The Green Thread: Marijuana in the states

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

South Dakota to vote on cannabis legalization (again) this November

https://twitter.com/tomangell/status/1529559639112687617?cxt=HHwWgoCxgemYi7oqAAA...

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Missouri will be the fifth state to vote on legalization this November; along with North Dakota, South Dakota, Maryland & Oklahoma.

https://twitter.com/stltoday/status/1557106193038036992?cxt=HHwWgMC-maX1-ZsrAAAA

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I should also bring up that Arkansas may or may not be voting on legalization this November.

Although enough signatures were certified, the state Election Board withdrew it due to misleading ballot title/language. A lawsuit looks to be taking place, but there may not be enough time to settle it before ballots are printed.

https://norml.org/blog/2022/08/03/arkansas-election-officials-deny-certification-of-proposed-marijuana-legalization-amendment/

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So it looks like Arkansas will be the sixth state to vote on legalization this November. Albeit with a caveat.

The measure will appear on the ballot as already written. However, enactment will be decided by the result of the lawsuit mentioned above. If they rule against the pro-legalization side, the result will be non-binding.

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/arkansas-supreme-court-orders-state-to-put-marijuana-legalization-initiative-on-ballot-but-votes-may-not-be-counted/

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So it looks like the ballot measure in Oklahoma may also be up in the air.

From my understanding, this is what seems to be the problem;

- Earlier today (August 22), the signature count was completed and the measure received the required number of signatures
- It now goes to Oklahoma Supreme Court who have to confirm the count and open a 10-day window for public input
- However, August 29 is the deadline for the State Elections Board to officially certify measures & to start printing ballots

https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/marijuana/recreational-marijuana-petition-secures-enough-signatures-to-get-on-a-ballot-but-november-election-not/article_099dd36c-2249-11ed-ac8e-e3f48bfc2443.html

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The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the legalization measure won't be on the November ballot after all.

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-ballot-legalization-recreational-marijuana/41319327


EDIT:

On the flip side, Arkansas Supreme Court just ruled that their November ballot measure will be counted.

https://www.ky3.com/2022/09/23/recreational-marijuana-measure-okd-arkansas-ballot/

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No 58-60% sounds about right. Chances may have been low to begin with, but it was DOA as soon as it was moved to some random March odd-year election.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

No 58-60% sounds about right. Chances may have been low to begin with, but it was DOA as soon as it was moved to some random March odd-year election.

Not as sure that applies anymore.  The left has been overrepresented in pretty much all special elections since Trump.

You're right. I keep forgetting that that's a fairly recent shift.

I'm still predicting No to prevail by around 15-20%

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

No 58-60% sounds about right. Chances may have been low to begin with, but it was DOA as soon as it was moved to some random March odd-year election.

Not as sure that applies anymore.  The left has been overrepresented in pretty much all special elections since Trump.

You're right. I keep forgetting that that's a fairly recent shift.

I'm still predicting No to prevail by around 15-20%

Starting to think my original assumption was correct.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Wow, legalization basically performed like Generic Dem.  Will this be the new trend in marijuana referendums?

Five months ago, three statewide referendums in three GOP states did over 8 points better than the Dems at the top of the ticket.

I was curious about the poor result and tried to look up the most recent legalization referendum where support was below 40%. That would be Ohio in November 2015, which was also the last time a legalization referendum was held during an off-year election.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Hawaii and New Hampshire stick out like sore thumbs on that map.