Local ballot measures===
| Nevada || 2002 || [[Nevada Decriminalization of Marijuana Amendment, Question 9 (2002)|Question 9]] || {{Defeated}} || 39.13% || 60.87% || Initiative || Other
'''Local marijuana on the ballot:''' This topic refers to local ballot measures regarding the local regulation of marijuana sales and use.
|-
 
| South Dakota|| 2002 || [[South Dakota Industrial Hemp, Initiative 1 (2002)|Initiative 1]] || {{Defeated}} || 37.97% || 62.03% || Initiative || Other
'''2020:'''
|-
{{#dpl:
| Montana || 2004 || [[Montana Medical Marijuana Allowance, I-148 (2004)|I-148]] || {{Approved}} || 61.81% || 38.19% || Initiative || Medical
|categorymatch =  Local marijuana,%
|-
|category = Local ballots, 2020
| Alaska || 2004 || [[Alaska Legalize Marijuana Initiative, Measure 2 (2004)|Measure 2]] || {{Defeated}} || 44.25% || 55.75% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|namespace =
|-
|mode=ordered
| Oregon|| 2004 || [[Oregon Medical Marijuana Allowance Measure 33 (2004)|Measure 33]] || {{Defeated}} || 42.78% || 57.22% || Initiative || Medical
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
|-
}}
| Colorado || 2006 || [[Colorado Marijuana Possession, Initiative 44 (2006)|Initiative 44]] || {{Defeated}} || 41.08% || 58.92% || Initiative || Other
 
