We are less than 20 weeks away from the 2016 election. While most people are focused on the race for president, here at HIGH TIMES we’re excited that fully one-fifth of the United States will be voting on either medical marijuana or legalization. Here’s the run-down:
Legalization for Adult Use
Maine – On the Ballot
Possession: Two-and-a-half ounces of usable marijuana and/or concentrate, infused in food & drink products or not.
Cultivation: Six mature cannabis plants, 12 immature plants, unlimited seedlings per adult, but landlords may ban.
Home Possession: The results of your harvest, but landlords may ban.
Protection: Employment, housing and child custody may not be affected by legal marijuana use.
Retail: Licensing favors existing medical marijuana operators, local bans by ordinance or vote.
Taxes: 10 percent point-of-sale excise tax.
Services: Marijuana social use clubs allowed, but delivery services are forbidden.
More info: Regulate Maine and The Russ Belville Show Notes.
Nevada – On the ballot
Possession: One ounce of marijuana, including up to seven grams of concentrate
Cultivation: Six mature cannabis plants, limit of 12 per household, but only if you live more than 25 miles from a retail marijuana shop.
Home Possession: The results of your harvest, but only if you live more than 25 miles from a retail marijuana shop.
Protection: None—you may still be fired, not hired, evicted, rejected for transplants or lose your child custody for legal marijuana use.
Retail: Licensing favors existing medical marijuana operators and existing liquor distributors, local zoning OK but not bans.
Taxes: 15 percent excise at the grow based on fair market value.
Services: Legislature may permit social use clubs, but delivery services are forbidden.
More info: The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and The Russ Belville Show Notes.
California – Likely on the ballot
Possession: One ounce of marijuana, including up to eight grams of concentrate.
Cultivation: Six mature cannabis plants per household.
Home Possession: The results of your harvest.
Protection: Child custody protection for medical marijuana patients only.
Retail: Licensing favors existing medical marijuana operators, local bans by ordinance until 2019, then only by vote.
Taxes: 15 percent excise at point of sale, $9.75 per ounce tax on marijuana.
Services: Localities may allow social use clubs, and marijuana delivery services are legal.
More info: The Adult Use of Marijuana Act and The Russ Belville Show Notes.
Arizona – Likely on the ballot
Possession: One ounce of marijuana, including up to five grams of concentrate.
Cultivation: Six mature cannabis plants per adult, limit of 12 per household.
Home Possession: The results of your harvest.
Protection: Child custody and organ transplants may not be denied to legal marijuana consumers.
Retail: Licensing favors existing medical marijuana operators for three months, local ordinances cannot prevent existing medical from becoming adult use, but can ban new adult use operators.
Taxes: 15 percent excise at point of sale.
Services: Social use clubs and delivery services may be addressed by legislature in 2020.
More info: The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and The Russ Belville Show Notes.
Massachusetts – Likely on the ballot
Possession: One ounce of marijuana, including up to five grams of concentrate.
Cultivation: Six mature cannabis plants per adult, limit of 12 per household.
Home Possession: Ten ounces and the results of your harvest.
Protection: Child custody and organ transplants may not be denied to legal marijuana consumers.
Retail: Licensing favors existing medical marijuana operators for until October 2018.
Taxes: 3.75 percent state tax and up to 2 percent local tax.
Services: Social use clubs may be licensed, but delivery services are forbidden.
More info: The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and The Russ Belville Show Notes.
Michigan – Unlikely, but possibly on the ballot if lawsuit turns out favorably
Possession: Two-and-a-half ounces of marijuana.
Cultivation: Twelve cannabis plants over 12 inches tall, unlimited plants under 12 inches.
Home Possession: The results of your harvest.
Protection: Education, child custody, health care, public assistance, organ transplant, firearms and ammunition, banking or financial services, and the right to vote or to serve on a jury may not be denied to legal marijuana consumers.
Retail: Locally-approved licensing that may be prohibited by local ordinance until June 1, 2017, and thereafter by initiative or referendum.
Taxes: 10 percent excise tax at the point-of-sale.
Services: Marijuana may be consumed on public or private property “as allowed by law,” making pot lounges possible with legislation.
More Info: MI Legalize.
Medical Marijuana Legalization
Florida – On the Ballot
Conditions: Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, other comparable conditions. All other regulation to be determined by the state regulatory agency.
More Info: United for Care.
Missouri – Likely on the Ballot
Conditions: Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, intractable migraines, chronic pain, seizure disorders (like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s), psychiatric disorders (like PTSD), HIV/AIDS, terminal illnesses and other conditions determined by a physician.
Possession: At least a 60-day supply.
Cultivation: At least a 90-day supply.
Protection: Organ transplants may not be denied.
Taxes: 4 percent retail sales tax.
More Info: New Approach Missouri.
Arkansas – Likely on the Ballot
Conditions: A very detailed list too long to reproduce here, but includes ALS, ADHD, anxiety, autism, glaucoma, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, restless leg syndrome, cachexia, pain, spasms and seizures.
Possession: 2.5 ounces.
Cultivation: Five mature plants and five immature plants, but only if patient lives more than 20 miles from a dispensary and has no criminal marijuana convictions and qualifies for a hardship exemption.
Protection: Reciprocity for out-of-state cards, protection for education, housing, employment, organ transplants and child custody.
Taxes: State and local taxes apply, but no special tax on medical marijuana.
More Info: Arkansans for Compassionate Care.
Montana – Three issues fighting for the Ballot
Marijuana Legalization: CI-115, an amendment to legalize adult use of marijuana, with details to be set by the legislature or the people.
Medical Marijuana Restoration: I-182, an initiative to repeal the restrictions placed on medical marijuana by the legislature in 2011, specifically repealing the limit of three patients per caregiver, the auditing of doctors who recommend more than 25 patients, and creates a retail system of dispensaries that may not be randomly inspected.
Marijuana Prohibition: I-176, an initiative to repeal medical marijuana and align Montana’s Schedule I drug laws with federal Schedule I drug laws.
(Photo by Lochfoot)
Thanks for the breakdown, Russ, you da man. Let’s hope more states pass adult use and home grow, especially California.