Nov 05 2024

South Dakota Initiative to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Fails

South Dakota voters have chosen to keep recreational marijuana illegal, rejecting Measure 29 in Tuesday’s election.

The initiative would have allowed those 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana and grow up to 12 plants for personal use. Measure 29 also proposed establishing licensed marijuana retail outlets to serve adults, which would have allowed the state to regulate and tax cannabis sales. With the measure’s defeat, these provisions will not take effect.

This decision marks the third time South Dakota has faced a setback in efforts to legalize recreational marijuana. Voters approved a similar measure in 2020, but it was subsequently overturned by the courts, citing procedural issues. In 2022, voters defeated a similar measure, with many analysts attributing the loss to lower voter turnout given it wasn’t a presidential election. Measure 29 was crafted to address the concerns outlined in that ruling while retaining the 2020 initiative’s core objectives. Nonetheless, a majority of voters did not support the proposal in this election.
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Nov 05 2024

Massachusetts Voters Reject Question 4 to Legalize Psychedelics

Massachusetts voters have rejected Question 4, an initiative that sought to legalize the possession and personal cultivation of small amounts of certain psychedelics, including DMT, psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, and non-peyote mescaline.

Psilocybin (top left), mescaline (top right), DMT (bottom left), and psilocin (bottom right).

At the time of publication, votes are still being counted, but based on a detailed examination of election data, The Marijuana Herald is confident in saying that voters will reject Question 4.

The initiative, backed by the nonprofit Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO), would have allowed adults to possess up to one gram of DMT, one gram of psilocybin, one gram of psilocin, 18 grams of non-peyote mescaline, and 30 grams of ibogaine for personal use. Individuals caught with up to twice these amounts would have faced fines of up to $100.
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Nov 05 2024

Bullitt and Scott County, Kentucky Vote to Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Bullitt County and Scott County, Kentucky, have officially approved the operation of medical marijuana dispensaries within their borders.

Bullet County has a population nearly 84,000, and Scott County around 60,000. Tonight, voters if both states have passed ordinance allowing licensed dispensaries, joining Hardin County.

The ordinances outlines provisions for dispensaries, cultivation centers, and other medical cannabis facilities. Similar proposals are on the ballots across more than 100 other Kentucky cities and counties this election cycle. Kentucky’s medical marijuana law, signed by Governor Andy Beshear in 2023, allows patients diagnosed with conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and multiple sclerosis to possess and use marijuana and marijuana products under a doctor’s guidance. The law establishes a system of regulated medical marijuana dispensaries, giving cities and counties the option to opt out via a public vote.
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Nov 05 2024

Voters in Bastrop and Lockhart, Texas Overwhelming Approve Marijuana Decrim Ordinances

Voters in Bastrop and Lockhart Texas have given overwhelming approval to local initiatives that will significantly change how marijuana possession and use is handled by law enforcement.

Both ordinances will remove the potential for jailtime and a criminal charge for the possession of up to four ounces of marijuana as well as marijuana paraphrenia. Instead, those caught with four ounces or less of cannabis will be, at most, given a civil infraction similar to a traffic violation.

The same ordinance was given approval tonight by voters in Dallas. All three measures were approved with well over 60% support.
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Nov 05 2024

Dallas, Texas Decriminalizes Marijuana

Voters in Dallas, Texas have given overwhelming approval to a local initiative that will significantly change how marijuana possession and use is handled by law enforcement.

With around 64% in support, voters have passed Proposition R, a proposal by Ground Game Texas that will prevent arrests for those found with up to four ounces of marijuana. Rather than facing arrest and a criminal charge, individuals caught possessing no more than four ounces will receive a citation similar to a minor traffic ticket. The measure will take effect immediately upon certification of the election results.

Similar measure have already been approved in the cities of San Marcos, Killeen, Elgin, Denton and Harker Heights. In all five of these cities, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits seeking to have them overturned. However, judges in Austin and San Marcos have already dismissed the lawsuits for those two cities.
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Nov 05 2024

Hardin County, Kentucky Votes to Allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Hardin County, Kentucky has voted overwhelmingly to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within their boundaries.

Voters have approved an ordinance allowing licensed marijuana dispensaries to operate within county lines. This decision comes as the state prepares to roll out its medical cannabis program in early 2025. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2023. Within Hardin County, the cities of Vine Grove and West Point approved their own ordinances allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.

The ordinance, which was approved with nearly 70% support, sets the groundwork for dispensaries, cultivation sites, and other medical cannabis operations. A similar ordinance is on the ballot in more than 100 other cities and counties in Kentucky.
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Nov 05 2024

Florida Marijuana Legalization Initiative Fails to Reach 60% Threshold

Although a majority of voters in Florida voted in favor of Amendment 3 to legalize recreational marijuana, it has failed to reach the 60% required to be passed into law.

A strong majority of voters in the state wanted Amendment 3, put forth by the nonprofit political committee Smart & Safe Florida, to become law. However, given it was a constitutional amendment, it needed 60% to be passed. With around 75% of the votes counted, Amendment 3 has around 55% support. At the time of publication votes are still being counted, but based on a detailed examination of election data The Marijuana Herald is confident in calling this race.

Amendment 3 would have allowed those 21 and older to possess and use up to three ounces of dried marijuana flower and up to five grams of marijuana concentrates. The measure would have established a licensed, taxed and regulated system of marijuana businesses, including marijuana retail outlets supplied by licensed producers and processors.
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Nov 04 2024

Ohio: $229 Million in Legal Marijuana Sold Between August 7 and November 2, Prices Drop 20%

Since Ohio launched recreational marijuana sales on August 7, the state has seen $229,091,140 in combined marijuana sales across both recreational and medical markets, according to data updated through November 2.

Of the nearly $230 million in legal marijuana sold in the 87 days between the start of recreational marijuana sales on August 7, and the most recent sales data that covers up to November 2, $143 million came from the purchase of recreational marijuana, with around $85 million worth of medical marijuana sold during the same period.

As the market has matured, prices have fallen significantly. The average cost per gram is down nearly 20%, now at $7.59 from $9.42 when recreational sales began. Similarly, the price for one-tenth of an ounce has dropped from $31.06 in August to $21.49.
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Nov 04 2024

California Marijuana Sales Top $345 Million in October, $3.5 Billion So Far in 2024, Generating $800 Million in Taxes

There was just over $345 million worth of marijuana and marijuana products sold legally in October.

Marijuana sales in California saw a slight uptick from September to October, rising from $334 million to $345.5 million. However, sales in October were down from the $356 million sold in October 2023.

There has now been around $3.5 million in marijuana sold throughout 2024, putting the state on track to end the year with over $4 billion in total marijuana sales, resulting in around $800 million in tax revenue.
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Nov 04 2024

Florida, North Dakota, and Nebraska Could Generate $3 Billion in First-Year Marijuana Sales if Voters Legalize Marijuana Tomorrow

If voters approve marijuana-related ballot measures on Tuesday, Florida, North Dakota, and Nebraska could generate a collective $3 billion in the first year of regulated sales, according to projections from the MJBiz Factbook.

By their fourth year, these markets may reach an estimated $4.3 billion in total sales, finds the report.

Florida’s adult-use cannabis market holds the highest potential, driven by its population of 22 million residents and an estimated 140 million annual tourists. Should voters pass Amendment 3, Florida is expected to compete with California and Michigan, with recreational marijuana sales likely to reach $2.9 billion in the first year and surpass $4.1 billion by year four. Although polls indicate strong support for Amendment 3, some industry insiders warn that legislative delays could push back the market’s launch.
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