Five States Have Recreational Marijuana on the Ballot

Recreational marijuana is on the ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota in the 2022 midterm elections. 19 states and DC have legalized recreational marijuana since 2012.

Arkansas: Issue 4 is a constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana possession of up to one ounce for adults 21 and up. A 10% sales tax would be imposed and the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division would be required to develop regulations for marijuana businesses.

Maryland: Question 4 is a constitutional amendment that would legalize marijuana possession for adults 21 and up as of July 2023. The Maryland State Legislation would be tasked with passing “laws for the use, distribution, regulation, and taxation of marijuana.” Question 4 began as House Bill 1 (HB 1) on January 12, 2022. The legislation passed both houses and then was referred to the voters for the Nov. 2022 election.

Missouri: Amendment 3 is a constitutional amendment that would “legalize the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one.” People with some marijuana offenses would be able to “petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged.” And the state would impose a 6% sales tax. 

North Dakota: Statutory Measure 2 is a state statute that would legalize marijuana use and possession of up to one ounce for adults 21 and up. Adults could also grow up to three marijuana plants. The Department of Health and Human Services would be tasked with creating regulations by Oct. 1, 2023. In 2018, North Dakota voters rejected recreational marijuana legalization via Measure 3. 

South Dakota: Initiated Measure 27 (Marijuana Legalization Initiative) is a state statute that would legalize “the possession, distribution, and use of marijuana for persons who are at least 21 years old.” South Dakota voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2020 via Amendment A, however, the amendment was overturned by the state Supreme Court in Feb. 2022.

Each of the five states has already legalized medical marijuana.

Discussion Questions

1. Should states legalize marijuana for adult use? Why or why not?

2. Should the federal government legalize marijuana for adult and/or medical use? Why or why not?

3. Should other currently illegal drugs be legalized? Explain your answer(s).

Sources

Ballotpedia, “Arkansas Issue 4, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2022)

Ballotpedia, “Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2022)

Ballotpedia, “Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2022)

Ballotpedia, “North Dakota Statutory Measure 2, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2022)

Ballotpedia, “South Dakota Initiated Measure 27, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2022)