UPDATE, Nov. 5, 6:30 a.m. ET: Alaska has also voted in favor of legalizing marijuana. Voters approved Ballot Measure 2 by about 52% in favor to 48% opposed.
It wasn't just Republicans who had a good election -- supporters of marijuana legalization did, too.
While votes in Alaska was still being counted early Wednesday morning, Oregon and Washington D.C. overwhelmingly voted in favor of legalizing cannabis on Tuesday.
On the medical use front, it was more of a draw. While Florida had voted "yes" on the proposal, it ultimately failed because the law required a 60% majority to pass. Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, on the other hand, passed an initiative to allow for medical use.
Oregon became the third U.S. state to fully legalize marijuana possession and sale, following Colorado and Washington state. Starting in July 1, 2015, Oregonians will legally be able to own eight ounces and four plants of weed. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission will have until 2016 to regulate the production and sale of cannabis.
We did it! pic.twitter.com/JfcB3kQngg— Vote YES on 91 (@VoteYESon91) November 5, 2014
"We have ended a painful, discriminatory, harmful policy that has terrible consequences for our state," longtime legalization advocate Anthony Johnson told a crowd of supporters, according to The Oregonian. "We replaced it with a policy that is smarter, more humane."
D.C., meanwhile, voted to adopt a "grow and give" system that doesn't allow for the sale of weed. The ballot measure was approved with a 64% majority of the vote.
Residents of the capital who are 21 and older will now be allowed to own two ounces and six plants of weed, but the sale of cannabis won't be permitted. There's a catch, however. The measure needs to be certified by the local government and U.S. Congress also has review power over the initiative and could block the move.
Calling it: Washington, #DC just voted to legalize #marijuana! Stay tuned to for more election news... #mmot pic.twitter.com/bnvp3kWPX9— Marijuana Majority (@JoinTheMajority) November 5, 2014
In Florida, the vote was close: 58% of voters approved of Amendment 2 -- just short of the required 60%.
More people voted for pot than any statewide politician in Fla, but the amendment still lost because it needed 60%— Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) November 5, 2014
In Alaska, early returns showed a small lead for the legalization camp. Alaska's Issue 2 would allow people 21 and older to own up to an ounce and six plants of marijuana. The measure would also legalize the production and sale of cannabis across the state, creating an industry worth more than $100 million, according to some estimates.
Early returns from Alaska show legal pot measure ahead w/53.7% voting 'yes' & 46.2% voting 'no.' pic.twitter.com/moMp3RWnYd— Mark Hanrahan (@mark_hanrahan) November 5, 2014
With the two big wins in Washington D.C. and Oregon, and a potential win in Alaska, the wave of legalization across the country may be unstoppable. Legalization supporters are pushing the measure in California, one of the states that could follow with a vote on the issue in 2016.
"The pace of reform is accelerating," said Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the Drug Policy alliance. "Other states are sure to follow, and even Congress is poised to wake from its slumber."
Additional reporting by Associated Press
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