[Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 29, and updated on August 19.]
The marijuana policy landscape for the 2026 election has narrowed considerably as November approaches.
Proposed initiatives to legalize medical marijuana in Idaho and recreational marijuana in Nebraska and Florida failed to qualify, removing three of the year’s most ambitious potential ballot questions. The remaining statewide marijuana votes are focused on repealing an existing adult-use market and restricting how future reforms can reach voters.
At the local level, voters in several California cities will consider cannabis business taxes, while a Michigan community may vote on whether to allow marijuana businesses. Governor’s races in Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Florida could also determine whether legalization advances, remains blocked or faces new restrictions beginning in 2027.
Here is a state-by-state look at the marijuana-related measures and races to watch during the remainder of the 2026 election.
Idaho
With the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act no longer headed to voters, Idaho’s marijuana-related election is now centered entirely on House Joint Resolution 4.
The legislatively referred constitutional amendment would give the Idaho Legislature exclusive authority to legalize marijuana, narcotics and other psychoactive substances. It would also remove the ability of citizens to place initiated statutes legalizing those substances on the ballot.
A yes vote would make the Legislature the only path for future legalization proposals. A no vote would leave Idaho’s current citizen initiative process unchanged.
The amendment could have lasting consequences in one of the few states without a medical or recreational marijuana law. While voters will not decide whether to legalize marijuana this year, they will decide whether they should retain the ability to consider citizen-led legalization initiatives in future elections.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts voters will decide Question 8, a proposal that would dismantle the state’s recreational marijuana market while leaving its medical marijuana program intact.
The measure, titled An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy, would repeal laws authorizing adult-use marijuana sales and nonmedical cultivation. Adults 21 and older could continue possessing up to one ounce without a criminal or civil penalty, while possession of more than one ounce but no more than two ounces would result in a $100 civil fine and forfeiture of the marijuana.
Licensed recreational marijuana businesses could seek expedited approval to operate as medical marijuana dispensaries or transfer their remaining inventory to medical businesses.
The initiative’s ballot status is now final. The Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission rejected the last pending signature challenge on July 21 and ordered that the proposal be printed as Question 8. The ruling followed an earlier Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision upholding the attorney general’s certification of the measure.
Supporters organized under the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts argue that ending recreational sales would address concerns involving youth access, mental health, impaired driving and public safety. The Stop the Repeal campaign says the measure would eliminate regulated access, cost the state jobs and tax revenue, and push consumers toward unlicensed sellers.
If approved, Massachusetts would become the first state to repeal a voter-approved recreational marijuana law through a subsequent ballot initiative.
California
California’s November marijuana questions are local rather than statewide, with voters in at least three cities considering cannabis business tax measures.
In Arroyo Grande, Measure C-26 would authorize a tax of up to 10% of gross receipts on marijuana businesses operating within the city. Officials estimate the tax could generate approximately $500,000 annually for city services.
The measure would not by itself authorize dispensaries or other marijuana businesses. Instead, it would establish a tax structure that could apply if those businesses are allowed in the future, while also allowing the city to collect revenue from marijuana deliveries originating outside city limits.
Guadalupe voters will consider Measure G2026, which would allow the city to tax marijuana businesses. The proposal would allow a tax of up to 8% of gross receipts on retail businesses and up to 4% on cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and other marijuana operations. City officials estimate the tax could generate approximately $78,000 annually for general municipal services.
Baldwin Park voters will also consider Measure CR, the Good Government Cannabis Reform Measure. The proposal would apply the city’s existing 4% tax on retail marijuana businesses to non-retail marijuana businesses as well, placing both categories under the same tax rate. The City Council voted unanimously in June to place the proposal on the November ballot.
Michigan
Bad Axe voters will officially decide this November whether to overturn the city’s prohibition on marijuana businesses.
The Bad Axe City Council voted unanimously on August 3 to approve the ballot language and send the citizen-initiated proposal to voters. The measure would repeal the city’s 2019 ordinance prohibiting medical and recreational marijuana establishments and replace it with a policy allowing no more than two marijuana businesses within city limits.
The proposal would not immediately authorize a particular dispensary. Businesses would remain subject to state licensing and local regulations, with the new ordinance taking effect 10 days after certification of the election results if voters approve it.
Michigan legalized recreational marijuana statewide in 2018, but municipalities can prohibit marijuana establishments within their borders. Bad Axe has maintained its ban since 2019 despite several subsequent discussions about allowing marijuana retailers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity have secured their parties’ nominations, setting up one of the clearest marijuana policy contrasts in any 2026 governor’s race. Pennsylvania certified its primary results in June.
Gov. Shapiro has repeatedly called for recreational marijuana legalization and has included the proposal in several state budget plans. He has urged lawmakers to develop a regulated market and send a bill to his desk.
Garrity opposes recreational legalization and has said she would veto a legalization bill if lawmakers approved one. She has also expressed doubt that such legislation could pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have continued debating how a future market should be structured, but they have not reached an agreement. The governor’s race could determine whether the executive branch continues pushing lawmakers toward legalization in 2027 or becomes an additional barrier to reform.
Texas
The Texas governor’s race could shape the regulation of hemp-derived THC products and the future of the state’s limited medical marijuana program.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is seeking reelection against Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa. Gov. Abbott remains opposed to recreational marijuana legalization, but he has rejected efforts to completely prohibit consumable hemp-derived THC.
In 2025, Abbott vetoed legislation that would have banned most consumable hemp THC products and called on lawmakers to regulate the market instead. He later directed state agencies to establish tighter oversight, including a 21-and-older sales restriction and updated testing and enforcement requirements.
