Editing Marijuana Policy Project (section)

== Ballot initiatives ==

===2016===

Nine states voted on ballot measures to roll back marijuana prohibition on November 8, 2016. The Marijuana Policy Project supported initiative campaigns to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol in Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada and was part of a coalition of groups that coordinated a ballot initiative campaign in California. MPP also provided assistance to initiative campaigns to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota. Montana voted on a measure to improve its existing medical marijuana law. All ballot measures were passed by voters except Arizona's Proposition 205.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.mpp.org/initiatives/|title=2016 Ballot Initiatives - MPP|first=Marijuana Policy|last=Project|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

===Alaska===

In November 2014, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska, a ballot initiative campaign backed by MPP, successfully passed Ballot Measure 2, making Alaska the fourth state to end marijuana prohibition and replace it with a system in which marijuana is taxed and regulated like alcohol.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/legal-pot/pot-polls-oregon-alaska-cast-pivotal-votes-legal-marijuana-n240291|title=Pot at the Polls: Oregon, Alaska Cast Pivotal Votes on Legal Marijuana - NBC News|website=[[NBC News]]|date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/24/us/alaska-marijuana/|title=Alaskans now OK to smoke marijuana |first=Greg |last=Botelho|date=February 24, 2015 |publisher=CNN|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

In 2004, MPP provided the majority of funding for an initiative to regulate marijuana in Alaska, which failed with 44% of the vote (but still set what was at the time the record for the largest vote to end marijuana prohibition in any state).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/1103-11.htm |title=At Least 17 of 20 Marijuana Initiatives Pass Montana Becomes 10th Medical Marijuana State |publisher=Common Dreams |date=November 3, 2004 |access-date=2012-06-07}}</ref>

===Arkansas===

In November 2012, MPP backed Issue 5, a medical marijuana initiative in Arkansas, which narrowly failed, receiving 48.5% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uatrav.com/2012/11/07/issue-5-goes-up-in-smoke-narrowly/|title=Issue 5 Goes Up in Smoke, Narrowly |work=The Arkansas Traveler|date= November 7, 2012|access-date=19 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216231911/http://www.uatrav.com/2012/11/07/issue-5-goes-up-in-smoke-narrowly/|archive-date=16 February 2013}}</ref>

===Arizona===

In November 2016, Proposition 205—a ballot initiative campaign backed by MPP—did not successfully pass a ballot initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adult use.<ref name="auto"/>

In November 2010, the Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project, a ballot initiative campaign backed by MPP, successfully passed a ballot initiative making the use and possession of medical marijuana legal and establishing approximately 120 non-profit dispensaries around the state. This made Arizona the 15th state to adopt a medical marijuana law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/14/arizona.medical.marijuana/index.html|title=Arizona voters approve medical marijuana measure|work= CNN Politics|date= November 14, 2010|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> In September 2013, the Marijuana Policy Project initiated a campaign to legalize marijuana in Arizona for recreational use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azmarijuana.com/arizona-medical-marijuana-news/mpp-attempting-legalize-marijuana-arizona/|title=MPP Attempting to Legalize Marijuana for Arizona Adults|website=azmarijuana.com|date=September 19, 2013|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

===California===

In November 2016, Proposition 64—a legalization initiative supported by MPP—successfully passed a ballot initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adult use.<ref name="auto"/>

===Colorado===

In November 2012, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, a ballot initiative campaign backed by MPP, successfully passed Amendment 64, making legal in Colorado the possession, use, production, distribution, and personal cultivation of marijuana. MPP also played a lead role in drafting and campaigning for the historic initiative.<ref>[http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/out-of-state-money-funded-push-to-pass-amendment-64-and-legalize-marijuana-in-colorado "Out-of-state money funded push to pass Amendment 64 and legalize marijuana in Colorado," ABC 7 News The Denver Channel, November 8, 2012.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529064352/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/out-of-state-money-funded-push-to-pass-amendment-64-and-legalize-marijuana-in-colorado |date=May 29, 2014 }}</ref>

