[ad_1]
In many states, voters decide to take mbadive voting action today, and the results of many congressional and governorship races could have far-reaching consequences for cannabis policy.
Stay tuned here with Marijuana Moment all day to receive live updates – in reverse chronological order, with the hours listed in ET – on all the latest news regarding Marijuana in Elections . And Follow us on twitter for even more granular updates as polling day unfolds and votes are counted.
4:10 p.m.
There is growing evidence that voter turnout in Utah, where cannabis for medical purposes is mentioned, is particularly strong in this election. The state election office told journalist Ben Winslow that the voter turnout was over 50 percent, which equates to about 725,000 ballots. This means that the participation rate by mail is higher than the total participation rate in 2014 (557,973 ballot papers) and in 2010 (653,274 ballots).
WOW! I've been told by @ElectionsUtah the rate of participation in postal ballots is now close to 52%. That's about 725,000 ballots returned across the state! This is more than the total voter turnout in 2014 (46.25%, 577,973) and in 2010 (51.55%, 653,274) !!! #utpol # Midterms2018 #Election day pic.twitter.com/skbkOvDkMZ
– Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) November 6, 2018
Long queues to vote are observed at the Salt Lake County Government Center and in a Utah County courthouse, where waiting time would hover around three hours.
Salt Lake County Government Center and #vote the line is outside! It's great! ??? #utpol pic.twitter.com/suz9imJsMy
– Daisy Thomas (@DaisyGThomas) November 6, 2018
According to this voter's Facebook message, Utah County is still fighting for the vote. #utpol pic.twitter.com/YmZP6UvEGD
– #VoteGehrke (@RobertGehrke) November 6, 2018
3:50 p.m.
Here is an overview of some of the pro and anti-legalization ads this has covered the airwaves in recent weeks in states with marijuana measures on the ballot.
Watch more marijuana campaign ads right here.
3:40 p.m.
The former Michigan Police Bureau, Howard Wooldridge, who is now advocating for a policy reform of cannabis and drugs in Washington with the Citizens Opposing Prohibition Group, is on the ground in his former state and told the Marijuana Moment that he had a good feeling about the vote on the legalization of marijuana. measured.
"My thoughts of the streets of [Michigan]… looks a lot like [Colorado] in 2012, "he said in an email. "This, plus the polls are very stable for 9 months … I am very pleased that Prop One pbades, the largest share of the credit going to MI activists in the last 10 years + the last 10 months."
Detroit News reporter Jonathan Oosting is also on the ground in Michigan. He asked the voters which candidates or questions motivated them to go to the polls and wrote that he "heard a lot about Proposal 1 for the legalization of marijuana, from both supporters and opponents".
I usually interview startexit asking voters if a particular candidate or question has motivated them for this election. I hear a lot about the legalization of marijuana, proposal 1, from both supporters and opponents
– Jonathan Oosting (@jonathanoosting) November 6, 2018
2:35 p.m.
Voter turnout is on the rise in North Dakota, where the legalization of marijuana is on the ballot.
According to the Secretary of State's office, more than 144,000 people cast their ballots at the start of the mid-term elections, a number that surpbaded two previous presidential elections in 2012 and 2016.
According to the Office of the Secretary of State, more than 144,000 North Dakota have stood for advance polls. But people were still queuing at the polls Tuesday morning. #YourElectionLeader https://t.co/pckJGpwLNT
– KFYR-TV (@KFYRTV) November 6, 2018
According to reports from local journalists, voter turnout also seemed robust. A journalist, quoted by a Republican election observer, said the legalization measure itself resulted in "high participation".
A republican election observer in Bismarck said that there was a strong participation around the state. He said that measure 3 drove a lot. #ndpol
– John Hageman (@jhageman_) November 6, 2018
And columnist Rob Port, who predicted this morning on his blog that voters would approve legal cannabis, also documented his polling station.
Closing line of voting in the auditorium, here in Minot. Move quickly though. #NDPol #NDSen pic.twitter.com/KObu0gI9Ie
– Rob Port (@robport) November 6, 2018
2:20 p.m.
Here is an overview of the current voting language of cannabis initiatives that voters in seven states will decide today.
Trivia: Electors Racine, Wisconsin, Will See six separate marijuana measures on their ballots today because the city and county have each approved three non-binding questions about cannabis.
2:00 p.m.
Voter turnout in Utah is exceptionally high. A Salt Lake Tribune columnist predicted that at this rate 800,000 people would vote in this election. This would represent a 39% increase over the 2014 elections.
