Efforts to legalize recreational marijuana succeeded in four out of five states yesterday, failing only in Arizona. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada all voted to pass their respective measures to legalize marijuana, and the process of implementing a legal system in those states is set to begin soon. Additionally, the four states considering medical marijuana expansion/legalization all voted in favor of those measures.
In California, Prop 64 passed easily. Marijuana for recreational purposes is technically legal as of today in California, although there are licensing kinks that need to be worked out. Marijuana is now legal for recreational use throughout the entire west coast (including Alaska).
THIS JUST IN: Prop 64 legalizing recreational marijuana passes. Here's what you need to knowhttps://t.co/ELXy1Vit2T pic.twitter.com/JRoYZ5Eh83
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) November 9, 2016
In Maine, legalization passed by the skin of its teeth in what wound up being a very close election. Question 1 passed with 50.7 percent of the vote in favor, and 49.3 percent against. Maine's race took the longest to call out of all five recreational measures being decided.
Question 1 took the longest of all the marijuana measures on the ballot to decide, but in the end, Maine legalized recreational #marijuana. pic.twitter.com/EIr7KAkCyA
— Marijuana.com (@mjdotc) November 9, 2016
Massachusetts easily legalized marijuana with 53.5 percent of the vote in favor. Marijuana will become legal in the state on December 15th and pot shops will open in 2018.
Last night, Massachusetts legalized marijuana for recreational use.
— Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) November 9, 2016
It will become legal on Dec. 15th & marijuana shops can open in 2018. pic.twitter.com/kaHlzW811N
Nevadans voted 54.5 percent in favor to legalize marijuana.
Nevada just became the 7th state to legalize marijuana! https://t.co/L5Wwd4aLPw pic.twitter.com/iv4sF3jFjv
— Drug Policy Alliance (@DrugPolicyOrg) November 9, 2016