Marijuana Legalization Election Results: CA, MA, NV, ME Passes; AZ Rejects

California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine have voted to legalize recreational marijuana in their states, while Arizona was the lone state of the five with legal weed on its ballot to reject its measure. The results of the four statewide marijuana initiatives on the ballot Tuesday night, especially in massive California, made for a landmark moment in efforts to legalize the recreational drug and push toward a repeal of federal cannabis prohibition.

The United States now has eight states, plus the District of Columbia, where recreational marijuana is now legal. Four other states — Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota — passed ballot measures Tuesday night legalizing medical marijuana. Medical marijuana is now legal in 28 states, plus D.C.

"This is obviously a positive development, particularly with the size of California," Morgan Fox, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, told Patch by phone early Wednesday morning. "The money that was going into the hands of criminals is going to be going into legitimate businesses."

In states where these initiatives passed, the new laws will pave the way for openings of recreational marijuana stores and public spaces where people can smoke publicly, as happened in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska, where weed is already legal.

SEE ALSO: Full Presidential Election Results As They Come In

States were reporting high voter turnout, likely because of the highly charged presidential race at the top of the ticket.

Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap reported strong voter turnout throughout the state Tuesday morning. "Voter participation is high," Dunlap said in a statement. Turnout was also strong across much of Massachusetts.

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Marijuana policy experts told Patch that favorable results would also further normalize legal marijuana use, which has passed already in four states and the District of Columbia, and bolster the case to end federal laws against marijuana usage, many of which aren’t enforced.

“It’s really going to create examples for people in other states to look at when they’re considering their own marijuana policies,” Fox told Patch.

A recent study found that in 2015, marijuana legalization injected Colorado with nearly $120 million in new tax revenue from nearly $1 billion in sales. That led to $2.39 billion of economic impact, the study found, through the creation of 18,000 new jobs, business-to-business transactions and indirect job creation.

“All of it just generates and spins through the economy,” Jacob Rowberry, an associate at the Marijuana Policy Group, which commissioned the study, told Patch.

The legalization on the ballot in these five states would result in laws similar to those governing alcohol use.

Anyone 21 or older would be able to possess small amounts of marijuana and be allowed to grow a few plants in their home. Businesses would be required to obtain proper licenses for selling and distributing. And tax revenue would be carefully allocated to fund various state programs.

The states vary some on possession amounts, tax revenue distribution and criminal enforcement, issues which are decided at the state and local level.

While Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska already have legalized marijuana, a (largely ignored) federal ban remains, despite shifting public opinion.

The federal ban is hardly enforced — the Department of Justice has all but told federal law enforcement to stand down — but still causes headaches on taxes and banking.

Tuesday’s votes could push the federal ban one step closer to extinction.

“This is a big election, arguably bigger than the one we had two years ago where we added two states to the map,” Michael Collins, deputy director of the Drug Policy Alliance, told Patch. “In California, one of the biggest states in the nation, all of the big state-versus-federal conflicts are going to be dramatically increased by what goes on. The end game is in sight.”

Here’s some more information on the specifics from each state.

Arizona

Arizona’s Proposition 205 allows for an ounce of possession and up to six plants at home. It will send money to school construction, kindergarten programs and public drug education.

California

California, the most populous state in the union with more than 38 million residents, would be the biggest win for the pro-legalization crowd. It’s also proposed the most sweeping changes. Among them: creating a system to retroactively reduce sentences for drug offenses.

The initiative, which allows for an ounce of possession and six plants at home for people over 21, has 58 percent support among Californians, according to a recent LA Times poll.

Maine

Maine’s Question 1 is more lenient, allowing people to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and have six flowering plants and 12 nonflowering plants in their home.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts’ Question 4 would allow, also, for an ounce of possession and six plants. A 3.75 percent excite tax would go to regulations and the state’s general fund.

Nevada

Nevada’s Question would allow an ounce of possession. And anyone who does not live within 25 miles of a marijuana retail store can grow up to six plants in their home.

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