Voters in Maryland and Missouri approved ballot measures Tuesday to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use.
Similar measures were defeated in Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Maryland Question 4 was referred to the ballot by the Legislature, while Missouri Amendment 3 was placed on the ballot via citizen initiative.
Both measures make possession of limited amounts of cannabis legal for adults 21 and older and authorize the regulated production and sale of cannabis for adult use.
Adult-use legalization laws have now been adopted in 21 states, D.C., and two U.S. territories, while an additional 16 states and two territories have legalized cannabis for medical use.
VS Strategies is a national policy and public affairs firm based in Denver specializing in cannabis and drug policy. A VS Strategies spokesperson says, “Support for ending marijuana prohibition in the states is spreading much like it did at the end of alcohol prohibition.”