The 2026 election is shaping up to be a notable test for marijuana policy, with voters set to decide or potentially decide questions involving medical marijuana access, adult-use repeal, ballot access and local cannabis taxes.
Unlike past election cycles dominated by broad adult-use legalization campaigns, many of the top marijuana fights this year are more targeted. In some states, voters may be asked to expand access. In others, they may be asked to preserve existing laws, restrict future marijuana initiatives or decide whether local cannabis businesses should be taxed or allowed.
That said, here’s a breakdown of important cannabis-related proposals being voted on this November.
Idaho
Idaho may be the most important marijuana-related ballot state in 2026, with voters likely to have the opportunity to make their state the 42nd to legalize medical cannabis.
Supporters of the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act recently announced last month that they submitted over 150,000 signatures to county clerks, more than twice the 70,725 valid signatures needed to qualify the measure for the November ballot. County clerks have until the end of June to verify signatures before petitions are turned in to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office for final review.
If certified, the initiative would establish a limited medical marijuana program in one of the few states with no medical or adult-use marijuana law.
The measure would allow patients with qualifying medical conditions to register with the Idaho Board of Pharmacy and access medical marijuana through licensed businesses. Patients could begin applying for medical marijuana cards on July 1, 2027.
Qualifying conditions would include cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, anxiety, autism, insomnia, acute pain lasting longer than two weeks, chronic pain lasting longer than two weeks that is not adequately managed by conventional medications other than opioids, terminal conditions, rare conditions and other conditions approved by the board.
The proposal would authorize a limited number of medical marijuana businesses, initially no more than three vertically integrated operators with six retail locations. It would not allow home cultivation. Patients could purchase smokable, inhalable and ingestible marijuana products, with monthly limits of up to 113 grams of smokable marijuana or products containing up to 20 grams of THC.
If the medical marijuana initiative qualifies, Idaho voters could see it alongside HJR 4, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment that is already set for the ballot.
HJR 4 would give the state Legislature exclusive authority over marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances. It would also remove the ability of citizens to pass initiated statutes that legalize or decriminalize marijuana or similar substances.
In practical terms, a yes vote would make the Legislature the only path for future marijuana legalization or decriminalization efforts. A no vote would preserve the current ability of Idaho voters to use the initiative process for those issues.
That means Idaho voters may be asked not only whether to create a medical marijuana program, but whether future marijuana reform should remain available through the ballot at all.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the other major statewide marijuana battle to watch.
A proposed measure known as An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy would roll back the state’s adult-use marijuana law while keeping medical marijuana in place. If approved, the initiative would repeal laws allowing recreational marijuana sales and cultivation, effectively ending the state’s adult-use market.
The proposal would still allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana without criminal or civil penalties, and possession of more than one ounce but up to two ounces would be punishable by a $100 civil fine and forfeiture of the marijuana. Existing licensed recreational marijuana businesses would be allowed to apply on an expedited basis to become medical marijuana dispensaries or sell remaining inventory to medical marijuana dispensaries.
The proposal is now expected to appear on the November ballot after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rejected a legal challenge and upheld Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s certification of the measure.
If approved, it would be the most significant attempt in 2026 to dismantle an existing adult-use marijuana market. Massachusetts voters approved adult-use legalization in 2016, and the state has since built a regulated industry that has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue for state and local governments.
Opponents of the repeal have launched a Stop the Repeal campaign, arguing that the proposal would eliminate legal access, harm businesses and workers, and reduce tax revenue. Supporters, led by the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, argue that repealing adult-use sales is needed to address concerns around youth access, impaired driving and public health.
Recent polling shows that over 70% of voters in the state support the law that allows recreational cannabis sales.
Nebraska
Nebraska could also see a marijuana-related constitutional amendment, though its status depends on signature submission and verification.
The proposed Nebraska Cannabis Constitutional Amendment would allow adults 21 and older to use plants in the genus Cannabis. Supporters face a July 3 signature deadline to qualify the measure for the 2026 ballot.
If it qualifies, it would give voters another chance to expand marijuana policy in a state where reformers have repeatedly turned to the ballot box after legislative inaction.
California
Local marijuana questions are also playing a role in 2026, especially in California.
In Los Angeles, voters approved Measure CB in June, applying the city’s existing cannabis business taxes to unlicensed marijuana businesses. The measure requires unlicensed operators to pay the same rates already applied to licensed businesses, including 10% on general cannabis sales, 5% on medical cannabis sales and 2% on cultivation.
The measure was promoted as a way to generate revenue and put additional pressure on illegal operators.
In San Benito County, voters approved Measure D, a cannabis business tax proposal focused on changing the local tax structure for cannabis cultivation in unincorporated areas. The measure changes the county’s cannabis cultivation tax from a per-square-foot rate to a per-acre rate, a move supporters said was needed to make legal cultivation economically viable.
In Arroyo Grande, voters will decide Measure C-26 in November. The measure would authorize a tax of up to 10% of gross receipts on cannabis businesses operating in the city if such businesses are allowed in the future.
City officials estimate it could generate about $500,000 annually. The measure would not automatically authorize storefront marijuana businesses, but it would give the city a tax structure if local officials later move forward with cannabis operations.
Pennsylvania
The 2026 governor’s race in Pennsylvania could have a major impact on adult-use legalization.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly backed legalizing recreational marijuana and has pushed lawmakers to move the issue forward. Republican Stacy Garrity has said she would veto adult-use legalization if elected.
