After the historic 2012 Election, where Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana and anti-marijuana Attorney General candidate Dwight Holton was defeated in Oregon, many states started contemplating their next move. Would they wait until the next Presidential election year (2016), or make an attempt at achieving reform in the very next election (2014). There was a lot of arguing, and some shunning by national marijuana reform leaders, with many people declaring that 2014 was off limits, and that any attempts in 2014 would fail and therefore would affect chances in 2016.
I was not one of those people. I have always felt that as long as people are getting arrested and getting their lives ruined, and there’s an election coming up, we should give it all we got. Is a Presidential election year better than a midterm election year? Of course. But we don’t live in a perfect world, and every year that we wait to make an attempt at reform is another year that people are harmed by marijuana prohibition. I’m thankful that many in the reform community stepped up in 2014, which has shaped up to be one of the biggest years in the history of marijuana reform.
This will be my third election while running this blog (not including special elections of course). In 2010 Jay Smoker and I hung out at my house to watch the sad defeat of California Proposition 19 (would have legalized recreational) and Oregon Measure 74 (would have legalized medical marijuana dispensaries). Then in 2012, we of course saw Colorado and Washington legalize marijuana, which was absolutely one of my favorite memories of all time. We were at an election night party surrounded by other activists, and high fives and hugs were in abundance that night. The only thing that would have made it better would be if other efforts had succeeded, especially my home State of Oregon (Measure 80), but we have another chance at it this year.
The way things are going, this will be my first election since starting this blog that I’ll be alone on election night. I’ve tried to crack into some election night parties, but people don’t respond and I was never invited. I guess I’m just not one of the cool kids ha ha. Oh well, if I have to celebrate at home by myself, it may be for the best, as I don’t want anyone to hear me scream like a school girl when Oregon legalizes marijuana and I no longer have to live in fear. Below are all of the 2014 Election Day issues to watch for, courtesy of Russ Belville:
| State | Measure | Purpose | Local Close | Show Close |
| Guam | Proposal 14A | Medical | 8pm Guam | 2am Pacific |
| Florida | Amendment 2 | Medical | 7pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Maine, Lewiston | Question 2 | Legal | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Maine, South Portland | Local Ballot | Legal | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Massachusetts | 8 Public Policy Questions | Reps Should Support Legalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Berkley | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Clare | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Frankfort | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Harrison | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Huntington Woods | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Lapeer | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Mt. Pleasant | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Onaway | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Pleasant Ridge | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Port Huron | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Michigan, Saginaw | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Washington DC | Initiative 71 | Legal | 8pm Eastern | 5pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Adams County | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Aurora | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Basalt | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Cañon City | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Cañon City | Local Ballot | Allow Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Hot Sulphur Springs | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Lafayette | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Lakewood | Local Ballot | Ban Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Lyons | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Manitou | Local Ballot | Ban Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Northglen | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Palisade | Local Ballot | Allow Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Palmer Lake | Local Ballot | Allow Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Palmer Lake | Local Ballot | Moratorium on Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Paonia | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Paonia | Local Ballot | Allow Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Ramah | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Ramah | Local Ballot | Allow Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Red Cliff | Local Ballot | Ban Pot Shops | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Rifle | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| Colorado, Silverton | Local Ballot | Marijuana Taxes | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| New Mexico, Bernalillo County | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| New Mexico, Santa Fe County | Local Ballot | Decriminalization | 7pm Mountain | 6pm Pacific |
| California | Measure 47 | Defelonize Possession | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Butte County | Measure A | Approve Cultivation Restrictions | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Butte County | Measure B | Regulate Medical Cultivation | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Encinitas | Measure F | Overturn Dispensary Ban | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, La Mesa | Measure J | Overturn Dispensary Ban | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Lake County | Measure O | Regulate Medical Cultivation | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Lake County | Measure P | Allow Medical Cultivation | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Nevada County | Measure S | Fix Medical Cultivation | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Santa Ana | Measure BB | Limit Dispensaries | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Santa Ana | Measure CC | Prohibit Dispensary Ban | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Santa Cruz | Measure L | Medical Marijuana Tax | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Santa Cruz County | Measure K | Medical Marijuana Tax | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Shasta County | Measure A | Repeal Cultivation Restrictions | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| California, Shasta Lake | Measure C | Medical Marijuana Tax | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| Oregon | Measure 91 | Legal | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| Washington | Advisory Vote #8 | Eliminate Ag Tax Pref for MJ | 8pm Pacific | 8pm Pacific |
| Alaska | Ballot Measure 2 | Legal | 8pm Alaska | 9pm Pacific |
