Apart from legalizing drugs and psychotropic substances, a league of new ballot measures was approved across numerous states on Election Night 2020, and here are all the details you need to know.
Apart from the big Presidential, Senate, and House hubbub, the country also witnessed a series of new ballot measures being approved late Tuesday and in the early hours of Wednesday. Apart from New Jersey’s green flag towards legalizing the recreational use of Marijuana and Oregon’s decriminalization of hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth, here are a few of the decisive laws that have gone underway.
Source: MIT News
Oregon Okays Use of Psychedelic Mushrooms
Apart from being the first state to decriminalize the consumption of hard drugs, the Beaver State also legalized the use of magic mushrooms in therapy sessions.
The bill, measure 109, allows trained “facilitators” to give patients psilocybin, a psychedelic compound present in mushrooms — as a mental health treatment, and guide them through trips at licensed centers.
Regulatory details, including how to qualify as a therapist to administer the treatment will roll out over the next two years, with due deliberation.
Denver Lifts Ban on Pitbulls
Voters in Colorado city approved a ballot measure to lift a 30-year-ban on this breed of dogs, that are considered being quite aggressive. With the new law, residents are now required to get a restricted license for their pitbull, as long as there are two dogs per home, with each of them being microchipped. Owners must also pay a higher fee than is required for other dogs and have no problems for three years before the restricted license can be scrapped.
Mississippi Welcomes A New State Flag
Source: The New York Times
Voters in the Magnolia state will now be welcoming an all-new flag to replace the Confederate battle flag that has been in place since 1894. The new flag includes a white magnolia, Mississippi’s state flower, encircled by stars and words “In God We Trust” on a dark blue background.
A vote to adopt “The New Magnolia,” designed by graphic artist Rocky Vaughan, as the state’s new flag, got 68 percent of the vote in a public referendum.
Maryland Allows Sports Gambling
Residents in Maryland voted in favor of legalizing sports betting in the state, by saying yes to Question 2 on the 2020 election ballot. As per the ballot, voters in Maryland were asked if they think sports betting should be legal, allowing for revenue to be generated for education. With 52% of the precincts reporting, the Associated Press called in favor of Question 2.
Source: Washington Times
Arizona Follows NJ in Giving Weed The Green Light
Voters in the Grand Canyon State of Arizona legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, joining a total of 11 other states who follow the same law. Under the new legalization law, adults will be able to possess up to an ounce of marijuana at a time and cultivate up to six plants for personal use.
Cannabis sales will be taxed at 16 percent. Tax revenue will cover implementation costs and then be divided among funds for community colleges, infrastructure, justice reinvestment, and public services such as police and firefighters.
Florida passes $15-an-hour minimum wage bill
Voters in Florida raised the States minimum wage to $15 an hour, becoming the eighth state to adopt such legislation. Although this hike will not be immediate, it will slowly go on increasing by 2026. The Amendment will increase the minimum wage from $8.56 to $10 per hour starting Sept. 30, 2021, which will then be raised by $1 each year until 2026.
The Florida Policy Institute estimates up to 2.5 million workers — or a quarter of the state’s workforce —will see increased pay with this new policy.
Source: MarketWatch
California voters Classify Uber and Lyft Drivers As Independent Contractors
Under the new bill passed by the voters in California, ride-hailing and delivery companies can continue operating as they do currently — without giving workers “full employment” status, which allows workers to seek sick pay, health care and minimum wage protections.
The initiative, Proposition 22, overturned a state labor law that made it easier to count drivers as employees rather than independent contractors.
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