WA, CO Vote To Allow Recreational Use of Marijuana

[FWS]

Wash., Colo. Allow Recreational Use of Marijuana

By Alison Vekshin
Business Week
November 07, 2012



Washington and Colorado voters legalized recreational use of marijuana, making them the first U.S. states to decriminalize the practice.

Washington will allow those at least 21 years old to buy as much as one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana from a licensed retailer. Colorado’s measure allows possession of an ounce, and permits growing as many as six plants in private, secure areas. Oregon voters rejected a similar measure.

“The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will,” Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said in a statement. “This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”

Support for marijuana’s recreational use built on measures that allow it for medical purposes in one-third of U.S. states. Previous attempts to legalize pot through ballot measures failed in California, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada since 1972, according to the Denver-based National Conference of State Legislatures.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado said federal law was not affected by the vote.

“The Department of Justice’s enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged,” said Jeff Dorschner in a statement. “We are reviewing the ballot initiative and have no additional comment at this time.”
New Leaf

Washington, Colorado and Oregon were among six states with marijuana on their ballots. In Massachusetts, residents approved a measure to allow medical use, while Arkansas voters rejected such a proposal. Medical-marijuana use is already permitted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Montana residents voted to restrict the use of medical marijuana, the Associated Press said.

“It’s very monumental,” said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a Washington-based group that advocates legalization. “No state has ever done this. Technically, marijuana isn’t even legal in Amsterdam.”

The approval of recreational pot goes a step beyond its acceptance in medical use. California was the first state to permit medical-marijuana when voters approved it in 1996. Federal prosecutors cracked down on the medical-marijuana industry in California last year, threatening landlords with jail if they didn’t evict the shops.
Looking Askance

“Regardless of state laws to the contrary, there is no such thing as ‘medical’ marijuana under federal law,” according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released a letter a month before California voters considered a ballot measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana in 2010, saying the Justice Department would “vigorously” enforce federal law. The initiative failed.

A Justice Department spokesman, Dean Boyd, declined to comment yesterday when reached by telephone.

In Washington state, decriminalization and new rules on driving under the influence take effect Dec. 6. The state liquor control board must adopt rules by Dec. 1, 2013 for licensing producers, processors and retailers.

The Washington measure may generate as much as $1.9 billion in revenue over five fiscal years, according to the state’s Office of Financial Management.

[trappincoyotes39]

Hum, 2 states where foot hold trapping is outlawed but smoking "weed" NOW legal in the state's mind? Wonder how that happens?..................................

[thorsmightyhammer]

Nov 7, 2012 16:40:13 GMT -6 trappincoyotes39 said:

Hum, 2 states where foot hold trapping is outlawed but smoking "weed" NOW legal in the state's mind? Wonder how that happens?..................................

Initiative and referendum is how.

[PamIsMe]

Maybe they'll all mellow out and allow traps in a few years. lol

Cheers,
Pam

[FWS]

Well if they want to cut govt. spending, raise revenues, and stimulate local economies legalizing pot is a good start.

It is like Prohibition, and it has failed as bad as, and probably worse than the prohibition of alcohol did.

Congress needs to legalize it, and regulate and tax it like tobacco and alcohol. Take the obscene profit motive away from the illegal growers, dealers, etc. and get the illegal growers OUT of MY National Forests.

[trappincoyotes39]

WE can take a product which the fed govt see's as illegal and then tax it at 75%, 25% at each way point and call that a win for America?

I just can't see my kids turning 18 to become legalized "potheads" or being "baked" as a legal means for escaping the problems in life. So we will legalise many things if the tax rate is high enough? Is that the answer to the countries problems? Don't worry about job creation we can make all of our money selling weed as a state or country?

Steve 49 yes the process was voter referendums but and that is a BIG but it takes the Mind Set of those voting to get such passed on both ends! That of making trapping illegal and "Mary Jane" legal correct?

[thorsmightyhammer]

Not necessarily.

