Marijuana reform won in eight out of the nine states where it was put on the ballot, the strongest signal to date that the public is ready to embrace change and put the harsh prohibitionist policies behind them. One of the biggest surprises was in Massachusetts where voters approved the measure by a strong 54-46 showing. With the votes in Massachusetts and Maine, reformers have won their first major legalization battles on the east coast. Those victories could set the stage for efforts to legalize marijuana in other New England states via state legislatures. (See also: The opportunities and pitfalls for the legalized marijuana industry)