Republican Lawmakers Escalate Efforts to Undermine Voter Approved Cannabis Laws

In a troubling trend across the United States, Republican lawmakers are increasingly working to override or undermine marijuana-related reforms passed by voters at the ballot box. While cannabis legalization enjoys growing bipartisan support among the general public, recent actions by GOP officials reveal a widening gap between political leadership and the will of constituents.

Nebraska: Voter Mandate Ignored

Following Nebraska’s vote last fall to legalize medical marijuana, Republican Attorney General Mike Hilgers urged lawmakers to disregard the results. His efforts were soon followed by the state’s regulatory commission—appointed by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen—issuing “emergency rules” that effectively gutted the new medical program before it could begin. This maneuver dismissed the will of the more than two-thirds of Nebraskans who supported the measure.

Texas: Local Reform Efforts Struck Down

In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has led a legal campaign to strike down cannabis decriminalization ordinances approved by voters in Austin, San Marcos, Dallas, and several other cities. These ordinances aimed to deprioritize low-level marijuana arrests—reflecting widespread public support for modernizing drug policy. Yet Paxton’s office has fought to maintain harsh enforcement, nullifying local democratic efforts.

Florida: Raising the Bar for Reform

Despite 56% of Florida voters backing a cannabis legalization initiative in 2023—just short of the 60% supermajority required—Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis responded by signing legislation to make citizen-led ballot initiatives even more difficult. The state legislature also declined to advance several cannabis reform bills this session. Instead, lawmakers approved a measure barring individuals with prior drug convictions from accessing medical marijuana.

Ohio: Relentless Repeal Attempts

In Ohio, where voters approved adult-use marijuana legalization in 2023, Republican lawmakers have been attempting to roll back key parts of the new law. Proposals to recriminalize possession, ban home cultivation, and limit retail availability have circulated, although none have passed to date. Gov. Mike DeWine also sought to double the cannabis sales tax, a move rejected in budget negotiations. Nonetheless, two rollback bills remain active and are expected to return this fall.

Montana and South Dakota: Pushing Back on Progress

Montana’s Republican-led legislature tried to reintroduce cannabis restrictions this year, including a failed attempt to establish a state surveillance system to monitor retail marijuana purchases and a separate bill to ban products with more than 15% THC content.

South Dakota saw a narrow defeat of a bill aimed at repealing the state’s 2020 voter-approved medical marijuana law. But past efforts by the state’s Republican leadership have been more successful, including the judicial overturning of a 2020 recreational marijuana initiative.

Mississippi and South Dakota: Voter Will Canceled

Perhaps the most blatant rebukes of democracy occurred in Mississippi and South Dakota. In both states, Republican leaders and courts outright repealed cannabis measures that had been passed by strong majorities. Mississippi’s 2020 medical marijuana law and South Dakota’s adult-use legalization measure were nullified despite clear voter support.

A Threat to Democratic Principles

Whether or not one supports cannabis legalization, the repeated efforts to override voter decisions signal a growing threat to democratic norms. In a functioning democracy, elections are meant to reflect the public’s will serving as a check on legislative inaction or overreach.

Yet these efforts to suppress, stall, or reverse cannabis reforms betray a disdain for democratic outcomes. Rather than refining policies in line with voter intent, many Republican officials are choosing to fight the results in courtrooms and legislatures.