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Get ready to vote for legal cannabis! Get a sneak peak at all the ballots before you walk in! All information is taken from a great site called Ballotpedia, which you can check out by clicking here.

Massachusetts

The proposed law would permit the possession, use, distribution, and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts by persons age 21 and older and would remove criminal penalties for such activities. It would provide for the regulation of commerce in marijuana, marijuana accessories, and marijuana products and for the taxation of proceeds from sales of these items.

The proposed law would authorize persons at least 21 years old to possess up to one ounce of marijuana outside of their residences; possess up to ten ounces of marijuana inside their residences; grow up to six marijuana plants in their residences; give one ounce or less of marijuana to a person at least 21 years old without payment; possess, produce or transfer hemp; or make or transfer items related to marijuana use, storage, cultivation, or processing.

The measure would create a Cannabis Control Commission of three members appointed by the state Treasurer which would generally administer the law governing marijuana use and distribution, promulgate regulations, and be responsible for the licensing of marijuana commercial establishments. The proposed law would also create a Cannabis Advisory Board of fifteen members appointed by the Governor. The Cannabis Control Commission would adopt regulations governing licensing qualifications; security; record keeping; health and safety standards; packaging and labeling; testing; advertising and displays; required inspections; and such other matters as the Commission considers appropriate. The records of the Commission would be public records.

The proposed law would authorize cities and towns to adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of operating marijuana businesses and to limit the number of marijuana establishments in their communities. A city or town could hold a local vote to determine whether to permit the selling of marijuana and marijuana products for consumption on the premises at commercial establishments.

The proceeds of retail sales of marijuana and marijuana products would be subject to the state sales tax and an additional excise tax of 3.75%. A city or town could impose a separate tax of up to 2%. Revenue received from the additional state excise tax or from license application fees and civil penalties for violations of this law would be deposited in a Marijuana Regulation Fund and would be used subject to appropriation for administration of the proposed law. Marijuana-related activities authorized under this proposed law could not be a basis for adverse orders in child welfare cases absent clear and convincing evidence that such activities had created an unreasonable danger to the safety of a minor child. The proposed law would not affect existing law regarding medical marijuana treatment centers or the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence. It would permit property owners to prohibit the use, sale, or production of marijuana on their premises (with an exception that landlords cannot prohibit consumption by tenants of marijuana by means other than by smoking); and would permit employers to prohibit the consumption of marijuana by employees in the workplace. State and local governments could continue to restrict uses in public buildings or at or near schools. Supplying marijuana to persons under age 21 would be unlawful.

The proposed law would take effect on December 15, 2016.[3]

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Maine

This initiated bill allows the possession and use of marijuana by a person 21 years of age or older. It provides for the licensure of retail marijuana facilities including retail marijuana cultivation facilities, retail marijuana products manufacturing facilities, retail marijuana testing facilities and retail marijuana stores. It also provides for the licensure of retail marijuana social clubs where retail marijuana products may be sold to consumers for consumption on the licensed premises. It provides for regulation and control of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of marijuana by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. It allows the department to establish limitations on retail marijuana cultivation. It allows a municipality to regulate the number of retail marijuana stores and the location and operation of retail marijuana establishments and to prohibit the operation of retail marijuana establishments in the municipality. It also allows a municipality to require separate local licensing of retail marijuana establishments.

The initiated bill allows a person 21 years of age or older to use, possess or transport marijuana accessories and up to 2 1/2 ounces of prepared marijuana; transfer or furnish, without remuneration, up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana and up to 6 immature plants or seedlings to a person who is 21 years of age or older; possess, grow, cultivate, process or transport up to 6 flowering marijuana plants, 12 immature marijuana plants and unlimited seedlings, and possess all the marijuana produced by the marijuana plants at that person's residence; purchase up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana and marijuana accessories from a retail marijuana store; and purchase up to 12 marijuana seedlings or immature marijuana plants from a retail marijuana cultivator. It allows the home cultivation of marijuana for personal use of up to 6 flowering marijuana plants by a person 21 years of age or older.