These voting numbers are remarkable. I must think that the top / bottom at this stage is 800k voters. That would be a 39% increase over the mid-term in 2014. Let them unpack a little … #utpol pic.twitter.com/zCIuJalDF8
– #VoteGehrke (@RobertGehrke) November 6, 2018
A high turnout and an increase in the number of newly registered voters participating in the elections could help boost the measure of cannabis for medical purposes in Utah.
I should have mentioned another … Prop 2!
A truly high turnout + many voters for the first time bodes well for the fate of the medical marijuana voting initiative and possibly other initiatives.
– #VoteGehrke (@RobertGehrke) November 6, 2018
But even if Proposal 2 failed, advocates and opponents had reached a compromise earlier this year that effectively ensured that patients in Utah would have access to cannabis for medical purposes later. Legislators are working on a bill to achieve this goal, and an updated bill was released Monday.
Some news on the medical cannabis front. In recent weeks, lawyers and legislators have continued to refine the bill released in early October and released the latest draft last night. Here's what they've changed: https: //t.co/1hPV2W8EMl
– Bethany Rodgers (@BethRodgersSLT) November 6, 2018
Although much of the wording of the original project has remained intact, the new draft contains a provision that would have required the criminal background checks of patients and increased protection for pharmacists and physicians involved in the distribution of cannabis.
1:20 p.m.
Michigan residents should not be dissuaded from voting if they see reports of blackouts caused by high winds at their polling place, a spokesman for the Michigan Secretary of State told MLive. Tabulators have backup batteries and poll workers must be prepared in the event of a breakdown.
Power cuts should not stop Michigan voters from going to the polls https://t.co/sSiy5qD4bi
– The Flint Journal (@flintjournal) November 6, 2018
It is not necessary to recall this fact in Lansing, Michigan, where several constituencies report a high turnout despite bad weather.
Several constituencies around the Lansing area report good turnout. https://t.co/ysgp0XMtNh via @HaleHansen #Election day
– Matt Mencarini (@MattMencarini) November 6, 2018
I am now at the Shaarey Zedek congregation in East Lansing. At 10:30, 277 people voted. pic.twitter.com/1GG4S2AEtb
– Haley Hansen (@HaleHansen) November 6, 2018
That said, other constituencies, particularly those in Detroit, are experiencing problems with voting machines that have left voters waiting in "seemingly endless lines".
Voters are blocked, rejected by faulty machines https://t.co/6rliULuvcy
– Detroit Free Press (@freep) November 6, 2018
12:20
Hello, California! It's time to vote. State, there is 78 jurisdictions – 10 counties and 68 cities – voted on a total of 94 voting measures regarding marijuana tax rates and licensing to cannabis-producing businesses.
12:00
Enthusiastic cannabis celebrities urge their supporters to go to the polls.
Vote Green today! More information @Cannabis_Voter Project, https://t.co/7hvC3zOdOn @ NickHexum @pnut pic.twitter.com/xJh6rIjbDx
– 311 (@ 311) November 6, 2018
#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?#GoVote ✊?
– Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) November 6, 2018
Vote today please !!!!
– Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) November 6, 2018
11:50
Marijuana Moment conducted a final pre-election review of campaign funding reports for and against cannabis voting measures. We found that the opposition was pushing the advocates of marijuana reform almost everywhere.
Read our full report here.
11:40
Missouri voters are going to the polls in seemingly record numbers this morning, but not smoothly. A voting machine broke down at the Lee Summit City Hall, while others went to the Fritz at Don Bosco Seniors Center. In addition, election observers reportedly received complaints that election officials from different parts of the state "would falsely tell electors that they must show a photo ID."
No more probing problems that we report now. The machines do not work in the polling stations of Lee's Summit and Excelsior Springs. An elector told me that she was "furious". One Clay County poll worker joked that the paper ballots were being sent to a shredder. https://t.co/AObAfFXfm9
– Ian Cummings (@Ian__Cummings) November 6, 2018
In addition, at least five polling stations in St. Louis "are inaccessible to people with disabilities," wrote Post-Dispatch reporter for St. Louis, Blyth Bernhard. This could be particularly painful for disabled patients who wish to vote on any of the cannabis measures on the ballot.
At least five polling stations in the city of Saint-Louis are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Anyone can request a vote at the Missouri polls. The staff of the polling station will appear before you: https://t.co/wjTZ9oCjNG #CripTheVote
– Blythe Bernhard (@blythebernhard) November 5, 2018
The good news is that, in all respects, there are many voters.
