Five states passed referenda Tuesday to legalize marijuana through various programs, increasing the number of states that have decriminalize possession of the drug, Politico reports. Roughly one-third of Americans now live in states where possession of marijuana is legal.
Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and South Dakota voted to legalize recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21. South Dakotans became the first state to legalize the use of recreational marijuana and simultaneously approving a medical marijuana program
In Mississippi, voters approved an amendment allowing doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to people with certain conditions.
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia now have laws legalizing possession of marijuana recreationally.
In addition to the marijuana measures, Oregon voters passed a ballot measure to decriminalize possession of small amounts of narcotics like cocaine, LSD and heroin. Possession of the drugs will results in a misdemeanor citation, not jail time. The measure also provides additional access to rehab facilities for addicts.