The initiated bill allows a person to consume marijuana in a nonpublic place including a private residence. It provides that the prohibitions and limitations on smoking tobacco products in specified areas as provided by law apply to smoking marijuana and that a person who smokes marijuana in a public place other than as governed by law commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $100 may be adjudged.

The initiated bill places a sales tax of 10% on retail marijuana and retail marijuana products.[10]

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California

Ballot summary

The long-form ballot summary is as follows:[9]

“

Legalizes marijuana under state law, for use by adults 21 or older.
Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry.
Imposes state excise tax of 15% on retail sales of marijuana, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves.
Exempts medical marijuana from some taxation.
Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products.
Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana directly to minors.
Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions. [16]

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The shorter ballot label summary is as follows:[9]

“

Legalizes marijuana under state law, for use by adults 21 or older. Imposes state taxes on sales and cultivation. Provides for industry licensing and establishes standards for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation. Fiscal Impact: Additional tax revenues ranging from high hundreds of millions of dollars to over $1 billion annually, mostly dedicated to specific purposes. Reduced criminal justice costs of tens of millions of dollars annually.[16]

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Petition summary

The long-form, official ballot summary for Proposition 64 was changed from the initial summary provided to initiative proponents for the purpose of circulating the initiative for signature collection. The original summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets was:[15]

“

Legalizes marijuana and hemp under state law. Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry. Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15% of sales price, and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana from some taxation. Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising, and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors. Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions.[16]

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Arizona

“

ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO POSSESS, GROW AND PURCHASE MARIJUANA FROM STATE-LICENSED FACILITIES FOR PERSONAL USE.

A “yes” vote shall have the effect of permitting individuals 21 years and older to privately use, possess, manufacture, give away, or transport up to 1 ounce of marijuana and grow up to 6 marijuana plants at the individual’s residence; generally declaring violations of the Act (including public use) a petty offense punishable by no more than a $300 fine; creating the Department of Marijuana Licenses and Control, which includes a 7-member Marijuana Commission appointed by the Governor, to regulate and license entities involved in cultivating, manufacturing, distributing, selling, and testing marijuana products; granting local jurisdictions limited authority to enact ordinances and rules to regulate marijuana and marijuana products; establishing licensing fees for marijuana establishments and levying a 15% tax on all marijuana and marijuana products; and declaring all marijuana establishment contracts enforceable notwithstanding any conflict with federal law.

A “no” vote shall have the effect of retaining existing law, which prohibits individuals from using, possessing, growing or purchasing marijuana unless the individual is authorized by and doing so in compliance with the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.[5]

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Ballot summary

The ballot summary is as follows:[3]

“

The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act: (1) establishes a 15% tax on retail marijuana sales, from which the revenue will be allocated to public health and education; (2) allows adults twenty-one years of age and older to possess and to privately consume and grow limited amounts of marijuana; (3) creates a system in which licensed businesses can produce and sell marijuana; (4) establishes a Department of Marijuana Licenses and Control to regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, transportation, and sale of marijuana; and (5) provides local governments with the authority to regulate and limit marijuana businesses.[5]

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Nevada

EXPLANATION—This ballot measure proposes to amend the Nevada Revised Statutes to make it lawful for a person 21 years of age or older to purchase and consume one ounce or less of marijuana other than concentrated marijuana, or one-eighth of an ounce or less of concentrated marijuana. It would also make it lawful for a person 21 years of age or older to cultivate not more than six marijuana plants for personal use, as well as obtain and use marijuana paraphernalia.

The ballot measure would also allow for the operation of marijuana establishments, which would be regulated by the Department of Taxation. Regulated marijuana establishments would include marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana testing facilities, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, marijuana distributors, and retail marijuana stores. For the first 18 months, the Department of Taxation would only accept license applications for retail marijuana stores, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, and marijuana cultivation facilities from persons holding a medical marijuana establishment registration certificate. Similarly, for the first 18 months, the Department of Taxation would only issue marijuana distributors’ licenses to persons holding a Nevada wholesale liquor dealers’ license, unless the Department determines an insufficient number of marijuana distributors would result from this limitation.

