Gap closes for Arizona medical marijuana measure

A measure to legalize medical marijuana in Arizona is still trailing but the gap is closing.

The measure was about 3,100 votes below the 50 percent plus one needed for passage after more votes were counted on Thursday afternoon. But by Thursday night when more totals were posted, the measure was losing by less than 1,500 votes.

Elections officials say about 14,000 early ballots and 45,000 provisional ballots are left to be processed and counted from the Nov. 2 election. Most are in Maricopa County with rest in Gila, Coconino, Yuma and Yavapai counties. Officials have until Friday to complete the count.

The measure has trailed in daily tallies since Election Day.

Medical marijuana proposals in 1996 and 1998 were approved but they never took effect. A more sweeping 2002 proposal lost.