Nine states have marijuana measures on the ballot this November. Here’s a look at the ballots in Nevada, Arkansas and Florida and what the props mean to you.
Nevada: Recreational Marijuana
Nevada voters will see Question 2 on their ballots next week. Nevada has legalized medical marijuana, and decriminalized the substance, but Question 2 would legalize certain amounts of the substance for adults over the age of 21.
Question 2 would legalize the purchase and consumption of one ounce of marijuana or less, or ⅛ of an ounce of “concentrated” marijuana and adults could grow up to six plants, as long as they cultivate them in an “enclosed area with a lock.” The Nevada Department of Taxation would regulate the sale of recreational marijuana, and cultivation facilities would be subject to a 15 percent excise tax.
There’s been a range of polling on Question 2–some polls make it seem likely that voters will resoundingly vote “yes,” others make it look like the vote will be closer. Nevada is a state to keep an eye on the night of November 8. For more information on the state of marijuana legalization in Nevada, click here.
Arkansas: Medical Marijuana
Arkansas voters will weigh Issue 6 on November 8. A similar measure appeared on the ballot in 2012, but it was defeated by a slim margin. Originally, there were two competing measures on the ballot for medical marijuana–there was also one called Issue 7–but it was stricken from the ballot on October 27 due to invalid signatures. While it will still technically appear on the already-printed ballots, votes for it will not count.
Issue 6 would legalize marijuana for 17 qualifying medical conditions. It would also set up a Medical Marijuana Commission to regulate the implementation of medical marijuana in the state. Tax revenue would be used to cover costs of the program, and then designated percentages would go to the General Fund, vocational training programs, the Department of Health, and other specific departments.
Recent polling doesn’t look too great for the supporters of medical marijuana in the state, and it seems unlikely at this point that Issue 6 will pass. For more information on the state of marijuana legalization in Arkansas, click here.
Florida: Medical Marijuana
Floridians will be voting on Amendment 2, which aims to legalize medical marijuana for specific debilitating diseases and other conditions approved by licensed physicians. A similar measure was defeated by voters in 2014, but supporters of Amendment 2 hope that this measure clarifies some deficiencies in the 2014 measure that caused it to be defeated.
Amendment 2 would explicitly legalize medical marijuana for approximately 10 diseases, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s disease, among others. Doctors would be able to certify other patients who have similarly debilitating conditions to the diseases already specified. Because this is an amendment to Florida’s constitution, it requires a supermajority of 60 percent of voters to pass.
Recent polling shows strong support for Amendment 2, above the 60 percent threshold. For more information on the state of marijuana legalization in Florida, click here.
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