With Pennsylvania still surrounded by legal or expanding markets, the governor’s race could determine whether legalization remains an active priority or stalls for another term.
Texas
In Texas, the governor’s race could shape the future of hemp-derived THC products and the state’s limited medical marijuana program.
Gov. Greg Abbott, the Republican nominee, recently vetoed a bill that would have banned consumable hemp-derived THC products, instead calling for tighter regulation. He also supported an expansion of the state’s restrictive medical cannabis program, while adamantly opposing adult-use legalization.
His Democratic opponent, Gina Hinojosa, has not made marijuana or hemp policy a central part of her campaign platform, but her legislative record includes support for medical marijuana and marijuana decriminalization. NORML has rated Hinojosa as supportive of decriminalization and medical use, noting that she coauthored legislation to legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize possession.
Her record also includes a vote for Senate Bill 3, the vetoed hemp legislation.
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, an open governor’s race could affect the future of one of the country’s largest medical marijuana markets.
Gov. Kevin Stitt, who is term-limited and not running again, has called for sending Oklahoma’s voter-approved medical marijuana program back to voters and urged lawmakers to shut down the industry. That makes his successor especially important for patients, businesses and regulators.
The Democratic nominee, State Rep. Cyndi Munson, has pushed back on efforts to roll back medical marijuana access. After Stitt called for another vote on the issue, Munson said Oklahomans already approved medical marijuana and would likely keep it in law, arguing that voters want lawmakers focused on issues that matter to them.
Republicans have not yet chosen their nominee, with Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former State Senator Mike Mazzei advancing to a runoff. Drummond has emphasized his work targeting illegal marijuana grow operations as attorney general, while also warning that shutting down the state’s legal medical marijuana market would raise complicated legal and financial issues. Mazzei has also campaigned on reining in illegal marijuana growers, though he has not made repealing the medical marijuana program a central focus.
The outcome could determine whether Oklahoma’s next governor continues Stitt’s push to revisit the state’s medical marijuana law, focuses primarily on enforcement against illegal operators, or preserves the voter-approved program while tightening regulation.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, the governor’s race matters because the state remains the only one in New England without adult-use legalization.
The Democratic and Republican nominees have not yet been selected, with the state’s gubernatorial primary set for Sept. 8. On the Republican side, Gov. Kelly Ayotte is the incumbent and top candidate. Ayotte has opposed adult-use legalization, saying New Hampshire should not move in that direction, and has threatened to veto legalization legislation. She also recently vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries to add greenhouse cultivation sites.
On the Democratic side, former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington is running again after losing the 2024 Democratic primary. Warmington supports legalizing, regulating and taxing cannabis, and Citizens Count lists her as supporting legalization with home cultivation and private sales, as well as a state-run model. She has also said she has been an advocate for medical marijuana legalization and decriminalization.
The contrast could be significant. An Ayotte victory would likely keep adult-use legalization blocked unless lawmakers advance a constitutional amendment that does not require the governor’s signature. A Warmington victory could give legalization supporters a governor willing to sign a regulated cannabis bill.
New Hampshire does not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures, meaning any statewide marijuana vote must come through the Legislature.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s open governor’s race could have major implications for marijuana policy, with the state still lacking both a medical marijuana program and adult-use legalization despite legal markets in neighboring Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
On the Democratic side, leading candidates have broadly backed cannabis reform. Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez has said she would pressure lawmakers to advance legalization, include cannabis reform in budget proposals and begin preparing state agencies for a regulated marijuana market. Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes has also called for legalization, pointing to Wisconsin residents spending marijuana dollars in neighboring states. State Rep. Francesca Hong has promoted legalization as part of her “Weed for Speed” plan, which would use marijuana revenue to help expand rural broadband.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, State Sen. Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan have also expressed support for legalizing marijuana, while emphasizing revenue, regulation, hemp protections or coalition-building.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the leading GOP candidate, has taken a more limited position. Tiffany has said he would approve medical marijuana, but he does not support full adult-use legalization and has called for more research before moving further.
Florida
Florida’s governor’s race could also matter for marijuana policy, even though adult-use legalization is not expected to appear on the 2026 ballot after Smart & Safe Florida failed to qualify its proposed constitutional amendment.
On the Republican side, the major candidates have generally opposed recreational marijuana while accepting the state’s existing medical marijuana system. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has said he does not support recreational marijuana and believes Florida’s current medical marijuana regulatory system is sufficient. Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has said he is completely against legalizing marijuana and stands with Gov. Ron DeSantis on the issue. Former House Speaker Paul Renner has said Florida already has medical marijuana and that he would campaign against a recreational legalization measure if it returned to the ballot.
Republican candidate James Fishback has also said he opposes recreational marijuana, but he has said he would protect medical marijuana access for people with legitimate medical needs, including military veterans.
On the Democratic side, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly has said the governor should represent the majority of Floridians and has pledged to support legislative enactment of constitutional amendments that received majority support but failed to reach Florida’s 60% threshold, including recreational marijuana. Jolly has said he personally voted against the 2024 adult-use amendment, but would support enacting it because it received more than 50% of the vote.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings had been another major Democratic candidate, but he suspended his campaign in June. Before exiting the race, his current position on adult-use legalization was not clarified, though he opposed medical marijuana constitutional amendments while serving as Orlando police chief in 2014 and 2016.
