While Election Day in the US has left many of the causes we hold dearly at risk, there was a bright spark in efforts to end the failed war on drugs. California, Massachusetts and Nevada all legalised marijuana, while Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota all approved medical marijuana.

As the Drug Policy Alliance pointed out, no other reform was approved by so many citizens on so many ballots as marijuana reform. In a watershed moment for the movement to end marijuana prohibition, these results could speed efforts to legalise marijuana in states across the US, at the federal level, and internationally. I wholeheartedly welcome the news, as a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and a committed advocate to treating drugs as a health issue, not a criminal problem.

There could be more positive news, as votes are still being counted for legalisation initiatives in Maine (which looks likely to pass) and Arizona (which looks less likely). A medical marijuana measure in Montana to improve the state’s existing medical marijuana law also looks likely to pass.

These states follow in the footsteps of Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon, which have all previously passed legalisation measures. A recent Drug Policy Alliance report found they have seen reductions in marijuana arrests and convictions, increased tax revenues, and no increases in youth marijuana use or traffic fatalities.

These states follow in the footsteps of Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon, which have all previously passed legalisation measures. A recent Drug Policy Alliance report found they have seen reductions in marijuana arrests and convictions, increased tax revenues, and no increases in youth marijuana use or traffic fatalities.

California’s Proposition 64 is particularly good news as, in addition to legalising the adult use of marijuana, it enacts across-the-board retroactive sentencing reform for marijuana offenses. By focusing on public health rather than needless arrests, states that have legalised marijuana are reducing some of the worst harms of the war on drugs, and raising substantial new revenues too.

There are now 27 states with medical marijuana laws, seven of which have also approved legal regulation of marijuana for adults (eight if Maine passes.) The world is starting to shift drug laws to prioritise health over punishment. For the first time, the US Attorney General has stated that marijuana is not the gateway drug it has been made out to be. The US legislation follows marijuana legislation everywhere from Jamaica to Uruguay.

But there is a long way to go. After the US election, this progress could be under threat. I have long argued that we need a different approach to drug policy, one that, one that looks at the available evidence and draws the right conclusions. Let us hope the current movement towards sensible drug policies continues.