00_iyc_tjd_hc_summit_800px.jpg. Share this article. Good intentions do not guarantee good regulations. Unintended consequences often eclipse the improvements a rule aims to make, ultimately causing more harm than good.
The state's voters legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Prior to Tuesday's vote, 23 states and the District of Columbia had legalized marijuana for medical purposes, while Colorado and Washington were the only states to allow recreational marijuana use.
Updated 3:47 PM ET, April 30, 2015. Four states -- Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington -- and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Many other states allow some legal use of marijuana, primarily for medicinal purposes.