Voters in California and Massachusetts approved recreational marijuana initiatives Tuesday night, and several other states passed medical marijuana provisions in what is turning out to be the biggest electoral victory for marijuana reform since 2012, when Colorado and Washington first approved the drug's recreational use.

Voters in California and Massachusetts approved recreational marijuana initiatives Tuesday night, and several other states passed medical marijuana provisions in what is turning out to be the biggest electoral victory for marijuana reform since 2012, when Colorado and Washington first approved the drug's recreational use.

Activists celebrate the strides they've made in a once intractable issue in recent years.

Activists celebrate the strides they've made in a once intractable issue in recent years.

Marijuana policy will be a serious part of the next administration’s domestic policy, and it is critical that you create a strategy accordingly.

Marijuana policy will be a serious part of the next administration’s domestic policy, and it is critical that you create a strategy accordingly.

PHOENIX, AZ — Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced Monday that he is endorsing an initiative poised for the November ballot that would end marijuana prohibition in Arizona and replace it with a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.

Advocates of putting recreational marijuana on the Arizona ballot this November announced Thursday they met and exceeded signature requirements.

Advocates of putting recreational marijuana on the Arizona ballot this November announced Thursday they met and exceeded signature requirements.

Republican lawmakers are also trying to alter the Arizona's Medical Marijuana Act and pushing for tougher measures for patients to get access to medical marijuana.

“The federal government needs to do more than just allow states to be the laboratories of democracy when it comes to marijuana,” wrote Rep. Blumenauer and his allies.

“The federal government needs to do more than just allow states to be the laboratories of democracy when it comes to marijuana,” wrote Rep. Blumenauer and his allies.

Californians are set to decide whether to make recreational marijuana use legal, as other Western states have done, after the California Secretary of State's office said on Tuesday the issue could be put to voters in the November ballot.

Californians are set to decide whether to make recreational marijuana use legal, as other Western states have done, after the California Secretary of State's office said on Tuesday the issue could be put to voters in the November ballot.

There are increasing signs that 2016 might just be the year the largest state in the nation legalizes recreational marijuana.

There are increasing signs that 2016 might just be the year the largest state in the nation legalizes recreational marijuana.

Six years ago, the California Democratic Party joined most of its elected leaders in declining to endorse the marijuana legalization initiative on the fall ballot.

63% of Republican millennials and 77% of their Democratic-leaning counterparts support the legalization of marijuana.

63% of Republican millennials and 77% of their Democratic-leaning counterparts support the legalization of marijuana.

The state’s budding marijuana market could be one of the largest in the country within a matter of years if 60 percent of voters approve Amendment 2.

The state’s budding marijuana market could be one of the largest in the country within a matter of years if 60 percent of voters approve Amendment 2.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.(NEWSPLEX) -- Dozens of cannabis supporters flooded the Charlottesville downtown mall to rally in favor of legalizing marijuana in Virginia.

The Citizens' Initiative Review project was launched by a bipartisan group of politicians and academics.

The Citizens' Initiative Review project was launched by a bipartisan group of politicians and academics.

WASHINGTON - Several D.C. Council candidates gathered Wednesday night for a forum on marijuana ahead of the Democratic primary later this month.

Legal cannabis has been a hot topic in the march to Election Night 2016.

Legal cannabis has been a hot topic in the march to Election Night 2016.

ORLANDO — The Democratic Party endorsed a "reasoned pathway to future legalization" of marijuana and called for the drug to be downgraded in the Controlled Substances Act, in a tense and unexpected victory for supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

ORLANDO — The Democratic Party endorsed a "reasoned pathway to future legalization" of marijuana and called for the drug to be downgraded in the Controlled Substances Act, in a tense and unexpected victory for supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The legalization debate looks different on opposite sides of the country: politicians' cautious approaches in Massachusetts and Vermont contrast with those in equally liberal California.

The legalization debate looks different on opposite sides of the country: politicians' cautious approaches in Massachusetts and Vermont contrast with those in equally liberal California.

TALLAHASSEE - Two years after state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved it, Florida’s first medical cannabis dispensary is scheduled to open next week.

TALLAHASSEE - Two years after state lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott approved it, Florida’s first medical cannabis dispensary is scheduled to open next week.

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) – After a tense debate, a Senate committee Monday backed a bill that calls for allowing terminally ill patients to have access to medical marijuana and revamping a 2014 cannabis law that has been tangled in legal fights.

Gary Johnson, New Mexico's former governor and now the Libertarian party's nominee for president, said he stopped using marijuana recently because he wanted to be "knife sharp."

Gary Johnson, New Mexico's former governor and now the Libertarian party's nominee for president, said he stopped using marijuana recently because he wanted to be "knife sharp."

Libertarian White House hopeful Gary Johnson said Tuesday it’s been his stated position that legalizing marijuana will lead to less substance abuse overall.

Buckle up, America. This trip is only getting started.

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah medical marijuana proponents have found a new legislative sponsor as they gear up to take another run next year at pushing through a measure to make pot legal for people with certain medical conditions.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton plans to reschedule marijuana if she is elected in November, according to a statement issued by the campaign.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton plans to reschedule marijuana if she is elected in November, according to a statement issued by the campaign.

Clinton says she'd make major reforms to cannabis laws if elected president.

Clinton says she'd make major reforms to cannabis laws if elected president.

In the histories still to be written about the long, hard fight for federal cannabis reform, scholars will delineate between the only two epochs which really mattered: Before Bernie, and After Bernie.

Presidential frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump don’t agree on much, but when it comes to legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana, they’re both pro pot.

Presidential frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump don’t agree on much, but when it comes to legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana, they’re both pro pot.

A new poll finds that majorities of voters in three key presidential swing states support legalizing marijuana.

A new poll finds that majorities of voters in three key presidential swing states support legalizing marijuana.

DETROIT, MI -- Republican presidential candidate John Kasich grew frustrated during a Detroit radio interview Tuesday morning when asked about marijuana.

Los Angeles County voters will decide this fall whether to tax marijuana businesses to help pay for housing and health services for the homeless.