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Carlos Osorio / AP
Michigan voters on Tuesday approved a vote to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and two other states, Missouri and Utah, have approved marijuana laws for medical purposes. Voters in North Dakota did not participate, rejecting a move to legalize marijuana use for recreational purposes.
At present, 33 US states have legalized marijuana to some extent, and recreational pot use is now legal in 10 US states, like Washington, DC . However, owning, selling or using marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
On the eve of the November 6 vote, Michigan and North Dakota already had laws in place on marijuana for medical purposes. Utah and Missouri did not have far-reaching legislation, although Missouri eased the potential penalties for the first offenses.
Advocates of the legalization of marijuana have welcomed the news from Michigan, the first Midwestern state to have approved marijuana for recreational purposes. Supporters have called it proof that a wide variety of Americans want the country's marijuana laws to be changed.
"I think it's safe to say that federal laws need an update," said Steve Hawkins, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, in a statement. "We hope that the results of this election will inspire Congress to finally address the tension between federal and federal marijuana laws in our country."
Here is the vote count for Tuesday night, as reported by the election offices of each state at 9:30 am Wednesday (Wednesday):
- Michigan proposal 1: 55% in favor, 45% against
- Missouri Amendment 2: 65.5% for, 34.5% against
- Measure 3 North Dakota: 59.5% against, 40.5% in favor
- Utah Proposition 2: 53% in favor, 47% against
"Michigan residents over the age of 21 will soon be able to buy, own, use and grow marijuana," Michigan Radio member station reported, adding that Proponents 1 will now seek to erase related criminal records. cases of non-violent violence.
In Missouri, St. Louis Public Radio reports that Amendment 2 would impose a 4% tax on marijuana sales for medical purposes, the funds used to pay for the program. Any surplus would go to the state veterans commission. The station adds, "Essentially, there has been no opposition to the idea of marijuana for medical purposes."
Measure # 3 North Dakota would have required "the cancellation of all convictions related to marijuana," reports Prairie Public Broadcasting. But critics said it went too far. The North Dakota County Association objected to the measure, saying it did not limit the amount of marijuana that a person could cultivate. He also said that the state was still struggling to implement the 2016 measure that legalized medical use.
In Utah, Governor Gary Herbert and key legislators were already working to develop a marijuana bill for medical purposes similar to Proposition 2, with the intention of adopting it independently of result of Tuesday's vote, reports Utah Public Radio. Those who support the medical use approval plan include the Mormon Church.
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