Mid-terms and changes of governor: cannabis has the wind at its back in the United States

Four U.S. states held votes on cannabis yesterday: Michigan and North Dakota voted on whether to legalize recreational cannabis, while Utah and Missouri voted on medical cannabis. At the same time, statewide legislative elections are shaking up the Republican Party and ousting several prominent figures known for their anti-cannabis stances.

This could be a pivotal moment for cannabis in the United States, as North America becomes increasingly weed-friendly. Canada did, in fact, legalize cannabis on October 17 and just recently The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that the ban was unconstitutional thereby decriminalizing cannabis through case law.

States That Have Voted on Cannabis

Michigan approved the legalization of the possession and use of cannabis for recreational purposes for those 21 and older. The proposal also authorizes personal cultivation and the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp. The measure passed by a vote of 56.8% to 43.2%. While the vote count is not yet final, with such a margin, it is now impossible for the remaining votes to change the outcome. It is already clear that Michigan is the 10th state to legalize adult cannabis use. From now on, 1 in 4 Americans lives in a state where cannabis is legal.

North Dakota will not become the 11th state to legalize recreational cannabis. Voters rejected the proposal, which would have legalized the possession of an unlimited amount of cannabis, as well as its production and sale. The proposal did not include any regulatory framework, and this was undoubtedly a decisive factor in the voters’ rejection of it, with 59.4% opposing it and 40.6% supporting it.

In Missouri, Three legalization proposals were up for consideration. Voters legalized medical cannabis by a margin of 65.5% to 34.5%, choosing Amendment 2, which is now enshrined directly in the state constitution. This amendment establishes a 4% tax on retail sales, with proceeds allocated primarily to veterans’ medical care and license administration. It was the only proposal that authorized personal cultivation, which is now legal for patients in Missouri.

In Utah, Medical cannabis also won with 53.2% of the vote. Proposition 2 calls for the establishment of a medical card system and the later introduction of personal cultivation, but the governor has first convened a legislative session to amend the text and make it more restrictive. In particular, he intends to ban personal cultivation and smokable cannabis, and to limit the number of dispensaries. With Missouri and Utah, there are now 32 states that have legalized medical cannabis.

In a previous article we would provide more details on the proposals in question.

Members of Congress and Governors: Is Cannabis Reform on the Horizon?

The U.S. midterm elections will fill certain seats in Congress as well as elect some new governors. Members of Congress and governors play a crucial role in reforming cannabis laws. For example, Representative Pete Sessions, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and wields significant power to set the House’s agenda, has for years blocked any legislation supporting cannabis reform. Such bills are not even debated by members of Congress. Good news for reform advocates: Pete Sessions was defeated and lost his seat in Congress. However, another congressman who was a staunch opponent of cannabis legalization, Dana Rohrabacher, is also in a tight race as we write this.

The Democrats now hold a majority in Congress, and this victory heralds a new era for cannabis law reform. Some even see it as a sign that federal legalization is imminent. This is the case for Democratic Representative Earl Blumenauer, who has already prepared a timeline for the end of federal prohibition as early as 2019. Nevertheless, the Senate remains under Republican control and can block reforms initiated in the House of Representatives, even though More and more Republicans are joining the reform movement.

Voters in 36 states were also casting ballots to elect their new governors. In Illinois, Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker comes from a family that has made significant donations to legalization campaigns across the United States, particularly in California. He himself is a proponent of legalization, and his inner circle is known for its expertise on the subject. It is likely that Illinois will be the next state to legalize recreational cannabis, Medical use has been legal there since last year.

In Connecticut, the race for governor could very well «determine the future of cannabis policy in the state,» according to Marijuana Policy Project. The state currently allows medical use and has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis, but if Democratic candidate Ned Lamont is elected, recreational use will also be legalized. The candidate has stated that he would take steps to fully legalize cannabis within his first year in office. His rival is not opposed to this but has not made it one of his priorities. For now, the race is close, and it is too early to say who will be elected.

An Extraordinary Mobilization

In total, $5.2 billion was spent on this election cycle, across all votes. According to the Center for Responsive Politics These are the most expensive elections in American history. In total, 1.3% of that budget was spent on campaigns related to cannabis legalization. Campaigns for and against cannabis legalization in Michigan, North Dakota, Utah, and Missouri raised more than 6.6 million dollars.

According to figures from Ballotpedia, $3.7 million was invested in the Michigan campaigns: $2.2$M in support of legalization and $1.5$M against it. The difference in resources may explain the victory of the pro-cannabis camp. However, funding disparities are not necessarily decisive, since in Utah the opposition spent $1 million—$200,000 more than the proponents of legalization—yet the proponents still won. In Missouri, too, it was not the proposal that received the most funding that prevailed. While campaign spending in other states runs into the millions of dollars, the campaigns in North Dakota raised only 89,000$ for the pro-legalization side and 297,000$ for the anti-legalization side.

In general, these midterm elections have drawn out a much larger voter turnout compared to the 2014 elections. This could be partly due to Americans“ growing interest in cannabis reform. Ned Lamont, the Democratic candidate for governor of Connecticut, called legalization »an idea whose time has come.« The cannabis industry also encouraged voters to make their voices heard. As highlighted by the Pinns “ I Voted«, voters can get a 50% discount at Puffco.