By the end of this year, several more states in the U.S. could be among those who have legalized cannabis for medical and recreational purposes. Of course, their success is up to the activists and voters in each state. If you’re in one of these states, here is what you need to know.

States where recreational legalization is on the ballot: Nevada

States where medical legalization is on the ballot: Florida

States where activists are going through the legislature or attempting to make the ballot for recreational or medical legalization: California, Vermont, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Rhode Island, Maine, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Utah, Arkansas

Long Shots

Floridians overwhelmingly favor medical marijuana. Again.

Just two years after a push for a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana fell short — and with another push for pharmacological pot on deck for this year’s elections — a survey indicates the idea might have enough support to get added to the state Constitution when voters head to the polls in November.

In a poll released this week by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute, 68.1 percent of respondents said they strongly or somewhat agree with the statement, “The Florida Legislature should approve medical marijuana for Florida resident use.” Only 27.6 percent of those polled said they strongly or somewhat disagree with the idea.

Ever wonder how your state stands up to the others in terms of marijuana tolerance? We don't mean how much your state can smoke, but how tolerant the locals are toward cannabis. The real-estate website Estately has the answer. 

Using specialized metrics, they put together rankings for all 50 states in their "Marijuana Enthusiasm Index." The criteria are: the percentage of monthly marijuana users, the average price of cannabis, the average number of marijuana-related Google searches, the legal status of marijuana and expressions of public interest (based on Facebook user data). 

Here are five interesting findings.

Tampa City Council gave final approval Thursday morning to a new law allowing police to fine rather than arrest people found in possession of small amounts of marijuana.

Council members voted 5-1 to adopt the law, which gives police the option to issue a civil citation for possession of up to 20 grams, roughly three-quarters of an ounce, of marijuana. The new law will take effect once it is signed by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who supports the measure.

The law is intended to prevent offenders from winding up with the life-long stigma of a criminal record that can hinder job, scholarship and housing opportunities. Council members previously said it will also free up police and the courts.

It’s one of the main questions voters ask when they consider a cannabis measure: Will legalization — whether medical or adult use — encourage more kids to get high? 

With some form of legalization expected on at least a half-dozen state ballots this November, data showing increased or decreased use by minors will likely be a powerful weapon in the battle for votes.  

420 Ventures announced that it has acquired majority stake in Le Herbe and the United Hemp Company. Premium cannabis beverage maker, Le Herbe, will operate independently to produce, process and distribute organic cannabis products, but will no longer provide optional CBD only products. The United Hemp Company will takeover the CBD category from it's parent company and will exclusively provide these products through industrial hemp production including, but not limited to, infused beverages, nutritional supplements and soluble hemp extracts.

Marijuana is on the march in Florida.

Volusia County made it legal to carry small amounts last week.

South Florida counties did it last year.

Tampa is preparing to do it next week.

Even Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is looking at the issue.

Plus, a statewide campaign to legalize medical marijuana appears poised to pass this fall.

Heck, this state's beginning to look like one big Grateful Dead show.

Really, though, all this has little to do with Floridians being eager to get high and more to do with taxpayers — and law-enforcement officers — being sick of wasting tax dollars and judicial resources on small-time possession charges that often get dropped or reduced anyway.

A bill expanding medical marijuana now heads to the governor, after state lawmakers spent hours debating the merits of the proposal.

The state Senate voted 28-11 to approve a bill (HB 307) that expands the Right to Try Act to include medical marijuana. Among other things, the bill allows eligible patients — defined as someone with one year left to live — can purchase medical marijuana from dispensing organizations.

The State Senate is expected to make a final vote Monday on medical marijuana. If the bill goes through, it will make full-strength medical marijuana legal for terminally ill people.

Nearly two years after passing a law to allow limited types of medical pot like non-euphoric cannabis, the House approved a more far-reaching plan on Thursday.

This new plan would revamp the 2014 law and be more involved.

"There are alternatives to doing what we've done that work. They have been proven to work in 20-something states across the U.S. We here in Florida, at the behest of the House, decided to do something different," said Senator Jeff Clemens from Palm Beach County expanding on the bill.

The mayor of Tampa is in favor of it and so is the chief of police: The decriminalization of pot within city limits. As it stands right now, if you’re caught with pot in Tampa, you could face jail time, a big fine and the loss of your license.

Council members passed the ordinance to change that by a 6-to-1 vote with councilman Charlie Miranda the sole opponent.

The council listened to about 20 people during public comment. Most were in favor of the change, but a few people voiced their opposition to the ordinance.