Marijuana on the ballot

This topic refers to statewide ballot measures regarding the sales, use, and growth of marijuana. It also covers penalties imposed for possession. Click here for a full history of marijuana on the ballot. The measures listed under the "By state" and "By year" tabs include measures that could potentially be on the ballot for the current election cycle, but are not certified for the ballot. By October of each year, the list will include only measures certified for the ballot in the current year.

To read about marijuana laws and ballot measures in the United States, click here. To see a list of local marijuana-related ballot measures, click here.

By state

Alaska

1. Alaska Legalize Marijuana Initiative, Measure 2 (2004)
2. Alaska Marijuana Criminalization Initiative, Measure 2 (1990)
3. Alaska Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative, Measure 5 (2000)
4. Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)
5. Alaska Medical Marijuana Act, Measure 8 (1998)

Arizona

1. Arizona Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 205 (2016)
2. Arizona Proposition 203, Decriminalization of Marijuana Initiative (2002)
3. Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
4. Arizona Proposition 300, Medical Use of Schedule I Drugs Referendum (1998)
5. Arizona Proposition 302, Incarceration for Drug-Related Crimes Initiative (2002)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Issue 4, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
2. Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, Issue 6 (2016)
3. Arkansas Medical Marijuana Question, Issue 5 (2012)

California

1. California Proposition 19, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010)
2. California Proposition 19, Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative (1972)
3. California Proposition 215, Medical Marijuana Initiative (1996)
4. California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)

Colorado

1. Colorado Amendment 20, Medical Usage of Marijuana Initiative (2000)
2. Colorado Amendment 44, Possession of Marijuana Initiative (2006)
3. Colorado Amendment 64, Regulation of Marijuana Initiative (2012)
4. Colorado Amendment X, Definition of Industrial Hemp Amendment (2018)
5. Colorado Marijuana TABOR Refund Measure, Proposition BB (2015)
6. Colorado Proposition 119, Creation of Out-of-School Education Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (2021)
7. Colorado Proposition AA, Taxes on the Sale of Marijuana (2013)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
2. Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
3. Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)

Georgia

1. Georgia Jurisdiction of Marijuana Cases, Amendment 9 (1980)

Idaho

1. Idaho HJR 4, Prohibit Citizen-Initiated Measures on Marijuana, Narcotics, and Psychoactive Substances Amendment (2026)

Maine

1. Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)
2. Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 5 (2009)
3. Maine Medical Marijuana for Specific Illnesses, Question 2 (1999)

Maryland

1. Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)
2. Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 3 (2012)
3. Massachusetts Question 2, Civil Penalties for Marijuana Initiative (2008)

Michigan

1. Michigan Proposal 08-1, Use and Growth of Medicinal Marijuana Initiative (2008)
2. Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)

Mississippi

1. Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)

Missouri

1. Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)
2. Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
3. Missouri Amendment 3, Medical Marijuana and Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute Initiative (2018)
4. Missouri Proposition C, Medical Marijuana and Veterans Healthcare Services, Education, Drug Treatment, and Public Safety Initiative (2018)

Montana

1. Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)
2. Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
3. Montana Medical Marijuana Allowance, I-148 (2004)
4. Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative, I-182 (2016)
5. Montana Medical Marijuana Veto Referendum, IR-124 (2012)

Nebraska

1. Nebraska Initiative 437, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
2. Nebraska Initiative 438, Medical Marijuana Regulation Initiative (2024)

Nevada

1. Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)
2. Nevada Question 7, Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Initiative (2006)
3. Nevada Question 9, Decriminalization of Marijuana Initiative (2002)
4. Nevada Question 9, Medical Marijuana Initiative (1998)
5. Nevada Question 9, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2000)

New Jersey

1. New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Initiated Measure 5, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
2. North Dakota Measure 3, Marijuana Legalization and Automatic Expungement Initiative (2018)
3. North Dakota Medical Marijuana Legalization, Initiated Statutory Measure 5 (2016)
4. North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

Ohio

1. Ohio Issue 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2023)
2. Ohio Issue 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2015)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 788, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (June 2018)
2. Oklahoma State Question 820, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (March 2023)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 119, Unionization of Cannabis Workers Initiative (2024)
2. Oregon Measure 33, Medical Marijuana Sales Initiative (2004)
3. Oregon Measure 5, Legalize Marijuana for Personal Use Initiative (1986)
4. Oregon Measure 57, Marijuana Possession as a Class C Misdemeanor Referendum (1998)
5. Oregon Measure 67, Medical Marijuana and Regulation Initiative (1998)
6. Oregon Measure 74, Regulated Medical Marijuana Supply System Initiative (2010)
7. Oregon Measure 80, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2012)
8. Oregon Measure 91, Legalized Marijuana Initiative (2014)

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
2. South Dakota Industrial Hemp, Initiative 1 (2002)
3. South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)
4. South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
5. South Dakota Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
6. South Dakota Medical Marijuana, Initiative 13 (2010)
7. South Dakota Medical Marijuana, Initiative 4 (2006)

Utah

1. Utah Proposition 2, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018)

Washington

1. Washington Initiative 502, Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Measure (2012)
2. Washington Initiative 685, Schedule I Drugs Decriminalization Measure (1997)
3. Washington Initiative 692, Medical Marijuana Measure (1998)
4. Washington Medical Marijuana Patient Database Fee Advisory Vote No. 11 (2015)

By year

2026

1. Idaho HJR 4, Prohibit Citizen-Initiated Measures on Marijuana, Narcotics, and Psychoactive Substances Amendment (2026)

2024

1. Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
2. Nebraska Initiative 437, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
3. Nebraska Initiative 438, Medical Marijuana Regulation Initiative (2024)
4. North Dakota Initiated Measure 5, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)
5. Oregon Measure 119, Unionization of Cannabis Workers Initiative (2024)
6. South Dakota Initiated Measure 29, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2024)

