The November ballot has four states with ballot measures involving legalization of adult use or medical cannabis. For adult use cannabis legalization, there is Michigan and North Dakota. States lined up for medical cannabis legalization are the conservative Utah and Missouri.

All four states have seen strong support and are slated to pass with larger margins of “Yeas”.

Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Ballot Measures

Michigan: Proposal 18-1

“Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol”

Proposal 18-1 aims to legalize medical cannabis and permit the establishment of state controlled medical cannabis establishments to grow, process, test and sell medical cannabis to physician approved patients with qualifying conditions. It will also allow cities to ban or permit commercial medical cannabis businesses, as well as impose a 10% tax on the sale of medical cannabis. All revenue generated from the tax will be used to cover regulatory costs, improve roads, and fund schools, clinical research, and initiatives in municipalities where cannabis businesses are established.

Backers: Michigan Legalize 2018, Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol, Michigan NORML, ACLU, Drug Policy Alliance, Marijuana Policy Project, Marijuana Law Section of the State Bar Association

North Dakota: Measure 3

Marijuana Legalization and Automatic Expungement Initiative

Measure 3, also known as the Marijuana Legalization and Automatic Expungement Initiative was put on the ballot after successfully collecting 14,600 signatures. It aims to remove hashish, cannabis and THC from Schedule I Substances and automatically expunge records and arrests related to cannabis possession and non-violent offenses for individuals 21 years old and over.

Backers: Legalize North Dakota and Legalize ND

Medical Cannabis Legalization Ballot Measures

Utah: Proposition 2

Utah Medical Cannabis Act

Proposition 2 aims to legalize medical marijuana for physician approved patients with qualifying medical conditions. It would provide state controlled medical cannabis businesses to grow, process, test and sell medical cannabis, as well as implement track and trace mechanisms, stringent packaging and advertising measures, and approve a select product mix. Although Utah has been conservative, there is strong support for the ballot measure, despite the public opposition of the Mormon Church.

Backers: Utah Patient’s Coalition, DJ Schanz, Marijuana Policy Project, Libertas Institute, TRUCE

Missouri: Amendment 2, Amendment 3, or Proposition C

Missouri has a unique ballot measure situation, with three unique measures going on to the ballot on November 6. This leaves voters with a lot to think about. Or maybe not. Below are the three ballot measures Missourian voters will have to choose from.

Amendment 2

This measure was devised by New Approach Missouri, a coalition of patients, doctors, and veterans, and utilizes the grassroots standard for medical cannabis policy and will permit medical cannabis patients to grow their own medical cannabis plants. It aims to tax commercial medical cannabis sales at 4% and use the revenues towards healthcare services for veterans.

Amendment 3

This measure is also known as the Bradshaw Amendment and was funded solely by its creator, Ben Bradshaw. Aside from aiming to permit physicians to prescribe medical cannabis to patients with qualifying illnesses and conditions, it aims to impose a 15% tax on the sale of commercial medical cannabis. Revenues from medical cannabis tax would fund his research institute, which aims to develop cures for cancer and other incurable diseases or medical conditions.

Proposition C

This measure is also known as the Patient Care Act, which was put on the ballot by Travis Brown, with the support of the lobbyist company, Pelopidas LLC, known for its work for the famous Republican donor, Rex Sinquefield. It aims to support social welfare by permitting state regulated commercial medical cannabis establishments to grow, process, test and sell medical cannabis to patients with qualifying illnesses and conditions. It would impose a 2% tax on the sale of medical cannabis, which would be used fund veteran services, drug treatment, education, and public safety. Because it was devised by Brown and his PR group, he also aims to attract investors to commit to building commercial medical cannabis businesses in the Midwest, in order to sustain the industry and maintain funding for social welfare issues.

Get Out and Vote on November 6th

Seeing four states with ballot measures related to the legalization of medical or adult use cannabis is reassuring in the face of continued federal denouncement.

Every individual vote is one step closer to changing the face of cannabis and history. The last frontier has been discovered and we are all able to contribute to its outcome.

Don’t forget to vote on November 6 and take a stand on issues that are important to you.