Voters in nine states will decide on legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational purposes Tuesday, which could open the market up to nearly 25 percent of the country.
Five states are voting on recreational marijuana legalization on the ballot Tuesday — California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada — while an additional four states are voting on medical marijuana. Proposition 64 in California would allow anyone over 21 to possess one ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants in their home. A 15 percent tax on all marijuana sales could earn the state more than $1 billion in annual revenue, reports CNBC.
If recreational legalization passes in all five states, roughly 23 percent of Americans will live in a state where marijuana is available.
“It’s changed in the minds of these voters from being like cocaine to being like beer,” said University of Southern California political scientist John Matsusaka, a political scientist at the University of Southern California, told CNBC.
The ballot initiative in California is getting the most attention, polling at an approval rating of 55 percent. It promises to rake in enormous revenues for the state and would make the product available to 39 million residents. The other states with recreational marijuana legalization on the ballot are proposing similar possession laws to California and 10 to 15 percent sales taxes.
Polls indicate majority support for legalization in Maine, Massachusetts and California, while public opinion in Nevada is split at roughly 50 percent support. The ballot measure in Arizona promises to be the closest vote, with recent polling showing roughly 48 percent approval.
Florida, Arkansas, Montana and North Dakota are voting on medical marijuana legalization, but polls show less support on the issue. Support in Arkansas, Montana and North Dakota sits somewhere around 45 percent, and experts are not certain which way these votes will go.
Florida appears likely to pass legalization, with roughly 70 percent approval throughout the state. Florida came close to legalizing medical marijuana in the 2014 election with a majority of residents voting yes on the ballot, but state law requires the ballot to pass with at least 60 percent support before it can become law.
Record national support is giving marijuana activists hope for victories Tuesday and in the future. Many states follow the example of California on legislation like this, which means a push for national legalization could come next.
Legalization nationwide would rake in $28 billion in annual federal and state revenue, according to a study by the Tax Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.