From coast to coast, the people of America have spoken, and it’s unanimous — they want their weed.
Four states — California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Maine — all approved recreational marijuana use. Arizona considered it, but 52% of the state voted against it.
Three other states — Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota — voted in favor of marijuana for medical use.
Voters in Montana agreed to expand an existing law on medical pot.
With this big win for the marijuana industry on Election Day, the drug is now legal in some form in 28 states and the District of Columbia.
Big Advancement For Marijuana Reform and Policy
This could mark a huge boom for people suffering from long-term debilitating illnesses who no longer get relief or fear side effects from prescription drug use. Medical marijuana has been known to ease the symptoms of or treat illnesses which include AIDS/HIV, Alzheimer’s, asthma, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.
It’s the biggest electoral victory for marijuana reform since 2012, when Colorado and Washington first approved recreational use of marijuana.
This represents a monumental victory for the marijuana reform movement,” said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, in a statement. “With California’s leadership now, the end of marijuana prohibition nationally, and even internationally, is fast approaching.”
The cultural shift towards marijuana acceptance and the trend of state-level legalization has seen a dramatic rise over the years. And states like Colorado have enjoyed successful established regulated marijuana marketplaces.
“This is the most momentous Election Day in history for the movement to end marijuana prohibition,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of Marijuana Policy Project. “These votes send a clear message to federal officials that it’s time to stop arresting and incarcerating marijuana users. Congress must take action to ease the tension between state and federal marijuana laws.”
Ronke Idowu Reeves is a writer and journalist who hails from Brooklyn, NY. Her news and entertainment stories have appeared on WABC-TV-New York, Fox News Channel, VH1, BET.com plus in Sundance Film Festival’s Sundance Daily Insider and People Magazine.
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