Oregon, D.C., Alaska Pass New Marijuana Laws

Three more states legalized the use of recreational marijuana as a result of the midterm elections on November 4, including Oregon, Washington D.C. and Alaska.

Voters approved measures in Oregon and Alaska that allow the recreational use of marijuana, as well as retail marijuana shops that would allow for the legal sale of the drug. Washington D.C.'s measure, which passed by 65 percent, allows for the legal possession of marijuana but not the existence of retail shops.

Oregon and Alaska will reportedly now follow in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington in navigating the new course of marijuana retail stores and the tax of the recreational drug.

Leland Berger, a Portland attorney who helped write the state's marijuana legalization law, told Reuters on Tuesday following the victory that: "In 2016 we're going to push the ball forward in several states until we end prohibition."

According to CNN, due to D.C.'s status as a district and not a state, Congress has the ability to overrule the recent marijuana legalization, which allows residents to possess, grow and share small amounts of the drug, but not sell it.

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, also hailed Tuesday's vote as a victory. "It's always an uphill battle to win a marijuana legalization initiative in a year like this, when young people are so much less likely to vote, which makes today's victory all the sweeter."

 "The pace of reform is accelerating, other states are sure to follow, and even Congress is poised to wake from its slumber."