9 US States to vote on Marijuana Legalization in November

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on October 19, 2016.

The legalization of marijuana in the USA is all set to reach a tipping point as nine states have marijuana measures on the ballot this November, and more chances are there to be passed the measure in respective states.

Voters in five states will decide whether to fully legalize recreational use, while voters in four others will weigh in on whether to allow medical marijuana.

Five states, such as Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada, will decide on legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. And, in four others such as Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota, voters will consider legalizing the use marijuana for medical purposes. , which is already legal in half of the 50 states in the US.

As Election Day approaches, various polls and research show rising support for marijuana legalization: 57 percent of U.S. adults say marijuana should be made legal, compared to just 32 percent a decade ago, found a Pew study earlier this week.

The most populous state, California is attracting the most attention and money in an intensifying debate over Proposition 64. Big state victories -- recreational marijuana in California, medical marijuana in Florida -- could widen the gap between state and federal marijuana policies, which created high hopes for the pro-marijuana advocates that the federal government would eventually lift its nationwide ban on marijuana use.

However, a string of defeats would signal public unease about condoning the use of an intoxicating substance that isn't tobacco or alcohol. Marijuana remains illegal on the federal level and remains a Schedule I substance in the eyes of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies.

Meanwhile, the leading candidates for U.S. president have expressed that they support states’ rights in the legalization discussion.

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