THREAD: Return to this thread throughout the night for breaking updates on adult-use legalization in Michigan and North Dakota, and medical cannabis legalization in Missouri and Utah (and well as a number of other significant cannabis-related efforts across the US).

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Democrat @CharlieCrist won re-election for the US House in Florida's 13th congressional district.

The cannabis connection? Crist held a roundtable in August with @Surterra to drum up support for a bill to provide federal employees and vets access to medical cannabis.

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Republican @mattgaetz has won re-election to U.S. House in Florida's 1st congressional district.

Gaetz has become an outspoken pro-cannabis advocate, both in Congress, and in his home state of Florida.

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@mattgaetz Ohio's Issue 1, which would have reduced the penalty for the possession of drugs for personal use from a felony to a misdemeanor, has failed.

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In Illinois, @JBPritzker, who has promised to legalize adult-use cannabis and reinvest in minority communities, beat incumbent Republican Bruce Rauner, according to @chicagotribune. Pro-cannabis advocates hope for legislation in 2019.

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In Florida, the Pensacola News Journal is calling that Amendment 4 has passed, which will automatically restore voting rights to those with prior felony convictions. In Florida, drug possession is a felony charge.

This will affect more than 1 million Florida residents.

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Democrat @andrewcuomo won re-election for governor in NY.

Cuomo has set in motion a series of listening sessions that will likely lead to the introduction of a legalization bill in the coming months.

Read @CannabisWire's coverage: cannabiswire.com/2018/08/29/can…

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Just now: @LindseyGrahamSC just said on NBC that Attorney General Jeff Sessions could be ousted next year.

"If we hold the Senate, you'll probably see a new attorney general next year," Graham said.

In response to whether Graham would be AG, Graham said: "No, no, no."

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@LindseyGrahamSC Republican Gov. @henrymcmaster, who has said he opposes the legalization of medical cannabis, beat Democrat @JamesSmithforSC in South Carolina, according to the @AP.

@MariuanaPolicy and others plan to push medical cannabis legislation during next year’s legislative session.

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@LindseyGrahamSC @henrymcmaster @JamesSmithforSC @AP Republicans @RepCurbelo & @RepMikeCoffman both just lost their re-election bids. The cannabis industry gave $187,700 to Curbelo & Coffman’s joint fundraising committee, the Federalist Freedom Fund.

Read the backstory of the Fund here: cannabiswire.com/2018/07/13/the…

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Pro-legalization Democrat @gretchenwhitmer just won the election for governor in Michigan.

"I’ll work with everyone who wants to ensure we tax and regulate marijuana responsibly," Whitmer told Cannabis Wire.

cannabiswire.com/2018/09/17/the…

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.@JaredPolis, one of the US House’s most outspoken members on cannabis, will become the next governor of Colorado.

#Election2018

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BREAKING: Republican @PeteSessions, who has earned the ire of the pro-cannabis law reformers by blocking cannabis-related legislation as chairman of the Rules Committee, has been ousted by Democrat @ColinAllredTX, according to @NBC.

cannabiswire.com/2018/10/26/tex…

#Election2018

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.@TedCruz beat one of the most outspoken advocates of cannabis and drug reform on the national stage @BetoORourke in deep red Texas.

Cannabis advocates were pleased when O’Rourke appeared at a concert with pro-cannabis singer @WillieNelson.

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@tedcruz @BetoORourke @WillieNelson Breaking: Missouri has legalized medical cannabis. Amendment 2, the proposal introduced by @NewApproachMO, and beat Amendment 3, also known as the Brad Bradshaw amendment.

Read the curious backstory of Missouri's 3 ballot initiatives here: cannabiswire.com/2018/10/31/the…

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Just in: @AndrewGillum lost to @RepDeSantis in the race to become Florida’s next governor.

Gillum and DeSantis differed in their position on cannabis: Gillum has been a vocal supporter, DeSantis opposes.

#ElectionDay

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Breaking: North Dakotans voted down Measure 3, an initiative sponsored by @LegalizeND, which would have legalized cannabis for recreational use.

Background here: cannabiswire.com/2018/08/14/con…

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@LegalizeND Just in: In New Hampshire, @NHMollyKelly, who called for NH to “join other New England states in legalizing, regulating and generating revenue from marijuana,” has lost the governor’s race to Republican incumbent @ChrisSununu

/18

@LegalizeND @NHMollyKelly @ChrisSununu Breaking: @LDSchurch just issued a statement regarding Proposition 2, the state's medical cannabis voter initiative:

"The legislative alternative is better public policy and has broad support among Utahns."

#ElectionDay

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BREAKING: Michigan voters just legalized by ballot initiative to become one of the largest legal cannabis markets in the US.

Many expect this to put pressure on other Midwestern states.

Read @CannabisWire's coverage: cannabiswire.com/2018/09/17/the…

cannabiswire.com/2018/07/10/law…

20/

UPDATE:

Michigan (adult use): Passed

Missouri (medical): Passed

North Dakota (adult use): Failed

Utah (medical): Coming soon

21/

Democrat @GavinNewsom, a strong supporter of cannabis legalization, has won the race for governor in California.

#ElectionDay

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@GavinNewsom JUST IN: Amendment X, which allows Colorado to decide its own definition of hemp, has passed, @nytimes reports.

As @CannabisWire reported, the hemp industry worried about a “dire effect” if it failed to pass.

The backstory: cannabiswire.com/2018/08/28/bal…

#ElectionDay

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@GavinNewsom @nytimes Reminder: If you're following @CannabisWire for election results, sign up for our daily newsletter for independent coverage, context, and analysis about the cannabis industry and policy from veteran journalists.

#ElectionDay

cannabiswire.com/newsletter/

24/

BREAKING: Utah voters have passed Proposition 2 (53.4% to 46.7%) and legalized medical cannabis.

Here's @CannabisWire's recent coverage of Utah's surprising and winding road to legal medical cannabis:
cannabiswire.com/2018/08/31/med…

cannabiswire.com/2018/08/03/the…

#ElectionDay

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