I'd say if all fifty state could put it to a referundum you and I'd be surprised at how many would pass it.

Randy if your kids are going to be pot heads they'll do it wether its legal or not.

Didn't you get drunk before you turned 21?

I drink less than just about anyone I know and I got drunk before 21.

I could care less if they legalize it as long as businesses are allowed to test for it and your ass is fired if you fail, especially if someone gets hurt.

[FWS]

OK FWS "mary jane" is the next internet for Obama is that it?

Nope, doesn't have anything to do with Obama. It's about recognizing that the prohibition of marijuana has utterly failed and has cost us hundreds of Billions of $$'s.

I drink less than just about anyone I know and I got drunk before 21.

I probably drink less than you and I was never drunk before I was 21, and really never have been. Never had an interest in pot or any other drugs either.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Could be you do John.

I've maybe had 24 drinks all year maybe 30. No way its 40

[FWS]

I've maybe had 24 drinks all year maybe 30.

Yeah, that's more than me, but I do use wine, beer, rum, whiskey, cognac, brandy, etc. in cooking or baking various things.

But the alcohol is pretty much 'cooked out' of anything.

[trappincoyotes39]

question how many "potheads" do you come across with real drive or ambition in life? The very chemicals in such make that an issue, medically proven. Sure one can say alcohol does the same to some people but not near as potent a suppressant as mary jane. The THC content changes in what they smoke and that reduces the dopamine the brain releases which has much to do with motivation.

All other risk being close to alcohol again how many hard core weed smokers have real motivation and is that good for our country? Or is the tax so much of a positive where willing to loose productivity from people at work in the future going forward?

There is more to legilizing something than how common the use is or what the tax revenue maybe.

[redeagle]

I can see legalizing it for medicinal purposes, but not for recreational use.

[mmwb (Andrew Parker)]

I think it comes down to the fact that we are looking at two different kinds of users. We are looking on the one hand, at the user who uses to get some effect, is responsible in the use, and is honest enough to know limits, when to stop, and when to perhaps self impose limits on activity while under the influence if needed. We then have those who exercise no self restraint, who use to the point of increased problems in their lives, sometimes to the detriment or safety of others, etc...

I don't know that the legality of the substance is going to significantly impact the rates of problems with the latter. Might it increase the numbers of problem users? Maybe, but I don't that it would be significant. Should someone, while under the influence of pot, be driving, operating dangerous equipment? No--as with alcohol and other drugs. That is probably my biggest concern. There is a myth among a lot of pot users that it doesn't hinder their driving. One or two tokes on a your buddy's joint might not. A bowl, shared with a friend, probably so. My observation is that most users who want to "move where its legal" (usually after they are off probation), won't restrict themselves to the bounds of the state laws anyway. Still a federal offense either way.

[mmwb (Andrew Parker)]

As far as medicinal use... It seems ludicrous that physicians are allowed to write scrips for narcotics like they are candy, but aren't trusted to meter out THC. If we are seeking a medicinal application, then approaches used else where, such as inhalers make more sense. It is pure, it is metered and amounts can be monitored as with other prescriptions, and it leaves out all of the other carcinogens, fungus, etc... found in most pot that is clearly contraindicated for the individual seeking health benefits. It still has a potential for abuse, but what prescriptions don't?

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

I could care less if it's legalized, like 49er says though employers should be allowed to test and hire/fire based on their own policies.

[James]

So how much less could you care?

What Andrew said.

Jim

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

You're right James, I should put a phrase like that in context.

I could care less about less about snotty comments than I care about legalizing Marijuana.

That should clarify my use of the phrase.

Maybe a better way to express it is that I care more about any other opinion on this subject more than yours?

[James]

Don't take it personally. People saying "I could care less" when they really mean the opposite just happens to be one of my pet peeves. Sometimes I can't help myself.

Jim

[mostinterestingmanintheworld]

OK with that said I won't, thanks

[trappnman]

how many deaths, crimes etc every year- can be tied to alcohol use?

contrast to the same for marijuana

and booze is legal?