Analysis of Marijuana Election Results (2024)

In the 2024 U.S. elections, marijuana legalization measures were on the ballot in Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Here's a breakdown of the results in each state:

1. Florida - Amendment 3: Legalize Recreational Marijuana

• Result: Failed (55.9% Yes, 44.1% No)
• Details:
  • Amendment 3 sought to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older.
  • It would have allowed for the possession, purchase, and use of marijuana for non-medical purposes, alongside establishing a legal framework for the sale, cultivation, and distribution of marijuana through licensed state entities.
  • Despite support from a majority of voters, the amendment failed to meet the 60% approval threshold required for constitutional amendments in Florida.
  • This result shows that while there was majority support, the state's threshold for passing constitutional amendments is quite high, requiring broader approval.

2. Nebraska - Initiative Measures 437 & 438: Legalize Medical Marijuana

• Result: Passed
  • Measure 437: 70.7% Yes
  • Measure 438: 66.9% Yes
• Details:
  • Measure 437 legalized the use of up to 5 ounces of cannabis for medical purposes, with a doctor's recommendation.
  • Measure 438 established a Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate the industry and set up infrastructure for the production, distribution, and dispensing of medical marijuana in the state.
  • Both measures passed comfortably, marking a significant step for Nebraska toward legalizing medical marijuana, though recreational marijuana remains illegal.
  • This result shows that Nebraska voters are supportive of expanding access to medical marijuana but not yet ready for recreational use.

3. North Dakota - Measure 5: Legalize Recreational Marijuana

• Result: Failed (52.5% No, 47.5% Yes)
• Details:
  • Measure 5 sought to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older and create a regulatory framework for cannabis production and sales.
  • Although medical marijuana is already legal in North Dakota, voters rejected the measure by a narrow margin.
  • This suggests a closer contest between pro-legalization and anti-legalization forces in North Dakota. Even though support for marijuana legalization is growing nationwide, the state remains more hesitant about fully embracing recreational use.

4. South Dakota - Measure 29: Legalize Recreational Marijuana

• Result: Failed (55.8% No, 44.2% Yes)
• Details:
  • Measure 29 proposed the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, allowing possession, cultivation, and distribution.
  • South Dakota had previously voted to legalize recreational marijuana in 2020, but the law was struck down by the state Supreme Court, prompting this new initiative.
  • Measure 29 was also rejected, with the "No" vote leading by a larger margin compared to North Dakota's result.
  • The failure of this measure highlights South Dakota's continued resistance to recreational marijuana, even after the state had initially passed a similar measure in 2020.

Key Takeaways:

• Florida: Despite a majority of voters in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana, the proposal failed to meet the 60% threshold required for constitutional amendments. This highlights Florida's challenging approval process for constitutional changes, despite growing support for marijuana reform.
• Nebraska: The state made significant strides by passing measures to legalize medical marijuana. With strong approval from voters, Nebraska joins the increasing number of states allowing medical marijuana, but it remains one of the states where recreational marijuana is still illegal.
• North Dakota & South Dakota: Both states rejected recreational marijuana legalization. North Dakota's measure was narrowly defeated, while South Dakota's result showed a wider margin against the proposal. This indicates that while support for recreational marijuana is growing across the U.S., the Dakotas remain more conservative on this issue.

Conclusion:

• The 2024 marijuana election results indicate that states are more open to legalizing medical marijuana but less so to recreational marijuana.
• Florida's failure to pass Amendment 3 suggests that a larger national trend toward marijuana legalization faces hurdles in conservative states with high constitutional approval thresholds.
• Nebraska's success in passing medical marijuana measures, on the other hand, highlights a more cautious but significant move forward in expanding access to cannabis for medical purposes.
• Meanwhile, North Dakota and South Dakota's rejections demonstrate that legalization measures may still face significant resistance in states with less liberal leanings on marijuana policy.

These marijuana election results show a mixed but cautious trend toward marijuana reform in 2024, with states taking varying approaches to medical and recreational cannabis legalization.