|-
'''2019:'''
| Nevada || 2006 || [[Nevada Marijuana Initiative, Question 7 (2006)|Question 7]] || {{Defeated}} || 44.08% || 55.92% || Initiative || Other
{{#dpl:
|-
|categorymatch =  Local marijuana,%
| South Dakota|| 2006 || [[South Dakota Medical Marijuana, Initiative 4 (2006)|Initiative 4]] || {{Defeated}} || 47.70% || 52.30% || Initiative || Medical
|category = Local ballots, 2019
|-
|namespace =
| Massachusetts || 2008 || [[Massachusetts Question 2, Change Marijuana Possession from Criminal to Civil Penalties Initiative (2008)|Question 2]] || {{Approved}} || 65.25% || 34.75% || Initiative || Other
|mode=ordered
|-
|noresultsheader = ''No measures''
| Michigan || 2008 || [[Michigan Medical Marijuana Initiative, Proposal 1 (2008)|Proposal 1]] || {{Approved}} || 62.66% || 37.34% || Initiative || Medical
}}
|-
| California || 2008 || [[California Proposition 5, Nonviolent Drug Offender Sentences and Rehabilitation Initiative (2008)|Proposition 5]] || {{Defeated}} || 40.52% || 59.48% || Initiative || Other
|-
| Maine || 2009 || [[Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 5 (2009)|Question 5]] || {{Approved}} || 58.87% || 41.13% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Montana || 2009 || [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|I-190]] || {{Approved}} || 56.90% || 43.10% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| California || 2010 || [[California Proposition 19, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010)|Proposition 19]] || {{Defeated}} || 46.54% || 53.46% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Arizona|| 2010 || [[Arizona Medical Marijuana Question, Proposition 203 (2010)|Proposition 203]] || {{Approved}} || 50.1% || 49.9% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Oregon|| 2010 || [[Oregon Regulated Medical Marijuana Supply System Act, Measure 74 (2010)|Measure 74]] || {{Defeated}} || 44.21% || 55.79% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Montana || 2012 || [[Montana Medical Marijuana Veto Referendum, IR-124 (2012)|IR-124]] || {{Approved}} || 57.25% || 42.75% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Washington || 2012 || [[Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012)|Initiative 502]] || {{Approved}} || 55.7% || 44.3% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Colorado || 2013 || [[Colorado Proposition AA, Taxes on the Sale of Marijuana (2013)|Proposition AA]] || {{Approved}} || 65.27% || 34.73% || Referral || Other
|-
| Massachusetts || 2012 || [[Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 3 (2012)|Question 3]] || {{Approved}} || 63.3% || 36.7% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Oregon|| 2013 || [[Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Initiative, Measure 80 (2012)|Measure 80]] || {{Defeated}} || 46.58% || 53.42% || Initiative || Other
|-
| Arkansas || 2012 || [[Arkansas Medical Marijuana Question, Issue 5 (2012)|Issue 5]] || {{Defeated}} || 48.56% || 51.44% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Colorado || 2012 || [[Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012)|Amendment 64]] || {{Approved}} || 55.32% || 44.68% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Alaska || 2014 || [[Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)|Ballot Measure 2]] || {{Approved}} || 53.23% || 46.77% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Florida || 2014 || [[Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)|Amendment 2]] || {{Defeated}} || 57.62% || 42.38% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Washington || 2014 || [[Washington Elimination of Agricultural Tax Preferences for Marijuana, Advisory Vote No. 8 (2014)|Advisory Vote No. 8]] || {{Approved}} || 54.41% || 45.59% || Referral || Other
|-
| Oregon|| 2014 || [[Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 (2014)|Measure 91]] || {{Approved}} || 56.11% || 43.89% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Colorado || 2015 || [[Colorado Marijuana TABOR Refund Measure, Proposition BB (2015)|Proposition BB]] || {{Approved}} || 69.39% || 30.61% || Referral || Other
|-
| Washington || 2015 || [[Washington Medical Marijuana Patient Database Fee Advisory Vote No. 11 (2015)|Advisory Vote No. 11]] || {{Approved}} || 41.27% || 58.73% || Referral || Medical
|-
| Ohio || 2015 || [[Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Issue 3 (2015)|Issue 3]] || {{Defeated}} || 36.35% || 63.65% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Arkansas || 2016 || [[Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, Issue 6 (2016)| Issue 6]] || {{Approved}} || 53.11% || 46.89% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| California || 2016 || [[California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)|Proposition 64]] || {{Approved}} || 57.13% || 42.87% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Massachusetts || 2016 || [[Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)|Question 4]] || {{Approved}} || 53.66% || 46.34% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Montana || 2016 || [[Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative, I-182 (2016)|I-182]] || {{Approved}} || 57.87% || 42.13% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Nevada || 2016 || [[Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)|Question 2]] || {{Approved}} || 54.47% || 45.53% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| North Dakota|| 2016 || [[North Dakota Medical Marijuana Legalization, Initiated Statutory Measure 5 (2016)|Initiated Statutory Measure 5]] || {{Approved}} || 63.79% || 36.21% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Arizona|| 2016 || [[Arizona Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 205 (2016)|Proposition 205]] || {{Defeated}} || 48.68% || 51.32% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Maine || 2016 || [[Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)|Question 1]] || {{Approved}} || 50.26% || 49.74% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Florida || 2016 || [[Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)|Amendment 2]] || {{Approved}} || 71.32% || 28.68% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Colorado || 2018 || [[Colorado Amendment X, Definition of Industrial Hemp Amendment (2018)|Amendment X]] || {{Approved}} || 60.64% || 39.36% || Referral || Other
|-
| Michigan || 2018 || [[Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)|Proposal 1]] || {{Approved}} || 55.89% || 44.11% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Missouri || 2018 || [[Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)|Amendment 2]] || {{Approved}} || 65.59% || 34.41% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Oklahoma || 2018 || [[Oklahoma State Question 788, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (June 2018)|State Question 788]] || {{Approved}} || 56.86% || 43.14% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Utah || 2018 || [[Utah Proposition 2, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018)|Proposition 2]] || {{Approved}} || 52.75% || 47.25% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Missouri || 2018 || [[Missouri Amendment 3, Medical Marijuana and Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute Initiative (2018)|Amendment 3]] || {{Defeated}} || 31.50% || 68.50% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Missouri || 2018 || [[Missouri Proposition C, Medical Marijuana and Veterans Healthcare Services, Education, Drug Treatment, and Public Safety Initiative (2018)|Proposition C]] || {{Defeated}} || 43.57% || 56.43% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| North Dakota|| 2018 || [[North Dakota Measure 3, Marijuana Legalization and Automatic Expungement Initiative (2018)|Measure 3]] || {{Defeated}} || 40.55% || 59.45% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Arizona|| 2020 || [[Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Proposition 207]] || {{Approved}} || 60.03% || 39.97% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| Arizona|| 2002 || [[Arizona Rules Governing Probation for Drug-Related Crimes, Proposition 302 (2002)| Proposition 302]] || {{Approved}} || 69.75% || 30.25% || Referral || Other
|-
| Mississippi|| 2020 || [[Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)|Ballot Measure 1]] || {{Approved}}/{{Overturned}} || 68.52% || 31.48% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| Montana|| 2020 || [[Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)|CI-118]] || {{Approved}} || 57.84% || 42.16% || Initiative || Other
|-
| Montana|| 2020 || [[Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|I-190]] || {{Approved}} || 56.90% || 43.10% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|-
| New Jersey|| 2020 || [[New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)|Public Question 1]] || {{Approved}} || 67.08% || 32.92% || Referred ballot measure || Recreational legalization
|-
| South Dakota|| 2020 || [[South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)|Initiated Measure 26]] || {{Approved}} || 69.92% || 30.08% || Initiative || Medical
|-
| South Dakota|| 2020 || [[South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)|Constitutional Amendment A]] || {{Approved}}/{{Overturned}} || 54.18% || 45.82% || Initiative || Recreational legalization
|}


