California Will Vote On Recreational Marijuana Legalization

Residents of California could be heading to the voting polls in November to decide the legal status of recreational marijuana.

According to Reuters, the proposed "Adult Use of Marijuana Act" would make it legal for individuals over the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use and possess up to six marijuana plants.

Marijuana for medical use has been legal since 1996.

The initiative required 402,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and is already supported by the state's Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and other state-wide politicians and lawmakers.

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Should recreational use of marijuana become legal in California, the state will establish a system in which it will oversee and tax sales of the recreational product.

"Today marks a fresh start for California, as we prepare to replace the costly, harmful and ineffective system of prohibition with a safe, legal and responsible adult-use marijuana system that gets it right and completely pays for itself," initiative spokesman Jason Kinney said in a statement.

California's Secretary Alex Padilla could certify the initiative as soon as Thursday.

Voters in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska have already permitted recreational use for adults, while voters in several other states are likely to also vote on the matter in the coming months.