“Interesting that these referendums are coming up in Red States, with the exception of Montana. WA, OR, CO, MN, MA and even Detroit will be voting on this. Seems like the Dems are afraid voters will stay home for the next Pres election so they got something else interesting to get the vote out...just like they did with the gay marriage vote in CA during the last Pres election. Wonder what the percentage of pro-legalized cannabis voters are Dems, maybe 85% of them? Who will undoubtedly pull the BHO lever while they are in there getting their weed freak on. :
I think your analysis is generally correct, however, the MJ issue is a perennial in states like CO, CA, and OR. The issues come up even in off year cycles. I think the people working the issue are not aware of the broader political calculus, even though they are probably serving broader Dem goals.