The votes are coming in, and it’s time to see what 2024 means for cannabis lovers like you. From local measures to national policies, this year’s election could be a game-changer for anyone who believes in a little herbal freedom. Whether you’re in a state where weed’s still a bit of a gray area or you’re looking to see expanded rights and better pricing, this election’s outcomes could impact everything from where you buy to how much you’ll pay—and maybe even what you can grow at home.

So, what just happened? We’re breaking down the most important wins and losses in this year’s races, focusing on the stuff that’ll actually make a difference to the cannabis community. From legalization pushes to fresh tax laws, here’s what cannabis voters need to know about the new political landscape. Will 2024 finally be the year cannabis goes fully mainstream? Let’s dig in and see what the results mean for your stash, your rights, and your next dispensary visit.

Florida’s Amendment 3: Not currently passing

With 52% of ballots counted at the time of polls closing, Florida Amendment 3 is not meeting the 60% threshold to pass, according to cannabis news site Marijuana Moment. Amendment 3 is losing 55 to 45% in early returns.

South Dakota cannabis legalization: To be determined

Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for more on South Dakota legalization Measure 29.

North Dakota cannabis legalization: To be determined

Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for more on North Dakota legalization Measure 5.

Nebraska medical cannabis: To be determined

Polls are still closing across the country and we’ll have to wait until later tonight for for on Nebraska medical cannabis legalization Measure 437.

Oregon pot unions: Too early to tell

Polls close on the West Coast at 8 p.m. PST, after which we’ll have the first returns on Oregon Measure 119 to force pot businesses to obtain pro-union agreements from unions.

Massachusetts psychedelics legalization: To be determined.

Polls close on the East Coast at 8 p.m. EST, after which we’ll have more on the Massachusetts psychedelics legalization Question 4.

State and local races of note

Several state and local races will play a role in spreading cannabis freedom. Among them, Marijuana Moment is tracking three cities in Texas: Dallas, Bastrop, and Lockhart. Legalizing cannabis in cities can percolate up to bigger changes in state capitols.

President of the United States: To be determined

Both candidates have expressed support for legalization, either federally or at the state level. Then again, neither expended political capital to foment cannabis law reform during their prior tenure as President, or Vice-President.

Control of the Senate: To be determined

Despite promises from Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer—the US Senate has blocked cannabis law reform passed by the House. Neither party has passed legalization in the Senate when they held power over it. It’s unclear exactly how either party controlling the Senate would result in gains for cannabis voters.

Control of the House of Representatives: To be determined

Numerous flavors of cannabis law reform have passed out of the House under both Democrat and Republican control. But they’ve died in the Senate. The parties are split on legalization over things like taxes, banking, regulations, special treatment for certain groups, and other facets of winding down the war on weed.

After a drawn-out legal battle, Florida’s Supreme Court ruled on April 1st that a cannabis legalization measure known as Amendment 3 can appear on the state’s ballot this November. 

The decision comes four months after the court heard arguments regarding the constitutional amendment (and two years after the court rejected a similar adult-use measure). The legalization campaign is run by Smart & Safe Florida, which gathered over one million signatures to put it on the ballot. Florida’s Republican Attorney General, Ashley Moody, led the unsuccessful fight against it.

Florida could soon see a booming rec market. Over 22 million people call the state home, and it already boasts a gigantic medical marijuana industry. Last year, nearly 138 million tourists visited the state. Over 600 dispensaries in Florida serve nearly 900,000 patients. 

Although it remains to be seen whether 60% of the Sunshine State is to legalize weed (or whether the measure’s presence on the ballot will impact other races), there’s a lot we do know about Amendment 3. Read on to learn more about what the measure does and doesn’t cover, as well as the details on Florida’s medical program and current rates of marijuana arrests.

What’s in the Florida marijuana legalization amendment?

Amendment 3 only offers a handful of explicit directives. The measure sets possession limits at three ounces of flower, and up to five ounces of concentrates. The measure does not include language on homegrow, taxation or expungements of past offenses. Amendment 3 would enable existing dispensaries to sell to adults, and open the door for additional adult-use licenses down the road; the dispensary chain Trulieve, the largest in Florida, gave $39 million to the campaign. 

Legalization would take effect six months after voters approve Amendment 3.

The measure does not include language around public consumption, but its sponsors have made clear that they would support subsequent legislation banning public consumption.

How do I vote for legal weed in Florida?

Florida residents over the age of 18 must register to vote more than 29 days before Election Day, or will not be able to cast a ballot. 

Amendment 3 will need to garner 60% of the vote in order to enter into the state constitution.

What’s the latest on medical marijuana in Florida?

Florida has the largest medical marijuana program in the country: it serves nearly 900,000 patients in more than 600 shops. The measure originally passed with 71% of the vote in 2016. In 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill to allow patients to access smokable marijuana.

How big could the rec market get?

In the words of Florida’s most famous resident, huuuuuge. According to an estimate conducted by Florida officials last year, legal marijuana could net the state at least up to $431 million in annual tax revenue.

Would Amendment 3 keep lots of people out of jail?

Amendment 3 does not include any language around expunging past sentences, but would eliminate most marijuana-related arrests. According to NORML, in 2022, Florida arrested roughly 2,300 people for marijuana possession, and 200 more for selling marijuana.

Could the amendment’s presence on the ballot impact other races?

Some lawmakers and pundits have argued that the presence of the marijuana initiative—as well as an unrelated measure that enshrines access to abortion in the state constitution—could improve Democrats’ chances in other races.

“It’ll bring out younger voters of all kinds and more white, female voters, both groups which lean heavy Democratic,” Brad Coker, CEO and managing director of Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy, told USA Today.

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried struck a similar chord. “Having the ballot measures fundamentally shifts the demographics of who is targeted for turnout and who turns out,” she said. “We’re going to run on these issues that voters care about.”

Yet not everyone shares that optimism about the measure’s impact on the Presidential race. 

“If they start pumping massive money in here because head-to-head it looks close, I could see the constitutional amendments mattering,” conservative consultant Brett Doster, president of Front Line Strategies, told Bloomberg. “But [Democrats] are in really, really deep water right now.”