Hinojosa has previously supported medical marijuana expansion and reducing criminal penalties for possession. However, she also voted for the hemp THC ban that Abbott vetoed, and marijuana policy has not been a central part of her gubernatorial campaign.
The election is therefore unlikely to produce an immediate push for recreational legalization, but it could influence whether Texas continues regulating hemp-derived THC, moves toward a broader prohibition or further expands medical access.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s open governor’s race could determine whether the state preserves its voter-approved medical marijuana system or asks residents to reconsider it.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is term-limited. He has repeatedly described the medical marijuana program as a failure and called for sending the issue back to voters with the goal of shutting the industry down.
Republicans Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei advanced to an Aug. 25 primary runoff. The winner will face Democratic nominee and State Rep. Cyndi Munson, along with independent candidates, in November.
Drummond has said he would welcome the elimination of the medical marijuana program, although he has warned that closing licensed businesses could expose the state to substantial reimbursement claims. As attorney general, he has also made enforcement against illegal marijuana cultivation a major priority.
Mazzei has focused on overhauling Oklahoma’s licensing system and strengthening action against illegal growers. Munson has rejected Stitt’s proposal to revisit legalization and has said she would protect access to the program approved by voters.
The outcome could determine whether Oklahoma’s next administration pursues repeal, restructures the industry or focuses enforcement on unlicensed operations while keeping the legal medical market in place.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire remains the only state in New England without recreational marijuana legalization, making its governor’s race especially important for reform efforts.
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte is seeking another term and faces Republican primary challengers. Former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington is running for the Democratic nomination, with the state’s primaries scheduled for Sept. 8.
Gov. Ayotte opposes recreational marijuana legalization and has said she would not sign a legalization bill. She also recently vetoed legislation that would have allowed medical marijuana dispensaries to add greenhouse cultivation facilities, saying she did not support expanding marijuana cultivation in the state.
Warmington supports legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana. She has also criticized Ayotte’s medical marijuana veto and has previously backed legalization models involving regulated private sales and home cultivation.
New Hampshire does not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures. That means legalization must advance through the Legislature, making the governor’s willingness to sign or veto a bill central to whether reform has a realistic path forward.
Kansas
Kansas’ open governor’s race presents a clear contrast on marijuana policy, with Democratic State Senator Cindy Holscher facing Republican State Senate President Ty Masterson after both won their parties’ nominations in the August 4 primary. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is term-limited.
Holscher supports legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana. Her campaign argues that keeping marijuana illegal sends money to neighboring states and says legalization could generate revenue for schools and public services while ending criminalization.
Masterson opposes making legalization a priority. Asked whether he would push to legalize any form of marijuana as governor, Masterson said he “certainly wouldn’t push for it,” pointing to concerns about the experiences of other legal states and questioning claims that legalization would eliminate the illicit market or produce substantial new revenue.
Kansas remains one of the few states without a comprehensive medical marijuana program, and recreational use also remains illegal. Any legalization proposal would still need to advance through the Legislature, but the governor’s race could determine whether the executive branch actively pushes lawmakers toward reform or remains opposed to changing the state’s existing marijuana laws.
Oregon
Voters in Estacada will decide Measure 3-638, a city-referred proposal that would prohibit new marijuana production, processing and wholesaling businesses from opening within city limits.
The proposal would not force existing marijuana businesses to close. Existing production, processing and wholesaling businesses could continue operating, while marijuana retailers and dispensaries would not be affected by the restriction.
If voters approve the measure, the prohibition on new businesses in those categories would take effect once the election results are certified. If voters reject it, new marijuana production, processing and wholesaling businesses could continue opening as allowed under the Estacada Municipal Code.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s open governor’s race remains one of the most consequential for marijuana policy, with the state lacking both medical and recreational legalization.
The Democratic primary changed significantly in July when Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez suspended her campaign because of financial reporting problems. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had previously left the race, then reentered. The Aug. 11 primary also includes State Rep. Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and other Democratic candidates.
The leading Democratic candidates have broadly supported marijuana reform. Candidates participating in a June cannabis policy forum pledged to work toward legalization, protect the state’s hemp industry and consider using executive pardon authority for marijuana convictions.
Hong has connected legalization with her proposal to fund rural broadband expansion, while Barnes and Crowley have argued that Wisconsin is losing revenue to neighboring legal states.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany supports legalizing medical marijuana but has opposed full recreational legalization, saying additional research is needed.
Wisconsin’s Senate approved a limited medical marijuana bill earlier this year, but broader reform remains stalled. The election could determine whether the next governor continues pushing for full legalization, supports a medical-only approach or leaves the state’s current prohibition largely unchanged.
Florida
Recreational marijuana will not appear on Florida’s 2026 ballot after Smart & Safe Florida failed to qualify its proposed constitutional amendment.
State officials announced in February that the campaign did not meet the requirements for ballot placement, leaving the governor’s race as the state’s most important marijuana-related election this year.
Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary is scheduled for Aug. 18. The major candidates, including U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and businessman James Fishback, oppose recreational marijuana legalization.
Donalds has said Florida’s existing medical marijuana system is sufficient. Collins has aligned himself with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ opposition to legalization, while Renner has said he would campaign against another recreational marijuana amendment. Fishback opposes recreational use but says he would protect medical access for patients with legitimate needs.
Among the Democratic candidates, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly has said he would support legislatively enacting recreational marijuana legalization because the 2024 constitutional amendment received majority support, even though it fell short of Florida’s required 60% threshold. Jolly has said he personally voted against that amendment but believes the governor should respect the position taken by most voters.
Florida voters will not directly decide marijuana legalization this November, but the governor’s race could determine whether the state continues resisting recreational reform or considers another path toward implementing the policy supported by a majority of voters in 2024.
