California, Massachusetts, and Nevada Legalize Marijuana in Vote That Could Echo Nationally

According to a New York Times article on November 10, 2016, voters in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved legalized adult use of marijuana on Election Day, 2016. A similar measure in Maine was in the lead by less than 1 point with 98% of precincts reporting. With these additions, the percentage of Americans living in states where marijuana use is legal for adults rose to just above 20% from 5%. Leading up to the election, adult use was legal in four states, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia. In addition to these votes on adult use of marijuana, Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota have all passed medical marijuana initiatives. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia now have some sort of allowed use.