As a spate of new studies find positive results from the legalization of pot in Colorado and Washington state, including a dip in traffic fatalities in Colorado — and with Washington state accruing $3 million in taxes since pot was legalized in July, Colorado tallying $18 million in pot-tax revenue since January, including $7 million in July alone, and a projection that $3.1 billion in taxes would be collected if all 50 states legalized weed — voters in Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. will decide whether to legalize marijuana on Nov. 4, and Floridians will decide whether to allow the sale of medical marijuana.
Vox.com has a round-up of the initiatives:
Alaska
Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2 would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of pot and maintain six marijuana plants. The measure would legalize production and sales, which the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board — or a Marijuana Control Board, if one is created — would regulate. The measure would also tax marijuana at the point of sale at $50 per ounce.
Four recent polls on the measure in Alaska produced mixed results. One poll found it passing, 57-39 percent. Another found it failing 43-53 percent.
Washington, D.C.
Initiative 71 in Washington, DC, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and give marijuana to other adults 21 and older. It would not legalize, regulate, or tax sales, because voter initiatives in DC can’t have a direct impact on the local budget.
Three polls conducted this year all found the measure passing by double digits, including the most recent poll from the Washington Post that put the measure ahead by nearly 30 points, 63-34 percent.
Florida
Florida’s Amendment 2 would legalize marijuana to treat “debilitating medical conditions” such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, hepatitis C, HIV, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or “other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.” The Florida Department of Health would set up regulations for medical marijuana cards and treatment centers.
Most of the dozen or so polls taken over the past year found strong, double digit support for the measure. The first of these, in November 2013, showed support at 82-16 percent. However, a poll taken earlier this month found opinion had tightened, to 48-44 percent. That poll may be an outlier, or it may reflect the result of effective negative advertising by opponents.
Oregon
Oregon’s ballot initiative, Measure 91, would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to eight ounces and four plants of marijuana. It would also legalize production and sales, which the Oregon Liquor Control Commission would regulate. The measure would also tax marijuana at the point of sale at $35 per ounce, with the revenue set aside for enforcement and education programs.
Four polls taken this year all show the measure passing by an average of 9 percentage points.
Florida: YES ON 2!