Legalization on the 2024 Ballot: Cannabis and Psychedelic Election Results

Across the U.S., legalization was on the ballot. Dive into the election results and learn which states legalized cannabis and psychedelics.

We’re hot off election day, and there’s room for celebration. While not all legalization measures passed, voters made their voices heard, and the United States officially has one more state with medicinal cannabis. 

Read on and learn about the 2024 election results and discover which state has taken a pivotal step forward in legalization.

Nebraska Legalizes Medical Cannabis

With voters approving Measure 437 and Measure 438, Nebraska has become the next U.S. state with legal medical cannabis.

Measure 437¹ legalizes the use, possession, and sale of cannabis for medical purposes. No more than five ounces can be acquired, and it can only be obtained with the written recommendation of a healthcare provider. Measure 438, on the other hand, legalizes the possession, manufacturing, distribution, delivery, and dispensing of cannabis by registered private entities. Additionally, it establishes the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission for regulatory purposes.

While this is exciting news, it’s important to note that the results may not be final. Nebraska Public Media² explains, “Currently, the legality of these ballot initiatives is being questioned in a trial that will be decided after the election. While the two initiatives are on the ballot, and can be voted into law, the post-election results of this trial may negate what is voted for on election day.”

Oregon’s Evolving Psilocybin Landscape

Oregon voters approved psilocybin therapy in 2020. While the more recent Oregon Psilocybin Regulation Initiative didn’t meet the requirements for being on the November ballot, that doesn’t mean Oregon’s psilocybin landscape isn’t still evolving. 

The initiative would have expanded access to psychedelic therapies by legalizing the personal possession, use, and cultivation of mushrooms containing psilocybin for adults 21 and older. Instead, voters from 16 cities and unincorporated Clackamas Country had an opportunity to vote for anti-psilocybin ballot measures. 

Currently, psilocybin can only be bought and used at state-licensed clinics under the supervision of a facilitator. While that will still be legal in some areas, others voted to ban psilocybin businesses, either permanently or temporarily. While votes are still being verified, so far, bans against psilocybin businesses³ have passed in the following cities:

• Brookings
• Rogue River
• Sutherlin
• Redmond
• Lebanon
• Jefferson
• Sheridan
• Amity
• Hubbard
• Mount Angel
• Estacada
• Oregon City
• Lake Oswego
• Seaside
• Warrenton
• Redmond (two-year moratorium)

Abstrax Tech | Promoting Responsible, Data-Informed Policies

At Abstrax Tech, we’ve accumulated, arguably, the most complex database of information on the chemistry of cannabis. We conduct peer-reviewed research, we develop one-of-a-kind instrumentation, we’ve built the world’s largest hydrocarbon extractor, and we’re the first terpene supplier awarded SQF Food Safety in Food Manufacturing and Quality. 

More importantly, we share our research and information freely in the hopes that it will strengthen the cannabis industry and be used to create responsible, data-informed policies.

The legal cannabis industry is young, growing rapidly, and still maintains a Schedule I status under the Controlled Substances Act. While the progress from this election is commendable, we won’t see the full potential of this industry until federal regulations change.

Join us in our commitment to a data-informed cannabis industry that promotes excellence in product formulations, ethical business practices, and consumer safety.

1. nebraska.gov. (n.d.). PROPOSED AMENDMENTS & INITIATIVES, SAMPLE BALLOT. https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/2024/Sample_Ballots/General/English-Ballot-Measures.pdf
2. Question 6: Initiated measure 29: Recreational Marijuana (2024 Voter Guide). South Dakota Searchlight. (2024, September 27). https://southdakotasearchlight.com/ballot-measures/initiated-measure-29-recreational-marijuana/
3. Botkin, B. (2024, November 6). More than a dozen Oregon communities vote to ban psilocybin businesses. Salem Reporter. https://www.salemreporter.com/2024/11/06/more-than-a-dozen-oregon-communities-vote-to-ban-psilocybin-businesses/