==News feed==
==News feed==
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|Term2=legalization
|Term2=legalization
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}}
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==See also==
==See also==
<gallery mode="packed-overlay" widths=200px heights=200px perrow=4 caption=>
*[[Marijuana on the ballot]]
File:Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png|''[[Elections|2016 coverage on Ballotpedia]]''
*[[History of marijuana on the ballot]]
File:Civil Liberties Policy Logo on Ballotpedia.png|''[[Civil Liberties Policy|Civil liberties policy on Ballotpedia]]''
File:Presidential Elections-2016-badge.png|''[[Presidential election, 2016]]''
</gallery>
* [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws]]
* [[Marijuana ballot measures]]
* [[Marijuana Policy Project]]
* [[Drug Policy Alliance]]
* [[History of marijuana on the ballot]]
 
=<small>Additional reading</small>=
{{MarijuanaProConExternallinks}}


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Public policy concepts and issues]]
[[Category:Public policy concepts and issues]]
{{Policy HNT}}
{{Policy HNT}}
[[Category:One-off pages, active]]
[[Category:One-off pages, active]]

Revision as of 22:51, 17 June 2022

Voting on Marijuana
Marijuana Leaf-smaller.gif
Ballot Measures
By state
By year
Not on ballot

As of June 2022, 19 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes, and 37 states and D.C. had legalized marijuana for medical purposes.[1][2][3]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana after Governor Dan McKee (D) signed legislation on May 25, 2022.
  • Marijuana legalization measures are on the 2022 ballot in Maryland and South Dakota.
  • In 2020, voters in three states (Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey) approved measures to legalize recreational marijuana and two states (Mississippi and South Dakota) approved measures to create a medical marijuana program. The Mississippi initiative was overturned by the state supreme court in 2021. Governor Tate Reeves signed medical marijuana legislation in 2022.


    • See the sections below for further information on the following topics:

    1. Marijuana laws by state
    2. Noteworthy events since 2022
    3. Upcoming statewide marijuana ballot measures
    4. Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures
    5. Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana
    6. Political context of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana
    7. Marijuana ballot measures since 1972


    Marijuana laws by state

    Recreational marijuana

    As of June 2022, 19 states and Washington, D.C., had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes.[4][1][5][6]

    • In 11 states and D.C., the ballot initiative process was used to legalize marijuana.
    • In one state, the legislature referred a measure to the ballot for voter approval.
    • In seven states, bills to legalize marijuana were enacted into law.



    The following table provides information about when and how recreational marijuana became legal.

    Timeline and process of recreational marijuana legalization
    State Year legalized Process used Vote
    For Against
    Colorado 2012 Initiative 55.32% 45.68%
    Washington 2012 Initiative 55.70% 44.30%
    Alaska 2014 Initiative 53.23% 46.77%
    Oregon 2014 Initiative 56.11% 43.89%
    Washington, D.C. 2014 Initiative 70.06% 29.94%
    California 2016 Initiative 57.13% 42.87%
    Maine 2016 Initiative 50.26% 49.74%
    Massachusetts 2016 Initiative 53.66% 46.34%
    Nevada 2016 Initiative 54.47% 45.53%
    Michigan 2018 Initiative 55.89% 44.11%
    Vermont 2018 Legislation N/A N/A
    Illinois 2019 Legislation N/A N/A
    Arizona 2020 Initiative 60.03% 39.97%
    Montana 2020 Initiative 56.90% 43.10%
    New Jersey 2020 Referral 67.08% 32.92%
    New York 2021 Legislation N/A N/A
    Virginia 2021 Legislation N/A N/A
    New Mexico 2021 Legislation N/A N/A
    Connecticut 2021 Legislation N/A N/A
    Rhode Island 2022 Legislation N/A N/A


