Voters in Colorado , Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas decided on these marijuana-related ballot measures in 2024.
Statewide Marijuana Ballot Initiatives – Adult Use
Florida voters failed to reach the 60% approval required for passage of the constitutional amendment legalizing the possession and retail sale of marijuana for adults.
Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories. Applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law. Establishes possession limits for personal use. Allows consistent legislation. Defines terms. Provides effective date.
Nebraska: Medical Access Ballot Initiatives
Nebraska voters approved two separate medical cannabis ballot measures.
The first permits qualified patients to possess and use medical cannabis. The second measure regulates the production and distribution of medical cannabis to those authorized patients. Advocates had to frame the issue as two separate ballot questions in order to not run afoul of the state’s ‘single subject’ rule.
State regulators affirmed on August 30 that advocates from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana had gathered the requisite number of signatures to place the measures before voters. Opponents filed a lawsuit shortly thereafter, alleging several thousand signatures should have been determined invalid because of clerical errors or malfeasance. A district court judge is expected to decide in two weeks on litigation seeking to decertify the ballot initiatives.
INITIATIVE MEASURE 437 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
INITIATIVE MEASURE 438 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
North Dakota voters rejected a ballot measure legalizing the possession, personal cultivation, and retail sale of marijuana for adults.
Permits adults 21 and older to engage in the personal possession of up to one ounce of flower, 4 grams of cannabis concentrates, and edible product(s) with up to 300 mg, and the personal cultivation of up to three plants per person and six plants per household. Establishes rules and regulations for commercial enterprises to either produce, sell, and test cannabis.
South Dakota voters rejected a ballot measure legalizing the possession and personal cultivation of marijuana by adults.
Permits adults 21 and older to engage in the personal possession of up to two ounces of flower and 16 grams of cannabis concentrates, and personal cultivation of up to six plants. Does not establish rules and regulations for commercial enterprises to either produce or sell cannabis.
Local Marijuana Ballot Initiatives
Voters in the city of Colorado Springs approved Measure 300, to authorize the sale of retail marijuana at existing medical dispensaries.
Activists affiliated with Responsible Marijuana Regulation gathered sufficient signatures from registered voters in support of effort. The proposed measure authorizes the sale of retail marijuana in Colorado Springs, but limits it to existing medical dispensaries.
Colorado Springs: Adult-Use Retail Prohibition Measure
Voters in the city of Colorado Springs rejected Measure 2D, to add to the city’s charter a prohibition of adult-use marijuana retail sales.
Colorado Springs City Council voted to place the measure on the ballot. The proposed measure establishes a permanent ban on adult-use cannabis retail in the city’s charter which would prohibit voters from deciding on the topic again.
Voters in 106 Kentucky cities and counties approved local measures permitting the operation of cannabis businesses in those jurisdictions.
All Kentucky local governments, counties and cities, are automatically opted-in to have cannabis business operations in their jurisdictions. Counties and cities must enact ordinances in order to establish restrictions and fees on cannabis business operations or prohibit all cannabis business operations in their jurisdictions. Local governments may also enact a resolution to put the question of allowing cannabis business operations within their jurisdiction on the ballot.
CITIES AND COUNTIES WITH BALLOT RESOLUTIONS
Voters in the city of Bastrop approved Proposition M, a citizens-initiated measure to depenalize certain marijuana-related offenses.
Activists affiliated with Ground Game Texas submitted sufficient signatures from registered voters in support of effort. The proposed municipal ordinance ends arrests and citations for adults who possess misdemeanor amounts of cannabis within the city’s limits. The measure also prohibits police from issuing citations for charges related to the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
BASTROP FREEDOM ACT OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Voters in the city of Dallas approved Proposition R, a citizens-initiated measure to depenalize certain marijuana-related offenses.
Activists affiliated with Ground Game Texas submitted over 50,000 signatures from registered voters in support of the Dallas Freedom Act. The proposed municipal ordinance ends arrests and citations for adults who possess misdemeanor amounts of cannabis within the city’s limits. The measure also prohibits police from issuing citations for charges related to the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
DALLAS FREEDOM ACT OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Voters in the city of Lockhart approved Proposition A, a citizens-initiated measure to depenalize certain marijuana-related offenses.
Activists affiliated with Ground Game Texas submitted sufficient signatures from registered voters in support of effort. The proposed municipal ordinance ends arrests and citations for adults who possess misdemeanor amounts of cannabis within the city’s limits. The measure also prohibits police from issuing citations for charges related to the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
LOCKHART FREEDOM ACT OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Voters in the city of Lubbock rejected Proposition A, a citizens-initiated measure to depenalize certain marijuana-related offenses.
Advocates submitted twice the total number of signatures required to compel city officials to vote on the Freedom Act Lubbock measure. The proposed municipal ordinance ends arrests and citations for adults who possess misdemeanor amounts of cannabis within the city’s limits. The measure also prohibits police from issuing citations for charges related to the possession of marijuana paraphernalia.