2020 Montana Initiative 190 Explained

Initiative 190
Montana Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative
Yes:341,037
No:258,337
Total:612,075
Electorate:752,538
Map:2020 Montana Initiative 190 results map by county.svg
Mapcaption:Results by county Yes No
Notes:Source: Montana Secretary of State

Montana I-190, the Montana Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative was a cannabis legalization initiative that appeared on the November 3, 2020 Montana general election ballot. Passing with 57% approval, the initiative legalized recreational marijuana in the state effective January 1, 2021. Along with Arizona, New Jersey and South Dakota, Montana was one of four states that legalized cannabis via ballot measures in the November 2020 election.

The sponsor of the initiative was New Approach Montana, in partnership with the Marijuana Policy Project.

History

Initiative I-190 (legislation) and matching constitutional amendment initiative were submitted by New Approach Montana to the Montana Secretary of State in January,[1] [2] and approved for signature gathering as of May 1, 2020.[3] Following a lawsuit and a declaration from the Montana Supreme Court, the Montana Secretary of State determined that mail-in voter signatures would be allowed for all initiatives without requiring notary seal,[4] [5] and starting May 9, the sponsors made a downloadable mail-in form available. On June 19, groups collecting voter signatures for the legalization initiative said they had submitted almost twice the minimum to the Secretary of State by the deadline.[6] The sponsors announced in July that they had reached the threshold for ballot inclusion, based on county-level voter certification.[7]

On August 13, the Montana Secretary of State announced it had qualified for the November ballot.[8]

The initiative was approved by voters on November 3, 2020.[9]

Polling

On Initiative 190
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
For Initiative 190Against Initiative 190OtherUndecided
Montana State University BillingsOctober 19–24, 2020546 (LV)± 4.2%54%38%7%
Montana State University Bozeman September 14 – October 2, 20201,607 (LV)± 3.9%49%39%2%10%
On whether recreational marijuana should be legal
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
YesNoUndecided
University of MontanaFebruary 12–22, 2020498 (LV)± 4.39%54%37%9%
University of MontanaFebruary 21 – March 1, 2019293 (RV)± 5.7%51%37%12%

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For341,03756.90
Against258,33743.10
Blank votes12,701-
Total612,075100
Registered voters/turnout752,53881.33
Source: Montana Secretary of State

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Cannabis campaign submits legalization drafts for 2020 ballot. Seaborn Larson. Missoulian. Missoula, Montana . Jan 15, 2020.
  2. News: Associated Press. Boston Globe. Campaign to legalize marijuana in Montana offers ballot initiatives. January 14, 2020.
  3. https://sosmt.gov/elections/ballot_issues/2020-2/ PROPOSED 2020 BALLOT ISSUES
  4. News: Montana OKs mail-in ballot initiative signatures. Hunter Pauli. May 8, 2020. Montana Free Press.
  5. https://ballotpedia.org/Montana_I-190,_Marijuana_Legalization_and_Tax_Initiative_(2020) Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative (2020)
  6. News: Initiative signature deadline arrives; marijuana legalization advocates report 130K for two measures . Jonathon Ambarian . KTVH-DT. Helena. June 19, 2020.
  7. News: Marijuana group 'certain' legalization will be on Montana general election ballot. Seaborn Larson . Missoulian. July 17, 2020.
  8. News: Marijuana Legalization Measure to Appear on November Ballot. Associated Press. August 13, 2020. U.S. News & World Report.
  9. News: Recreational marijuana initiatives pass in Montana. Bozeman Daily Chronicle . Melissa Loveridge. November 4, 2020.