    Medical marijuana

    As of June 2022, medical marijuana was legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Thirteen states (shaded grey in the map below) did not provide for a medical marijuana program.[1]

    • Of the 37 states, 18 states established medical marijuana through the ballot initiative process. In 19 states, medical marijuana programs were established through legislation.

    Noteworthy events since 2022

    Below is a list of events related to marijuana legalization. Events are listed in reverse chronological order. Do you know of something else that should be included here? Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.


    • May 25, 2022: Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana after Governor Dan McKee (D) signed House Bill 7593, the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, into law on May 25, 2022.[7]
    • May 24, 2022: Delaware Governor John Carney (D) vetoed a bill that was designed to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. The Delaware State Legislature passed House Bill 371 by a 26-14 vote in the House and 13-7 vote in the Senate.[8]
    • February 2, 2022: Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R) signed a medical marijuana bill (Senate Bill 2095) into law on February 2, 2022, after a voter-approved initiative to legalize medical marijuana was overturned by the state supreme court in 2021.[9]

    Upcoming statewide ballot measures on marijuana

    Below is a list of ballot measures that have been certified or could potentially be certified for the 2022 ballot.

    Statewide ballot measures

    2022 certified measures:

    1. Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022) 
    2. North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022) 

    2022 potential measures: No measures

    Local ballot measures

    In 2022, Ballotpedia covered local ballot measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the 100 largest cities in the U.S., within state capitals, and throughout California. You can review the coverage scope of the local ballot measures project here.

    Ballotpedia covered a selection of policing-related ballot measures and election-related ballot measures outside of the largest cities.

    Local marijuana on the ballot: This topic refers to local ballot measures regarding the local regulation of marijuana sales and use.

    2022: No measures

    Marijuana laws enacted by statewide ballot measures

    The following table provides information on states that have legalized recreational marijuana or medical marijuana through state ballot measures.

    State Year Measure Yes No Origin Type
    Alaska 1998 Measure 8 58.67% 41.33% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Nevada 1998 Question 9 58.65% 41.35% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Oregon 1998 Measure 67 54.60% 45.40% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Washington 1998 Initiative 692 58.97% 41.03% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Maine 1999 Question 2 61.41% 38.59% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Colorado 2000 Initiative 20 53.78% 46.22% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Nevada 2000 Question 9 65.38% 34.62% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Montana 2004 I-148 61.81% 38.19% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Michigan 2008 Proposal 1 62.66% 37.34% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Maine 2009 Question 5 58.87% 41.13% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Arkansas 2016 Issue 6 53.11% 46.89% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Montana 2016 I-182 57.87% 42.13% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    North Dakota 2016 Measure 5 63.79% 36.21% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Missouri 2018 Amendment 2 65.59% 34.41% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Oklahoma 2018 State Question 788 56.86% 43.14% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Utah 2018 Proposition 2 52.75% 47.25% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Mississippi 2020 Ballot Measure 1 68.52% 31.48% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    South Dakota 2020 Initiated Measure 26 69.92% 30.08% Initiative Medical marijuana program
    Montana 2009 I-190 56.90% 43.10% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Alaska 2014 Ballot Measure 2 53.23% 46.77% Initiative Recreational legalization
    California 2016 Proposition 64 57.13% 42.87% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Massachusetts 2016 Question 4 53.66% 46.34% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Maine 2016 Question 1 50.26% 49.74% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Nevada 2016 Question 2 54.47% 45.53% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Michigan 2018 Proposal 1 55.89% 44.11% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Arizona 2020 Proposition 207 60.03% 39.97% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Montana 2020 CI-118 57.84% 42.16% Initiative Recreational legalization
    New Jersey 2020 Public Question 1 67.08% 32.92% Referral Recreational legalization

    Comparison of ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana

    The following table compares a selection of ballot measure provisions, such as possession limits, local control, taxes, and revenue dedications.

