Cannabis on the Midterm Ballot
November 22, 2022
How did legalization fare in state elections?
Find out what voters decided.
While most of the attention of the recent 2022 midterm elections focused on candidates, more than 130 propositions, questions, and constitutional amendments were decided by voters across the country. Recreational marijuana was a popular issue, appearing on ballots in five states. Even where legalization of pot was narrowly defeated—primarily in deep red states—results showed rising bipartisan support and the growing power of advocate organizations. This comes on the heels of President Biden’s groundbreaking call for marijuana justice reform.
How did cannabis measures fare during the midterms?
Writing for The Fresh Toast, Tom Gaffey reports some significant results that you might have missed:
- Five cities in conservative Texas voted to de-penalize marijuana possession.
- In Ohio, citizens in five cities approved decriminalization statutes.
- Rhode Island voters in 25 cities supported new cannabis-related businesses.
- Colorado is again leading the nation, decriminalizing “cannabis-adjacent,” medicinal psychedelics like psilocybin.
Still, the midterms were not an overwhelming win for recreational pot. Legalization measures passed in Maryland and Missouri but fell short in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
With proponents already organizing for the next election cycle, AssurPack will continue to follow the votes.
