October 22, 2018

Election Update: North Dakota, Michigan, Utah & Missouri all Have Ballots

October 22, 2018
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Cannabis reform isn’t always enacted by ballot questions; it can happen through elected officials. Get informed & vote!

In North Dakota, a recent poll finds huge support in favor of passage of Measure 3: 51-36 percent. The measure seeks to prohibit the prosecution of any nonviolent, marijuana-related activity and seal the records of adults with past nonviolent cannabis charges.

“Despite a big-money funded misinformation campaign from the opposition, this poll reveals that most North Dakotans are ready to end the failed prohibition of marijuana in the state,” said NORML’s Executive Director Erik Altieri.

Michigan’sProposal 1, which could generate an estimated $288 million dollars in 2023 in tax revenue, is being carefully watched as Michigan may become the first in the Midwest to legalize recreational marijuana.

“We definitely see Michigan as being important to making further progress toward ending prohibition nationally,” said Josh Hovey, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

In Utah, where the battle to legalize MMJ has been contentious to say the least, Utah Cann held the state’s first-ever cannabis conference on Oct. 19 and 20. The compromise state-sponsored initiative will provided for certain edible forms of MMJ for certain conditions and would allow people to grow up to six plants for personal medical use although the proposal prohibits smoking the plant.

“I think Prop 2 is going to pass, we’re just worried about what’s going to happen after,” said Riley Brown, co-founder of Utah Cannabis Legislation, a local group that helped create the initiative.

In Missouri, voters have three medical marijuana initiatives from which to choose. If all three pass, a Missouri law indicates that “whichever measure receives ‘the largest affirmative vote shall prevail, even if that (measure) did not receive the greatest majority of affirmative votes,’ ” according to the Springfield News-Leader.

Several Missouri and Kansas politicians spoke in favor of Amendment Two, including Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II.

And, US Rep. Earl Blumenauer, visited from Oregon to show support for Amendment Two.

“Your election here, I think, might be the tipping point for the federal government to get its act together and finally reform – once and for all – our outmoded prohibition,” Blumenauer said. “This is serious medicine with serious business, and it will have serious benefits.”

Cannabis reform isn’t always enacted by ballot questions, but can happen through elected officials, too. Keep your eyes on Florida, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Kentucky.

And, of course, vote as if your life depended on it.

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