    Click "Show" to expand the table.

    Political context of recreational marijuana ballot measures

    The following table summarizes the political context in which recreational marijuana ballot measures were approved in twelve states.

    Click "Show" to expand the table.

    Marijuana ballot measures since 1972

    The following table lists marijuana-related ballot measures since 1972.

    Click [show] to expand the table.

    State Year Measure Outcome Yes No Origin Topic
    California 1972 Proposition 19 Defeatedd 33.47% 66.53% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Georgia 1980 Amendment 9 Approveda 64.88% 35.12% Referral Other
    Oregon 1986 Ballot Measure 5 Defeatedd 26.33% 73.67% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Alaska 1990 Measure 2 Approveda 54.29% 45.71% Initiative Other
    Arizona 1996 Proposition 200 Approveda 65.41% 34.59% Initiative Other
    Washington 1997 Initiative 685 Defeatedd 39.57% 60.43% Initiative Other
    Alaska 1998 Measure 8 Approveda 58.67% 41.33% Initiative Medical
    Arizona 1998 Proposition 301 Approveda 53.54% 46.46% Initiative Other
    Nevada 1998 Question 9 Approveda 58.65% 41.35% Initiative Medical
    Oregon 1998 Measure 67 Approveda 54.60% 45.40% Initiative Medical
    Washington 1998 Initiative 692 Approveda 58.97% 41.03% Initiative Medical
    Arizona 1998 Proposition 300 Defeatedd 36.12% 63.88% Initiative Medical
    Oregon 1998 Measure 57 Defeatedd 33.54% 66.46% Initiative Other
    Maine 1999 Question 2 Approveda 61.41% 38.59% Initiative Medical
    California 2000 Proposition 36 Approveda 60.86% 39.14% Initiative Other
    Colorado 2000 Initiative 20 Approveda 53.78% 46.22% Initiative Medical
    Nevada 2000 Question 9 Approveda 65.38% 34.62% Initiative Medical
    Alaska 2000 Measure 5 Defeatedd 40.88% 59.12% Initiative Other
    Arizona 2002 Proposition 203 Defeatedd 42.65% 57.35% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Nevada 2002 Question 9 Defeatedd 39.13% 60.87% Initiative Other
    South Dakota 2002 Initiative 1 Defeatedd 37.97% 62.03% Initiative Other
    Montana 2004 I-148 Approveda 61.81% 38.19% Initiative Medical
    Alaska 2004 Measure 2 Defeatedd 44.25% 55.75% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Oregon 2004 Measure 33 Defeatedd 42.78% 57.22% Initiative Medical
    Colorado 2006 Initiative 44 Defeatedd 41.08% 58.92% Initiative Other
    Nevada 2006 Question 7 Defeatedd 44.08% 55.92% Initiative Other
    South Dakota 2006 Initiative 4 Defeatedd 47.70% 52.30% Initiative Medical
    Massachusetts 2008 Question 2 Approveda 65.25% 34.75% Initiative Other
    Michigan 2008 Proposal 1 Approveda 62.66% 37.34% Initiative Medical
    California 2008 Proposition 5 Defeatedd 40.52% 59.48% Initiative Other
    Maine 2009 Question 5 Approveda 58.87% 41.13% Initiative Medical
    Montana 2009 I-190 Approveda 56.90% 43.10% Initiative Recreational legalization
    California 2010 Proposition 19 Defeatedd 46.54% 53.46% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Arizona 2010 Proposition 203 Approveda 50.1% 49.9% Initiative Medical
    Oregon 2010 Measure 74 Defeatedd 44.21% 55.79% Initiative Medical
    Montana 2012 IR-124 Approveda 57.25% 42.75% Initiative Medical
    Washington 2012 Initiative 502 Approveda 55.7% 44.3% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Colorado 2013 Proposition AA Approveda 65.27% 34.73% Referral Other
    Massachusetts 2012 Question 3 Approveda 63.3% 36.7% Initiative Medical
    Oregon 2013 Measure 80 Defeatedd 46.58% 53.42% Initiative Other
    Arkansas 2012 Issue 5 Defeatedd 48.56% 51.44% Initiative Medical
    Colorado 2012 Amendment 64 Approveda 55.32% 44.68% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Alaska 2014 Ballot Measure 2 Approveda 53.23% 46.77% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Florida 2014 Amendment 2 Defeatedd 57.62% 42.38% Initiative Medical