2023

1. Ohio Issue 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2023)
2. Oklahoma State Question 820, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (March 2023)

2022

1. Arkansas Issue 4, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
2. Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022)
3. Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
4. North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)
5. South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)

2021

1. Colorado Proposition 119, Creation of Out-of-School Education Program and Marijuana Sales Tax Increase Initiative (2021)

2020

1. Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
2. Mississippi Ballot Measure 1, Initiative 65 and Alternative 65A, Medical Marijuana Amendment (2020)
3. Montana CI-118, Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana Amendment (2020)
4. Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
5. New Jersey Public Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2020)
6. South Dakota Constitutional Amendment A, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2020)
7. South Dakota Initiated Measure 26, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2020)

2018

1. Colorado Amendment X, Definition of Industrial Hemp Amendment (2018)
2. Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018)
3. Missouri Amendment 2, Medical Marijuana and Veteran Healthcare Services Initiative (2018)
4. Missouri Amendment 3, Medical Marijuana and Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute Initiative (2018)
5. Missouri Proposition C, Medical Marijuana and Veterans Healthcare Services, Education, Drug Treatment, and Public Safety Initiative (2018)
6. North Dakota Measure 3, Marijuana Legalization and Automatic Expungement Initiative (2018)
7. Oklahoma State Question 788, Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (June 2018)
8. Utah Proposition 2, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2018)

2016

1. Arizona Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 205 (2016)
2. Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, Issue 6 (2016)
3. California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)
4. Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
5. Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016)
6. Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016)
7. Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative, I-182 (2016)
8. Nevada Marijuana Legalization, Question 2 (2016)
9. North Dakota Medical Marijuana Legalization, Initiated Statutory Measure 5 (2016)

2015

1. Colorado Marijuana TABOR Refund Measure, Proposition BB (2015)
2. Ohio Issue 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2015)
3. Washington Medical Marijuana Patient Database Fee Advisory Vote No. 11 (2015)

2014

1. Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014)
2. Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)
3. Oregon Measure 91, Legalized Marijuana Initiative (2014)

2013

1. Colorado Proposition AA, Taxes on the Sale of Marijuana (2013)

2012

1. Arkansas Medical Marijuana Question, Issue 5 (2012)
2. Colorado Amendment 64, Regulation of Marijuana Initiative (2012)
3. Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 3 (2012)
4. Montana Medical Marijuana Veto Referendum, IR-124 (2012)
5. Oregon Measure 80, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2012)
6. Washington Initiative 502, Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Measure (2012)

2010

1. California Proposition 19, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010)
2. Oregon Measure 74, Regulated Medical Marijuana Supply System Initiative (2010)
3. South Dakota Medical Marijuana, Initiative 13 (2010)

2009

1. Maine Medical Marijuana Initiative, Question 5 (2009)

2008

1. Massachusetts Question 2, Civil Penalties for Marijuana Initiative (2008)
2. Michigan Proposal 08-1, Use and Growth of Medicinal Marijuana Initiative (2008)

2006

1. Colorado Amendment 44, Possession of Marijuana Initiative (2006)
2. Nevada Question 7, Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Initiative (2006)
3. South Dakota Medical Marijuana, Initiative 4 (2006)

2004

1. Alaska Legalize Marijuana Initiative, Measure 2 (2004)
2. Montana Medical Marijuana Allowance, I-148 (2004)
3. Oregon Measure 33, Medical Marijuana Sales Initiative (2004)

2002

1. Arizona Proposition 203, Decriminalization of Marijuana Initiative (2002)
2. Arizona Proposition 302, Incarceration for Drug-Related Crimes Initiative (2002)
3. Nevada Question 9, Decriminalization of Marijuana Initiative (2002)
4. South Dakota Industrial Hemp, Initiative 1 (2002)

2000

1. Alaska Marijuana Decriminalization Initiative, Measure 5 (2000)
2. Colorado Amendment 20, Medical Usage of Marijuana Initiative (2000)
3. Nevada Question 9, Medical Marijuana Initiative (2000)

1999

1. Maine Medical Marijuana for Specific Illnesses, Question 2 (1999)

1998

1. Alaska Medical Marijuana Act, Measure 8 (1998)
2. Arizona Proposition 300, Medical Use of Schedule I Drugs Referendum (1998)
3. Nevada Question 9, Medical Marijuana Initiative (1998)
4. Oregon Measure 57, Marijuana Possession as a Class C Misdemeanor Referendum (1998)
5. Oregon Measure 67, Medical Marijuana and Regulation Initiative (1998)
6. Washington Initiative 692, Medical Marijuana Measure (1998)

1997

1. Washington Initiative 685, Schedule I Drugs Decriminalization Measure (1997)

1996

1. California Proposition 215, Medical Marijuana Initiative (1996)

1990

1. Alaska Marijuana Criminalization Initiative, Measure 2 (1990)

1986

1. Oregon Measure 5, Legalize Marijuana for Personal Use Initiative (1986)

1980

1. Georgia Jurisdiction of Marijuana Cases, Amendment 9 (1980)

1972

1. California Proposition 19, Personal Use of Marijuana Initiative (1972)

See also

• History of marijuana on the ballot
• Marijuana laws and ballot measures in the United States
• Medical marijuana
• Local marijuana on the ballot
• Marijuana Policy Project
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Additional reading

• ProCon.org, "Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? Top Pro and Con Arguments"
• ProCon.org, "Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? Pro and Con Quotes"
• ProCon.org, "Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? Background of the Issue"
• ProCon.org, "Legal Recreational Marijuana States and DC"