Marijuana Was Unpopular in the 2024 Elections. Only 1 State Voted to Relax Restrictions
In addition to four states that put marijuana on the ballot in 2024, Massachusetts sought to legalize certain types of psychedelics
Election Day isn't only about choosing the next president or casting votes for local officials. Ballot measures are an important part of regional politics, and this year the topic of marijuana was raised in several states.
In Florida, North Dakota and South Dakota, voters were asked to weigh in on the legalization of recreational marijuana, while Nebraska put medical marijuana on the ballot. Massachusetts, where weed is already legal, looked to legalize psychedelics.
With the results tallied, marijuana restrictions will now be relaxed in just one more U.S. state, bringing the total number of states that have legalized the drug in some form to 39.
Here's a closer look at how the votes shook out.
North Dakota
On Election Day, North Dakotans were presented with Measure 5, which planned to create a new chapter of the North Dakota Century Code.
According to the ballot language, a "yes" vote "would allow for the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and the possession and use of various forms of cannabis by individuals who are 21 years of age and older; direct a state entity to regulate and register adult use cannabis production businesses, dispensaries, and their agents; provide protections for individuals who are 21 years of age or older who use cannabis; provide penalties for violations of the chapter; preserve certain employer rights regarding use of cannabis products by employees; supersede local ordinances that otherwise would prohibit the purchase, sale, use, delivery, or growing of cannabis by or to individuals 21 years of age or older; and provide that fees must be appropriated for administration of this chapter."
North Dakota residents elected to keep recreational marijuana illegal.
South Dakota
South Dakotans also got a say in whether or not weed should be legalized in the state — and ultimately they said no.
Across the state, voters were able to decide on Initiated Measure 29, which aimed to legalize the recreational use, possession and distribution of marijuana. The legislation would have also allowed those over the age of 21 to have up to two ounces of marijuana; "possess, grow, ingest, and distribute marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia"; and possess six marijuana plants, with "no more than 12 plants per household."
The measure called for weed to remain illegal for those under 21 years old and for driving under the influence of marijuana to remain illegal.
Florida
Citizens of Florida, where medicinal marijuana is legal, got a chance to vote on Amendment 3.
The proposed change to the state's constitution was designed to allow those over the age of 21 to buy and possess the drug for personal, non-medical reasons. It also sought to permit adults in the state to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and five ounces of marijuana concentrate.
Under the new amendment, existing medicinal dispensaries could sell the drug to recreational users and give licensed state entities the ability to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute related products, per CBS.
Though a majority of Floridians voted to legalize recreational marijuana, the amendment did not reach the 60% threshold required to pass.
Nebraska
While Nebraska didn't get an option to vote on the legalization of recreational marijuana in the latest election, voters did have a say over whether they wanted medical marijuana legalized — and in a departure from other states this year, Nebraskans supported relaxed restrictions.
In the state, voters got to decide on Initiative Measure 437 and 438 — the first of which asked Nebraskans to vote "for" or "against" the legalization of the use, possession and acquisition of up to five ounces of cannabis for medical reasons. As for 438, residents could vote "for" or "against" the legalization of the possessing, manufacturing, distribution, delivery and dispensary of medical marijuana in the state.
Voters overwhelmingly decided to support both measures, though there are still legal challenges over whether they were eligible to go on the ballot in the first place.
Massachusetts
Voters over in Massachusetts got to decide on recreational drug usage, but marijuana (when used both recreationally and medicinally) is already legalized.
Still, those in the state sounded off on the legalization of psychedelics via Question 4 — which proposed making it legal for "persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances." It also aimed to allow the purchase, taxation and regulation of certain psychedelic substances, as well as the creation of a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission and Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board.
Ultimately, Massachusetts citizens voted to not approve the proposed law.