I am at the Boone Regional Library and election officials say this has been one of the highest voter turnout rates. An election official said they had not had any downtime since opening offices this morning. @KOMUnews pic.twitter.com/GWBEMWXpGZ
– Caitlin McCarthy (@McCarthyCaitlin) November 6, 2018
Participation rate in Boone at 9h: 18.6%.
Distribution of voting places on https://t.co/MpF3mq5q9T
– Boone County Clerk (@bocomoclerk) November 6, 2018
The line continues even after 9 am in one of the most progressive suburbs of St. Louis County, Olivette. I have not seen such lines since 2008. pic.twitter.com/LyZ6c6fSEU
– Jeff Smith (@JeffSmithMO) November 6, 2018
11:00
Kevin Sabet, chairman of the Smart Approaches to Marijuana group of prohibitionists, has already indicated that he is anticipating at least some defeats after the group has spent millions of dollars to fund anti-legalization campaigns in states where marijuana was on the agenda. In a tweet, he writes that success "does not depend on voting, voting, a fleeting day".
Our success is not a vote, a vote, a short-lived day.
Our success depends on the strength of our ideas, our principles and our sincere willingness to help everyone and everyone. #PeopleOverProfits.
This fight. Never. Ends.@handpmichigan @HPNorthDakota @learnaboutsam
– Kevin Sabet (@KevinSabet) November 6, 2018
No matter what happens tonight, I'm so proud of our diverse teams in Michigan and North Dakota. We have been in the polls since the first day and we have been totally counted. But we fought to … build unprecedented coalitions … and no matter what we hang up. So much work to do!
– Kevin Sabet (@KevinSabet) November 6, 2018
Similarly, Sabet downplayed the importance of a "yes" vote for California's 2016 measure of legalization of adult use in California, four days before polling day.
Most of them already think that the pot is legal in California – in British Columbia this has been pretty much equal to anyone1 with a headache for 4 years. Tuesday will be interesting and will not change life
– Kevin Sabet (@KevinSabet) November 5, 2016
9:00
Polling stations have just opened in Utah, where voters will see a measure of medical marijuana on their ballots.
8:45
Local journalists report that electricity is being cut in parts of Michigan as a result of high winds and that power will not be restored until later this afternoon.
724 customers without electricity on Lansing, according to @BWLComm breakdown card. Estimate the restoration: 2:30 pm … You do not know how many speakers have been affected nor does it mean for electronic voting machines. pic.twitter.com/cydQUw1GHE
– Jonathan Oosting (@jonathanoosting) November 6, 2018
For what is worthwhile, the leaders of the local electricity company, DTE Energy, as well as its affiliates, have donated significant sums of money to the vote on the legalization of marijuana.
->@DTE_Energyput 2,000 workers on hold, including 900 linemen, in the event of a power outage at the polls due to high winds. In the event of a breakdown, the utility company has 100 gas-powered generators to power the exchanges. https://t.co/odjceMC1mT
– Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) November 6, 2018
8:05
Jack Cardetti, spokesman for New Approach Missouri, issued a statement on polling day asking voters to support the measurement of cannabis for medical purposes in his group against another competing campaign, which he described as "egocentric and absurd".
"Today is a great day for Missouri patients and veterans. Voters finally have the opportunity to decide whether Missouri will become the 31st state to allow doctors to recommend marijuana for medical purposes to patients and veterans with serious and debilitating illnesses.
We believe that Missouri voters are ready to offer this safe and compbadionate option to patients who are suffering through Amendment 2.
We also believe that Missourians will reject Amendment 3, Brad Bradshaw's selfish and absurd attempt to become the medical marijuana czar of Missouri. Missouri patients and veterans deserve a common sense medical marijuana law designed for them and not for their personal benefit.
We are confident that Missouri will today adopt Amendment 2 to help patients and veterans and give it more votes than Amendment 3.
8:00
Polls just opened in most of North Dakota, where voters will have the opportunity to vote measure of legalization of marijuana.
The people of Wisconsin can now go to their booths, where counties and cities representing about half of the state's population will have Non-binding cannabis issues on the ballot.
7:00
Polling stations are now open in most of Michigan, where voters will decide the state must be the next to legalize marijuana.
Election Day has also just started in Missouri, where you will find three separate medical cannabis measures on the ballot.
6:30 AM IN THE MORNING
The day of the elections for marijuana officially began! Voters in Ohio can now go to the polls, while voters in six cities have the chance to approve measures of decriminalization of cannabis.
Photo courtesy of Jurbadic Blueberries.
If you want to stay informed of the latest news on cannabis, please start with a monthly promise from Patreon to support Marijuana Moment!
[ad_2]
Source link