===District of Columbia===

In November 2009, MPP successfully lobbied for the removal of the so-called "Barr Amendment" from the D.C. appropriations bill. MPP led the fight to end Congressional interference, which, for over 10 years, blocked the District of Columbia from implementing a medical marijuana initiative that passed with nearly 70% of the vote in 1998. MPP even retained the amendment's namesake, former Georgia Representative [[Bob Barr]], to lobby for the amendment's removal after he reversed his position in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/10/council-cautious-on-legal-marijuana/|title=D.C. officials cautious on legal marijuana|work=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> Following the removal of the amendment, MPP successfully lobbied the District Council to improve the language they were considering to implement the initiative and lobbied the executive branch for reasonable regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com/state-laws/district-of-columbia-065.html |title=District of Columbia: Council Approves Medical Cannabis Legislation |publisher=Medicalmarijuanablog.com |date=May 5, 2010 |access-date=2012-06-07}}</ref> The regulations went into effect on April 15, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcregs.org/Notice/NoticeListForPublic.aspx?type=Issue&CategoryName=Emergency%20and%20Proposed%20Rulemaking&IssueID=223 |title=Emergency and Third Proposed Rulemaking to Implement the Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1999 |publisher=D.C. Municipal Regulations and D.C. Register |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=2012-06-07}}</ref>

===Maine===

In November 2016, Question 1—a legalization initiative supported by MPP—successfully passed a ballot initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adult use.<ref name="auto"/>

===Massachusetts===

In November 2016, Question 4—a legalization initiative supported by MPP—successfully passed a ballot initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adult use.<ref name="auto"/>

In November 2008, MPP's ballot initiative to remove the threat of arrest and jail for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana passed overwhelmingly in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ballot-initiatives-states-decriminalize-pot-nix-abortion-limits|title=Ballot Initiatives: States decriminalize pot, nix abortion limits...|first=Lisa|last=Stein|website=[[Scientific American]]|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> The successful initiative—the first statewide decriminalization initiative ever—replaced the threat of arrest and jail with a $100 fine. The measure also eliminated criminal offender ([[Criminal Offender Record Information|CORI]]) reports as they pertain to arrests for simple marijuana possession, which, prior to the initiative, could have resulted in individuals being denied housing, jobs, or loans for college.

===Michigan===

Also in November 2008, 63% of Michigan voters passed a medical marijuana ballot initiative spearheaded by MPP"s campaign committee. The initiative—which received a majority of the vote in each of Michigan's 83 counties—permits terminally and seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana with their doctors' approval. Its passage made Michigan the 13th medical marijuana state and the first in the Midwest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.mlive.com/a2politics/2008/11/voters_say_yes_to_medical_mari.html|title=Voters say yes to medical marijuana|date=November 5, 2008|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

===Montana===

In November 2004, MPP funded and ran the campaign that succeeded in passing a statewide medical marijuana initiative in Montana with 62% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/4109.html|title="Montana votes for med-pot," Cannabis Culture Magazine, May 2, 2005.|access-date=19 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212114629/http://cannabisculture.com/v2/articles/4109.html|archive-date=12 December 2011}}</ref>

===Nevada===

In November 2016, Question 2—a legalization initiative supported by MPP—successfully passed a ballot initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana for adult use.<ref name="auto"/>

In November 2006, MPP's high-profile ballot initiative to tax and regulate marijuana in Nevada received 44% of the vote, tying with Alaska for the then all-time largest vote ever to end marijuana prohibition in a state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2006/nov/09/election_2006_initiatives_defeat|title=Election 2006: Initiatives Defeated in Colorado and Nevada, But Hundreds of Thousands Voted to Legalize Marijuana - StoptheDrugWar.org|website=stopthedrugwar.org|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> (That number was since surpassed in November 2010, when 46% of California voters supported [[California Proposition 19 (2010)|Proposition 19]], a ballot initiative to regulate, tax, and control marijuana in the state.)