Activists gained key victories for the movement to legalize marijuana in Oregon, Alaska and Washington D.C. during Tuesday's midterm elections.

The Oregon and Alaska measures that were approved legalizes marijuana for recreational use and authorizes the sale and regulation of marijuana through retail store locations similar to Colorado and Washington's measures that were approved in 2012.

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Washington D.C. also legalized marijuana with 65% approval of "Initiative 71," but it doesn't go as far as to allowing recreational sales. Instead it will reportedly allow any adult over the age of 21 to legally possess up to two ounces of marijuana in addition to being able to grow up to six plants per person.

Oregon's "Measure 91" received 54 percent of approval and Alaska's "Measure 2" received 52 percent of approval in preliminary returns. The measures will go into effect around July 2015 once the nine-month deadline to write all necessary regulations and guidelines is up.

According to The Washington Post, marijuana activists are claiming the win in Oregon and Alaska will only further help them push legalization in other states during the 2016 elections.

"In 2016 we're going to push the ball forward in several states until we end prohibition," said Leland Berger, a Portland attorney who helped write the new law for Oregon.  

Meanwhile, Florida had the opportunity to become the 24^th state and the first state in the south of the U.S. to legalize medical marijuana, however the "Amendment 2" needed at least 60 percent in order to pass and only received 57 percent of approval.

The law that states ballot initiatives in Florida must be approved by at least 60 percent went into effect in 2006, and ironically, that measure was only approved by 57% of voters. 

Tagsmidterm elections, marijuana prohibition, marijuana legalization, Oregon, Alaska, washington d.c., Activists