    Washington 2014 Advisory Vote No. 8 Approveda 54.41% 45.59% Referral Other
    Oregon 2014 Measure 91 Approveda 56.11% 43.89% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Colorado 2015 Proposition BB Approveda 69.39% 30.61% Referral Other
    Washington 2015 Advisory Vote No. 11 Approveda 41.27% 58.73% Referral Medical
    Ohio 2015 Issue 3 Defeatedd 36.35% 63.65% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Arkansas 2016 Issue 6 Approveda 53.11% 46.89% Initiative Medical
    California 2016 Proposition 64 Approveda 57.13% 42.87% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Massachusetts 2016 Question 4 Approveda 53.66% 46.34% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Montana 2016 I-182 Approveda 57.87% 42.13% Initiative Medical
    Nevada 2016 Question 2 Approveda 54.47% 45.53% Initiative Recreational legalization
    North Dakota 2016 Initiated Statutory Measure 5 Approveda 63.79% 36.21% Initiative Medical
    Arizona 2016 Proposition 205 Defeatedd 48.68% 51.32% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Maine 2016 Question 1 Approveda 50.26% 49.74% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Florida 2016 Amendment 2 Approveda 71.32% 28.68% Initiative Medical
    Colorado 2018 Amendment X Approveda 60.64% 39.36% Referral Other
    Michigan 2018 Proposal 1 Approveda 55.89% 44.11% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Missouri 2018 Amendment 2 Approveda 65.59% 34.41% Initiative Medical
    Oklahoma 2018 State Question 788 Approveda 56.86% 43.14% Initiative Medical
    Utah 2018 Proposition 2 Approveda 52.75% 47.25% Initiative Medical
    Missouri 2018 Amendment 3 Defeatedd 31.50% 68.50% Initiative Medical
    Missouri 2018 Proposition C Defeatedd 43.57% 56.43% Initiative Medical
    North Dakota 2018 Measure 3 Defeatedd 40.55% 59.45% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Arizona 2020 Proposition 207 Approveda 60.03% 39.97% Initiative Recreational legalization
    Arizona 2002 Proposition 302 Approveda 69.75% 30.25% Referral Other
    Mississippi 2020 Ballot Measure 1 Approveda/Overturnedot 68.52% 31.48% Initiative Medical
    Montana 2020 CI-118 Approveda 57.84% 42.16% Initiative Other
    Montana 2020 I-190 Approveda 56.90% 43.10% Initiative Recreational legalization
    New Jersey 2020 Public Question 1 Approveda 67.08% 32.92% Referred ballot measure Recreational legalization
    South Dakota 2020 Initiated Measure 26 Approveda 69.92% 30.08% Initiative Medical
    South Dakota 2020 Constitutional Amendment A Approveda/Overturnedot 54.18% 45.82% Initiative Recreational legalization

    News feed

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Marijuana legalization ballot. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    History of marijuana ballot measures and laws - Google News

    See also

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Medical Cannabis Laws," accessed June 11, 2022
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Cannabis Overview," accessed June 11, 2022
    3. ↑ This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court
    4. ↑ Smart Approaches to Marijuana, "MJ Laws Map," accessed June 15, 2022
    5. ↑ Marijuana Policy Project, "Map of state marijuana laws," accessed June 15, 2022
    6. ↑ This number does not include South Dakota, where voters approved a marijuana legalization initiative in 2020 that was later struck down by the state's supreme court
    7. ↑ NORML, "Rhode Island Becomes 19th State to Legalize Marijuana for Adults," accessed June 16, 2022
    8. ↑ U.S. News, "Delaware Gov. John Carney Vetoes Marijuana Legalization Bill," accessed June 16, 2022
    9. ↑ Mississippi State Legislature, "Senate Bill 2095," accessed June 16, 2022
    Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=History_of_marijuana_ballot_measures_and_laws&oldid=8832762"