In under a week, the nation will vote in gubernatorial, Senate and Congressional elections that seem very likely to shift the national balance of power. But in many states, those same voters will be deciding on ballot initiatives that will have more dramatic and immediate consequences.  

In California, voters are going to decide on Proposition 19, a ballot initiative that would legalize the use of marijuana for non-medicinal purposes. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says that even if California were to legalize pot, the Department of Justice will prosecute Californian users and growers under federal drug laws. 

Across the country, there are only nine political primaries left this season, and the race for November’s midterm elections is coming into full swing. 

Five more states have nominated party candidates for November’s mid term elections.  

Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Tea Partiers were all in serious contention in last night’s primaries. Whether or not you live in one of the states that held a primary last night, the elections may still impact you.  Smart politicians adapt quickly; the lessons learned tonight, they will likely carry with them to November's election. Moreover, the issues that affected those statewide elections may also be playing out in your state as well.