Medical Marijuana Wins 7 of 7 U.S. Elections
Medical marijuana measures were on the ballot in six states and the District of Columbia, and won in all of them by substantial majorities. In two cases, legal maneuvers prevented the election results from taking effect. There were two other statewide votes to liberalize laws against non-medical use, and both of them won also.Varying medical marijuana measures were on the ballot in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Five won with majorities between 57% and 59% of the votes cast on the issue; in Oregon the majority was 55%. In Colorado, a state court invalidated the election.
In Washington D.C., Congress ordered the local government not to count the votes--possibly the first time in U.S. history that an election result has been kept secret. The votes were tabulated by machine, but the totals have not been released. The result is hardly in doubt; an exit poll estimated that 69% of the voters supported the measure, vs. 19% opposed and 12% not voting.
In California, medical marijuana was not on the ballot this year. But its archenemy, Republican Attorney General Dan Lungren, was defeated by a large margin in his race for governor. His deputy, running to replace him as attorney general, was also defeated.
