Election underscores voter shift in favor of marijuana legalization

An analysis of votes cast for marijuana ballot measures in 2020 shows that while voters remain divided over legalization based on political affiliation and geography, the overall electorate has shifted in favor of accepting both medical and adult-use cannabis.

The trend should help efforts in New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and other states looking to legalize in the coming years.

That, in turn, would offer cannabis entrepreneurs potentially billions of dollars in new business opportunities.

Arizona provides a great opportunity to look at the changing voter sentiment over the past four years.In November 2016, Arizona was the only state where a marijuana ballot initiative failed.

Fast-forward to the 2020 election on Nov. 3: Arizona shifted 11 points, with 60% voting overwhelmingly to pass the adult-use legalization measure, Proposition 207.

And while Arizona is often seen as a red-leaning state, its counties are divided between Democratic and Republican control.

Party affiliation didn’t seem to matter this year, however: All 15 counties shifted at least 9 percentage points in favor of legalization over the past four years.

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