Voters in two states are set to have an opportunity to legalize recreational marijuana this November.
While advocates are working on marijuana legalization initiatives in several states, only two are set to appear on the November ballot. Other statewide efforts are expected to reach ballots in 2025 or later.
That said, here are the two states that could shift the balance, increasing the number of states with legalized recreational marijuana from 24 to 26, establishing a majority.
Florida
Amendment 3 has been officially placed on the November ballot by the Florida Supreme Court, giving voters the opportunity to have their state join the 24 others that have legalized recreational marijuana.
Amendment 3 would allow those 21 and older to possess up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates, available for purchase through licensed retail outlets. The state would initiate an application process for marijuana business licenses and permit licensed medical-marijuana dispensaries to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories.”
An earlier poll this month found that 56% of registered voters in Florida support Amendment 3, with 40% opposed and 4% undecided. A November poll showed considerably higher support among likely voters at 67%. For the initiative to be enacted, it will need to be approved by a 60% majority, as it is a constitutional amendment.
The campaign behind Amendment 3 has raised over $55 million, more than any previous legalization campaign, even though it is only April. For comparison, proponents of California’s successful Proposition 64 raised $25 million in 2016, while those behind Ohio’s Issue 2 (approved last year) raised just $7 million.
South Dakota
South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws recently announced they have collected over 12,500 signatures, 71% of the necessary 17,508 required to place their marijuana legalization initiative on this November’s ballot. Despite a tight deadline of May 7, their prior success in bringing measures to the ballot give supporters of legalization reason to be optimistic.
In 2020, a similar initiative won 54% of the vote, but it was nullified by the courts due to a technicality. A subsequent effort in 2022 made the ballot, but failed with 47% support amid lower voter turnout given it was not a presidential election. This year, with revised language addressing past issues, the initiative returns for another presidential election.
According to polling released last month, a plurality of voters in the state support legalizing marijuana, 45% to 42%, with 13% undecided.
For a list of the 10 states next in line to legalize marijuana, click here. For a look at all 15 marijuana-related bills currently active in the US Congress, click here.
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