(NEXSTAR) — Tuesday looked to be a potentially big day for cannabis advocates, with voters in four states — Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota — responding to legalization measures on their ballots.
Nearly half the country has already legalized medical cannabis, recreational marijuana or both as of 2024.
Voters in Florida rejected an effort that would have added their state to that list.
The amendment would have allowed adults 21 years old and older to use and possess marijuana for non-medical purposes, Nexstar's WFLA reports. While it received a majority support with nearly 56% voting in favor of the measure, it failed to reach the necessary 60% threshold it needed to pass.
The measure was opposed by the Florida Republican Party and Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said it would reduce the quality of life by leaving a marijuana stench in the air.
Voters in South Dakota have also seemingly rejected a measure to legalize recreational marijuana in the state for a third time.
In 2020, voters approved marijuana legalization, but the legality of the measure was challenged by the head of the state's highway patrol, Nexstar's KELO previously reported. The South Dakota Supreme Court ultimately ruled against the measure.
As of early Wednesday morning, with 90% of precincts reporting in the state, only 43.6% had voted in favor of the measure passing.
North Dakota voters were also asked for a third time about legalizing recreational marijuana. According to Nexstar's KXMB, Measure 5 would make it legal for adults 21 years old and older to produce, process, sell and use cannabis in North Dakota while establishing a state body to regulate it.
Like South Dakota, voters in North Dakota rejected the legalization effort: 52.5% voted against Measure 5, according to the Associated Press.
North Dakota and South Dakota have already approved medical marijuana.
The lone victory for legalization advocates came in Nebraska, where voters approved two measures that legalize medical marijuana and regulate the industry. Despite passing easily — nearly 71% voted in favor of legalization, while almost 67% voted in favor of establishing a commission to regulate the industry, according to the AP — local outlets reported it could face legal challenges.
For the legalization efforts to get on the ballot, advocates had to collect over 230,000 signatures, WOWT reports. A judge in Lancaster County, however, has yet to rule on whether some of those signatures were tainted. Should roughly 3,500 signatures be discredited, the results of Tuesday's election could be voided.
Nebraska's election results are set to be certified on Dec. 2.
Nationally, the federal process of rescheduling marijuana as a less dangerous drug continues.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
