Direct democracy is a form of democracy in which voters make political decisions directly, rather than indirectly through their elected representatives. At the state level, direct democracy can expose tensions within the federal system.
One example is the legalisation of marijuana. Eighteen states have decriminalised the recreational use of the drug using ballot initiatives (see below), and many others have legalised it for medical use. However, using it is still a federal crime. This has created an uncomfortable stand-off between states and central government, as federal prosecutors won’t act without the support of state governments, while state politicians are reluctant to oppose a popular measure.
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