2020 Montana Initiative 190

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.

Initiative 190
Montana Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 341,037 56.90%
No 258,337 43.10%
Valid votes 599,374 97.92%
Invalid or blank votes 12,701 2.08%
Total votes 612,075 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 752,538 81.33%
Results by county
Source: Montana Secretary of State
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    Initiative 190

    The sponsor of the initiative was New Approach Montana, in partnership with the Marijuana Policy Project.[1]

    History

    Initiative I-190 (legislation) and matching constitutional amendment initiative were submitted by New Approach Montana to the Montana Secretary of State in January,[2][3] and approved for signature gathering as of May 1, 2020.[4] 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,[5][1] and starting May 9, the sponsors made a downloadable mail-in form available.[6] 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.[7] The sponsors announced in July that they had reached the threshold for ballot inclusion, based on county-level voter certification.[8]

    On August 13, the Montana Secretary of State announced it had qualified for the November ballot.[9]

    The initiative was approved by voters on November 3, 2020.[10]

    Polling
    On Initiative 190
    Poll source Date(s)
    administered    		 Sample
    size[lower-alpha 1]    		 Margin
    of error    		 For Initiative 190 Against Initiative 190 Other Undecided
    Montana State University Billings October 19–24, 2020 546 (LV) ± 4.2% 54% 38% – 7%
    Montana State University Bozeman Archived 2020-10-19 at the Wayback Machine September 14 – October 2, 2020 1,607 (LV) ± 3.9% 49% 39% 2%[lower-alpha 2] 10%
    On whether recreational marijuana should be legal
    Poll source Date(s)
    administered    		 Sample
    size[lower-alpha 1]    		 Margin
    of error    		 Yes No Undecided
    University of Montana February 12–22, 2020 498 (LV) ± 4.39% 54% 37% 9%
    University of Montana February 21 – March 1, 2019 293 (RV) ± 5.7% 51% 37% 12%

    Results
    Choice Votes %
    For 341,037 56.90
    Against 258,337 43.10
    Blank votes 12,701 -
    Total 612,075 100
    Registered voters/turnout 752,538 81.33
    Source: Montana Secretary of State

    Notes
    1. Key:
      A – all adults
      RV – registered voters
      LV – likely voters
      V – unclear
    2. Would not vote with 2%

    See also

    References
    1. Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative (2020), Ballotpedia, accessed June 3, 2020
    2. Seaborn Larson (January 15, 2020). "Cannabis campaign submits legalization drafts for 2020 ballot". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana.
    3. "Campaign to legalize marijuana in Montana offers ballot initiatives". Associated Press. January 14, 2020 – via Boston Globe.
    4. PROPOSED 2020 BALLOT ISSUES, Montana Secretary of State, accessed June 3, 2020
    5. Hunter Pauli (May 8, 2020). "Montana OKs mail-in ballot initiative signatures". Montana Free Press.
    6. Melissa Schiller (May 11, 2020), Montana's Cannabis Legalization Campaign Launches Signature Drive Despite COVID-19 Setbacks: Legalization Watch, Cannabis Business Times, After losing a court battle to collect signatures electronically, New Approach Montana kicked off a statewide signature drive to get two complementary adult-use cannabis legalization measures on the state's 2020 ballot.
    7. Jonathon Ambarian (June 19, 2020). "Initiative signature deadline arrives; marijuana legalization advocates report 130K for two measures". Helena: KTVH-DT.
    8. Seaborn Larson (July 17, 2020). "Marijuana group 'certain' legalization will be on Montana general election ballot". Missoulian.
    9. "Marijuana Legalization Measure to Appear on November Ballot". Associated Press. August 13, 2020 – via U.S. News & World Report.
    10. Melissa Loveridge (November 4, 2020). "Recreational marijuana initiatives pass in Montana". Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
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