The green wave in the United States showed little signs of slowing last night as the 2018 midterm elections brought a variety of medicinal and recreational cannabis legalization options before the American voters at state and local levels.
While Proposal 1, a recreational cannabis legalization initiative, passed in Michigan 55% to 45%, North Dakota voters rejected Measure 3 which would have legalized marijuana for adult use with no limits on possession amounts or number of plants that one could cultivate.
Missouri voters weighed in and selected their preferred medical marijuana initiative out of the three that had qualified for the November 2018 ballot. Ultimately, the people chose Amendment 2 over Amendment 3 and Proposition C with 65% approving the measure and 35% voting against it.
Amendment 2 was sponsored by the New Approach Missouri advocacy group and will require the Department of Health and Senior Services to begin accepting patient applications by June 4, 2019.
There are nine qualifying conditions to use medicinal cannabis under Amendment 2, but it permits doctors to approve other people with conditions that are not on the list as well. The measure also allows patients to have up to six flowering plants at a time and taxes sales at 4%.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Proposition 2 showed that it had passed in Utah 53% to 47% with 76% of precincts reporting.
Proposition 2 will add to current law and establish a process for patients with certain conditions to apply for a state card and use medicinal cannabis as well as grow up to six plants at home. The measure will also allow for the establishment of state-licensed cultivation, testing, production, and retail facilities in Utah.
A special legislative session is expected to take place sometime before the end of 2018 where lawmakers will consider a revised compromise medical cannabis deal that may supersede Proposition 2.
