Citizens or lawmakers enacted medical marijuana programs in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska long before voters legalized the plant for adult use. Many prominent targets for legalization in the next election cycle, such as California, Nevada, Arizona, Maine and Vermont, also allow medical marijuana.

In a move that may be seen more often in coming years, pro-pot advocates in Missouri want to skip the medical marijuana phase and go straight to legalization. (Editor’s note: Missouri passed a medical marijuana law in 2014, but it is limited to CBD and only for intractable epilepsy.)

Show-Me Cannabis, a Missouri marijuana activist group, filed the petition last week to put a legalization initiative on the 2016 ballot. To earn a place on the ballot, Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander has to provide his approval, then petition backers can launch a drive to collect 165,000 signatures from registered voters. The group’s director thinks they can do it and he’s not alone.

“We still have a long road ahead of us,” says Show-Me Cannabis Executive Director John Payne. “But we can feel the wind at our backs.”

Other marijuana advocacy groups, a newly-elected state representative and the editorial board of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch agree that the time is right for Missouri legalization.

Trish Bertrand serves as president for the Springfield, Mo. chapter of the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). She hasn’t forgotten that legalization attempts in 2012 and 2014 failed to gather enough signatures, but she thinks 2016 will be different.

“I really think it will pass here,” Bertrand said.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board published an article on November 13 making its case for legalization. The newspaper pointed to civil rights issues as a significant factor. They reference a 2013 ACLU report showing that blacks are almost four times more likely to be arrested than whites for marijuana in Missouri. The numbers get worse when you look at St. Louis.

“The disparity in the city of St. Louis in that study was a whopping 18 to 1,” according to the editorial.

Missouri Representative-elect Shamed Dogan attended the Fall Cannabis Reform Conference on Saturday. Show-Me Cannabis organized the event in downtown St. Louis and Dogan explained his thinking on the issue.

“It is a state versus federal thing,” Dogan said. He argues that just because marijuana is prohibited by federal law doesn’t mean Missouri can’t have its own laws.

Will a full legalization proposal make it onto Missouri’s 2016 ballot? Only time will tell.

“Vermonters know that prohibition isn’t working.” Laura Subin testified. “Marijuana is easy to get and widely used.”

As director for the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana, Subin opposes prohibition. She spoke Wednesday during a public forum on taxing and regulating the plant. The hearing signals a major step for marijuana policy change in Vermont.

Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding (right) and Rand Senior Policy Researcher Beau Kilmer hosted the forum requesting questions and comments from Vermonters on taxing and regulating marijuana. They heard testimony from both sides via the Vermont Interactive Technologies system, a way for the public to interact by video from nine locations throughout the state.

Kilmer, the lead researcher on the project, spent the beginning of the public forum explaining his role. He made it clear that the study will not pass judgment on legalization as policy. Instead, it will address all the benefits and concerns surrounding legalization allowing Vermonters to make an informed decision.

When Vermont lawmakers voted to expand the state’s medical marijuana program in April, they could see legalization coming. They knew advocates would move on the issue, but they lacked reliable information. Kilmer’s report aims to fix that problem.

While ballot initiatives were necessary in states like Colorado and Alaska, Vermont’s lawmakers may act before advocates can field one.

“We feel like the Legislature is ahead of the curve.” Matt Simon told Marijuana.com in a recent phone interview. Simon serves as New England Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project. The advocacy group had key roles during legalization efforts in Colorado in 2012 and Alaska this year.

MPP commissioned a poll by the Castleton Polling Institute in May that showed majority support for taxing and regulating marijuana among Vermont voters. With 57 percent in favor and only 34 percent opposed, the group plans to use this momentum to pass laws creating a regulated and taxed system next year.

The Green Mountain State boasts progressive marijuana policy, but most of that is recent. Lawmakers took meaningful strides by creating a medical marijuana program in 2004. Unfortunately, they saddled it with a limit of 1,000 patients and little access to medicine.

Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a medical marijuana reform bill in April. The change removed the patient cap and created rules for a statewide dispensary system. Other changes included allowing naturopaths to certify patients, allowing dispensaries to deliver and ordering two marijuana studies.

The first study concerns adding PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions. The second is on the impacts of taxing and regulating marijuana for adults. Vermont awarded a contract to the Rand Corporation as an independent researching organization to answer the latter question.

The state adopted marijuana decriminalization in 2013. The old punishment was a criminal misdemeanor, up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. Offenders now pay a $200 fine if they are over 21. If they are under 21, they can enter a diversion program.

Subin spoke as an activist, domestic violence expert and mother of three young children. She spoke of prohibition as a lifestyle choice that people should respect. She told Marijuana.com in an email why she fights.

“The impact of prohibition on human and civil rights is the heart of why I care so deeply about this issue.” Subin wrote.

The research report from Rand is due by January 15, 2015.

As voters decide on marijuana legalization in two states and the nation’s capitol tomorrow, advocates draw new battle lines for the 2016 election cycle. Many states have the popular will for legalization, but it takes strong organization and financial backing that push legalization through. The group behind legalization in Colorado indicates that Arizona is the next state to receive a push.

The Marijuana Policy Project posted an update on their blog on Thursday stating that they have filed paperwork to “form a committee to begin raising funds for a 2016 citizens’ initiative to make the adult use of marijuana legal.” The announcement follows an article in the Arizona Capitol Times quoting MPP Communications Director, Mason Tvert. He revealed that the group will be using the same strategy and similar terms as Amendment 64 in Colorado.

“It appears most Arizona voters are ready to adopt a more sensible policy,” Tvert told the paper.

A February poll conducted by Behavioral Research Center showed that Arizonians are ready for a change with 51 percent saying they think the sale of marijuana should be made legal in the state. It also revealed that most voters have an opinion on the issue, with only 8 percent saying they are undecided. Prohibitionist groups are likewise making themselves heard in representing the 41 percent who oppose legalization.

The Arizona County Attorney & Sheriffs Association issued a resolution opposing any marijuana legalization efforts.

It’s resolution begins: “Whereas we are committed to the success and positive future of our youth … ” It contains the usual claims about marijuana being bad for children, though it doesn’t explain what relevance that has on legalizing use for adults. Other arguments mentioned include the vague health risks of marijuana, the blight of impaired driving and safety in the workplace. The resolution lists MATFORCE, a group concerned with substance abuse, as its primary sponsor.

State Representative Ethan Orr (R) argues that his colleagues should handle legalization in the Arizona legislature, rather than relying on the ballot box. He told Capitol Media Services earlier this month that he wants to avoid a ballot initiative that gives lawmakers less control. Orr supports a Colorado-style approach, but wants legislators to create the terms. MPP provided a tepid response to Orr’s goals.

“While we are not yet familiar with the details of Rep. Orr’s bill, we would likely support any well-written proposal to regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol,” Tvert said in a blog response. The group, however, will continue its ballot initiative efforts.

Arizona voters approved Proposition 203 creating a medical marijuana system in 2010. That initiative was also drafted and funded by MPP.

Both states with legalization, as well as the current contenders, have required ballot initiatives, often over the objections of state politicians. Until the federal laws are changed, this seems likely to continue. With experienced groups running legalization campaigns, however, the future looks bright.