5 US states to vote in November to legalize medical and/or adult-use cannabis

They were 7 more in July Of the states that could put a cannabis ballot measure on the November ballot, only five will ultimately do so. Arizona, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota will vote in the November election on whether to legalize all or part of cannabis.

Arizona, Montana, and New Jersey will vote on legalizing cannabis

Voters in three states will vote on measures to legalize cannabis for adults. In Arizona, Proposition 207, the Smart and Safe Act, will appear on the ballot. If passed, the initiative would allow adults aged 21 and older to possess, use, or give away up to one ounce (28 g) of cannabis. Home cultivation of up to 6 plants per adult or 12 plants per household with more than one adult would be permitted. Proposition 207 would also establish a regulatory framework for the commercial production and sale of cannabis products, along with social equity provisions to ensure that the cannabis industry is representative of the community. The initiative also allows for the expungement of prior convictions for cannabis-related offenses. The measure would generate approximately 300 million $ in taxes per year, which would be used to help fund community colleges, public health, transportation, and public safety.

In the New Jersey, lawmakers tried for two years to pass legislation to legalize cannabis, but were unsuccessful due to a lack of support. State voters, however, succeeded in passing a ballot initiative that, if adopted, would amend the state constitution to legalize adult cannabis use for those 21 and older. The measure authorizes the state’s current regulator of medical cannabis, the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, to regulate the new adult-use market. Detailed regulations would be established by the agency and the state legislature after the measure is approved by voters.

Voters in the Montana will see two measures related to cannabis on their ballots for the November elections. The first, Initiative 190, would legalize the possession and sale of small amounts of cannabis for adult use, establish a regulatory system to license cannabis businesses, and impose a 20% tax on recreational purchases. New Approach Montana, the group behind the two ballot measures, estimates that taxes on retail cannabis sales in the state would generate 236 million $ for the public coffers by 2026. The second measure, Constitutional Initiative 118, would amend the state constitution so that the legislature could set the legal age for purchasing cannabis at 21. Currently, the Constitution guarantees all the rights of an adult—with the exception of purchasing alcohol—to all individuals aged 18 and older.

Medical Cannabis in Mississippi

Voters in Mississippi will have the opportunity to legalize the medical use of cannabis through Initiative 65, which qualified for the ballot via a citizens’ petition supported by Medical Marijuana 2020. If passed, the measure would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to patients with one or more of the 22 eligible medical conditions, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The initiative also establishes a 7% tax on cannabis products used for medical purposes and creates a regulatory framework to administer the program.

Initiative 65A, which was put to a vote by the legislature in addition to the citizens’ initiative, is confusing. This more restrictive measure would allow only non-smokable forms of cannabis for all patients, with the exception of those with a terminal illness. Initiative 65A also requires that all medical cannabis products be of pharmaceutical grade and would allow state legislators to establish the rules and regulations governing the program.

South Dakota will vote on both recreational and medical use

Two measures regarding cannabis will be on the ballot in South Dakota, where voters will decide whether to legalize recreational and medical cannabis separately. The Measure 26 Directs the South Dakota Department of Health to establish a registration system for patients with eligible medical conditions, including those that cause severe pain, seizures, muscle spasms, or nausea. The measure allows registered patients to possess up to three ounces (84g) of cannabis and establishes a regulatory and tax framework for the production of commercial medical cannabis.

L’Amendment A, which would legalize cannabis use by adults aged 21 and older, will also be on the ballot. Possession of up to one ounce (28g) of cannabis and the cultivation of up to three cannabis plants would also be permitted under the measure. The State Department of Revenue would be responsible for licensing commercial cannabis businesses and establishing regulations to govern their operations. Sales of non-medical cannabis would be taxed at 15%, with half of the revenue going to South Dakota’s public schools and the remainder to the state’s general fund. Both ballot measures are supported by the association South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws.