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Not good.
Let’s take this state by state, because there are differing levels of bad news, and even some moderately good news in the mix.
Florida
Although a majority of people voted in favor of legalization, it didn’t reach the 60% threshold needed to amend the state constitution, reaching just 56.8% of a majority. This 60% rule was created by an amendment in 2006, which ironically only received 57.78% of the vote at the time. So we’ll probably have to wait till the next election for legal marijuana to rise back up as an issue in Florida.
North Dakota
52.6% of the voting block in this state voted against legal marijuana.
South Dakota
A larger majority, at 55.5%, voted against legalization here. This measure didn’t create a marketplace in the state, so maybe good riddance to this one.
Nebraska
Here’s where we get some bit of good news. over 70% of Nebraskans voted in favor of MEDICAL cannabis legalization, and 67% in favor of creating regulations for this medical cannabis. So while it isn’t recreational, it’s at least some progress within a sea of stall-outs.
Cities within Texas
Some more good news. 3 cities within Texas have voted to decriminalize marijuana. These are Dallas, Lockhart, and Bastrop. Dallas is the third largest city in Texas, so this is a big deal for the state.
Massachusetts
Marijuana-adjacent, Massachusetts rejected psychedelics legalization with a 57.4% majority.
Kentucky
This state already has medical marijuana coming January 1st, but every local government was asked if they would allow medical cannabis businesses within their perimeter, and all 106 referendums voted approvingly. Another sign that medical cannabis has basically become an agreed upon issue in the US.
So we can celebrate the small victories as the major ones crumble. All in all, we’re still headed in the right direction.
Read some more election numbers at Marijuana Moment.
