November 04, 2020 There were several big winners on Election Day, but few were bigger than marijuana law reform!
The results once again affirm that marijuana legalization is a uniquely popular issue with voters of all political persuasions. The results also continue a multi-decade long trend of marijuana legalization advocates achieving success at the ballot box. Prior to this election, voters have decided affirmatively on 28 separate ballot measures legalizing cannabis (18 measures legalizing medical marijuana, 10 measures legalizing adult use).
Now we have additional successes to add to this growing list. Voters legalized the possession of marijuana by adults in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and in South Dakota. The measures in Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota each permit adults to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use and establish a regulated retail market. In New Jersey, voters decided on a public ballot question. Lawmakers must now enact enabling legislation in order to amend state laws to comport it with the voters’ decision.
Voters also approved the legalization of medical cannabis access in two states, Mississippi and South Dakota. In Mississippi, voters chose between two dueling initiatives -- favoring a measure placed on the ballot by patient advocates, and rejected a more restrictive alternative measure placed on the ballot by state lawmakers.
In total, 15 states have now either enacted or have voted to enact adult-use legalization laws, while 36 states have either enacted or have voted to enact medical marijuana access laws.
NORML congratulates the efforts of its chapters and all of the activists and other organizations that worked tirelessly to make these campaigns a success. In a year when a pandemic limited many other campaigns’ efforts to gather signatures and coordinate successfully, these successes lend further credence to the adage: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
In the coming days, we will continue to alert you to our progress, not just at the state level, but also at the federal level as we look forward to a successful House vote on the MORE Act in the coming weeks, and as we prepare to move forward with similar legislation to end marijuana prohibition in 117th Congress.
The real work is just getting started to ensure that federal reform will be thoughtful, evidence based, and put consumers first. But we cannot do it alone.
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Donate $38.84 to help get a vote this year on HR 3884, the MORE Act
Donate $83 to show that 83 years of prohibition is enough
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Only together are we going to make sure that as we reform our nation’s laws, that no longer are marijuana consumers treated as second-class citizens.
Whether you joined this fight with us 50 years ago when NORML first came together, or just joined the fight five minutes ago, now it is our time.
Onward,
The NORML Team