If the ballot measure is approved, no marijuana establishments would be allowed within 1,000 feet of a public or private K-12 school or 300 feet of a community facility. There would also be limits on the number of retail marijuana store licenses issued in each county by the Department of Taxation. In a county with a population greater than 700,000, up to 80 retail marijuana store licenses would be allowed; in a county with a population greater than 100,000 but less than 700,000, up to 20 retail marijuana store licenses would be allowed; in a county with a population greater than 55,000 but less than 100,000, up to 4 retail marijuana store licenses would be allowed; and in a county with a population less than 55,000, up to 2 retail marijuana store licenses would be allowed. At the request of a county government, the Department of Taxation may issue retail marijuana store licenses in excess of the number otherwise allowed.

In addition to licensing, the Department of Taxation would be charged with adopting regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this ballot measure. The regulations must address licensing procedures; licensee qualifications; security of marijuana establishments; testing, labeling, and packaging requirements; reasonable restrictions on advertising; and civil penalties for violating any regulation adopted by the Department.

Approval of the ballot measure would not prevent the imposition of civil or criminal penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana; knowingly selling or giving marijuana to a person under 21 years of age; possessing or using marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia in state correctional centers; possessing or using marijuana on school grounds; or undertaking any task under the influence of marijuana that constitutes negligence or professional malpractice. The measure would also not prevent employers from enforcing marijuana bans for their workers; marijuana bans in public buildings or on private property; and localities from adopting control measures pertaining to zoning and land use for marijuana establishments.

Under the provisions of the ballot measure, all applicants for a marijuana establishment license would be required to pay a one-time application fee of $5,000. Additionally, the Department of Taxation may require the payment of an annual licensing fee ranging from $3,300 to $30,000, depending on type of license. The measure would also impose a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale sales of marijuana in Nevada by a marijuana cultivation facility. Revenue from this excise tax, as well as revenue from licensing fees and penalties collected by the Department of Taxation related to the regulation of marijuana, would first go to the Department of Taxation and local governments to cover the costs of carrying out the provisions of this measure. Any remaining revenue would be deposited in the State Distributive School Account.

Lastly, this ballot measure would impose criminal penalties for certain violations related to the possession, use, sale, and cultivation of marijuana and marijuana plants. Criminal offenses would include violations of the marijuana cultivation laws set forth in the measure; public consumption of marijuana; a person falsely representing himself or herself to be 21 years of age or older in order to obtain marijuana; and knowingly giving marijuana to a person under 21 years of age.

A “Yes” vote would amend the Nevada Revised Statutes to allow a person, 21 years old or older, to purchase, cultivate, possess, or consume a certain amount of marijuana or concentrated marijuana, as well as manufacture, possess, use, transport, purchase, distribute, or sell marijuana paraphernalia; impose a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale sales of marijuana; require the regulation and licensing of marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, distributors, suppliers, and retailers; and provide for certain criminal penalties.

A “No” vote would retain the provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes in their current form. These provisions prohibit the possession, use, cultivation, and sale or delivery of marijuana in the State of Nevada for non-medical purposes, as well as the possession, use, sale, delivery, or manufacture of marijuana paraphernalia for non-medical purposes.[5]

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Florida

Ballot title

The title is as follows:[9][10]

“

Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions[11]

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Ballot summary

The ballot summary is as follows:[9][10]

“

Allows medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.[11]

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Financial impact statement

The financial impact statement for Amendment 2 is as follows:[10]

“

Increased costs from this amendment to state and local governments cannot be determined. There will be additional regulatory costs and enforcement activities associated with the production, sale, use and possession of medical marijuana. Fees may offset some of the regulatory costs. Sales tax will likely apply to most purchases, resulting in a substantial increase in state and local government revenues that cannot be determined precisely. The impact on property tax revenues cannot be determined.[11]

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