Cannabis in Nevada is legal for recreational and medical uses starting 1 January 2017, having been legalized by ballot initiative in 2016.
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Prohibition (1923)
Nevada first banned cannabis in 1923, during a nationwide trend of states limiting the drug between 1911-1933.
Medical marijuana (1998, 2000)
Nevada voters approved Question 9 – the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act – in 1998, with 59% of the vote. It was approved again in 2000, with 65% of the vote. The initiated constitutional amendment could only take effect with a majority vote in consecutive elections.
Failed recreational legalization (2002, 2006)
In 2002 "Question 9" went before the voters with a proposal to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis, but was soundly defeated at the polls. Legalized cannabis appeared on the ballot again in 2006 as the Nevada Regulation of Marijuana Initiative, receiving 44% of the vote.
Legalization (2016)
Question 2 was a 2016 Nevada voter initiative to legalize cannabis. The official title was "Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana". The measure, which appeared on the November 8, 2016 ballot, sought to legalize possession of up to one ounce of cannabis for adults over the age of 21. The initiative did not include provisions for regulation beyond taxation, such as licensing retailers.
The initiative passed on election day, 54%–46%.