Arizona to vote on cannabis legalization in November

After collecting enough signatures to qualify for a November ballot, Arizona has a chance to become one of the next states to legalize cannabis.

Led by the Marijuana Policy Project, the campaign to «regulate cannabis like alcohol» (as it is officially known) has collected over 200,000 signatures from Arizona citizens. The proposal needed 150642 legitimate signatures and easily surpassed this minimum.

So long as there aren't 50,000 false signatures on this list, Arizona can decide for or against legalization in November. If voters say yes, Arizona should implement a system similar to Colorado's allowing adults over 21 to purchase certain quantities of legal cannabis, and will include a 15% tax on sales. As in Colorado, these taxes will be earmarked for the school system, thus directly benefiting the state.

The imminent arrival of this vote promises a bright future for cannabis in Arizona, but it's not certain to pass. A recent survey (with a very small sample) showed support for legalization at 53%. This seems a low estimate to pass a law, and legalization advocates are hoping that the big day will bring out the crowds to vote for it.

Arizona's neighbor Nevada, will also hold a vote on legalization this fall, while California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Rhode Island all have a chance of a vote. Vermont could also take the wind out of their sails. by legalizing it through legislation, and not by a citizen's vote.

Arizona's medical cannabis program, in place since 2011, is unlikely to be affected by legalization. Thanks to this thriving medical market, Arizona currently has the potential for a very large legal market: sales in Arizona rose from 35 million $ in 2013 to 155 million in 2014, representing the biggest growth within a US state.