Tuesday was a big day for medical and recreational marijuana across the nation. With victories in Utah, Missouri and Michigan, marijuana policy and reform advances further across the nation. Below is an overview of marijuana-related results from the 2018 ballots:
Medical Marijuana
Utah – Proposition 2 – Passed
Proposition 2 passed in Tuesday’s vote with a 53% to 47% margin, making Utah the 33rd state to allow for the use of medical marijuana. See our Election Day Primer for more details on Proposition 2.
Missouri – Amendment 2 – Passed
Missouri Voters supported Amendment 2 over the other medical marijuana co-ballot measures with 65.5% in favor and 34.5% opposed, becoming the 32nd state to allow for the use of medical marijuana. See our Election Day Primer for details on Amendment 2.
Recreational Marijuana
Michigan – Proposal 1 – Passed
Proposal 1 allows for individuals to use and possess marijuana for recreational use but does not establish any mechanism to establish retail establishments for marijuana sales. The measure passed with a 56% supporting and 44% against, making Michigan the 10th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use, and the first mid-west state to do so. The measure will go into effect later this year, but it is unknown how long it will take before regulations permit retail sales in the state.
North Dakota – Measure 3 – Failed
Unlike its mid-west counterpart, North Dakota did not approve its recreational marijuana related ballot measure on Tuesday. Measure 3, which would have allowed for the recreation use of marijuana for adults 21 years or older, as well as creating an automatic expungement process for prior convictions involving marijuana, did not pass. However, the tight results signal growing support for marijuana, with less than 60% of voters voting on Tuesday against the measure.
For more information on joining the expanding state-legal marijuana industry, contact us.