Voters across the nation last week dealt a decisive blow to the reckless movement to legalize and normalize drugs. In blue and red states, voters rejected these industry-backed proposals, favoring policies that prioritize public health and safety. The mandate is clear: To treat the drug crisis, we should invest in prevention and increase access to treatment, not increase access to drugs.
In Florida, residents rejected Amendment 3, which would have legalized recreational marijuana and opened the floodgates for the marijuana industry to increase its influence throughout the South. The defeat of this ballot measure sent shock waves throughout the country, given that the industry spent more than $150 million supporting its passage in the Sunshine State.
In North Dakota and South Dakota, majorities of voters stood up for the third and second consecutive cycle, respectively, against industry-backed proposals to legalize marijuana. In South Dakota, in particular, the ballot measure was even less popular in 2024 than it was in 2022. It is clear conservative voters do not want more drug dealing in their neighborhoods.
People across America are waking up to the harms of marijuana — and the crony capitalism of the Big Tobacco-backed marijuana industry. Today’s marijuana is totally different than the “Woodstock weed” of the 1960s. The average potency of marijuana products has quadrupled over the past two decades. The industry also has brand-new, more dangerous products such as vapes and dabs that are up to 99% THC.
As a result, news of the disaster marijuana legalization has inflicted on states such as California and New York is spreading far and wide. Voters are learning about everything from skyrocketing rates of marijuana addiction to increases in anxiety, depression, and psychosis caused by these new THC drugs. What’s more, many more people in legal states are driving stoned, which has led to giant increases in traffic deaths. Children are also being sent to the hospital because of the industry’s latest products, which include marijuana-infused candies, chips, and drinks.
This was probably on parents’ minds as they voted in droves against legalization. In hundreds of communities in legal states across the country, students at elementary schools and middle schools are accidentally bringing THC-laced gummy bears to class and sending their peers to hospitals. Big Marijuana, meanwhile, continues to deal these drugs.
As marijuana has hit a wall of voter backlash, the industry and its allies have launched the next phase of their plan to legalize all drugs in America: promoting psychedelics, the new “wonder drugs.” This trend began in Oregon in 2020 and made its way to my home state of Colorado in 2022. As with marijuana, none of the psychedelics that are being voted on have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat any mental health conditions — or any conditions at all.
This year, psychedelic activists moved to Massachusetts, trying to put roots down on the East Coast. In one of the bluest states in the nation, more than 57% of residents voted against increasing access to psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline, ibogaine, and DMT. The public does not well understand these substances, and the science shows the possibility for long-term mental and physical harm from their use. This raises the question: If we have never heard of these mind-altering drugs and do not even know how to pronounce them, why are we voting on them?
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In addition to rejecting proposals that would have harmed public health and safety, voters supported plans to promote health and recovery. In California, an overwhelming 70% majority of voters supported a ballot measure that would increase access to treatment for those struggling with addiction. Rather than allowing them to continue using drugs indefinitely, the measure will divert repeat offenders to a court-ordered treatment program, helping them to get the help they need and deserve. Upon completing this treatment program, offenders will have their charges dismissed.
Altogether, these outcomes represent one the most successful nights in the history of the movement to oppose the legalization and normalization of recreational drug use. The mandate for this new administration and Congress is clear. We need prevention, treatment, and recovery services. And we need to reject drug legalization.
Luke Niforatos is the executive vice president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions.
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