Washington & Colorado Legalize Recreational Marijuana

[Gravdigr]

Oh happy day, OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!

from YahooNews

DENVER/SEATTLE (Reuters) - Colorado and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana for recreational use on Tuesday in defiance of federal law, setting the stage for a possible showdown with the Obama administration.

But another ballot measure to remove criminal penalties for personal possession and cultivation of recreational cannabis was defeated in Oregon, where significantly less money and campaign organization was devoted to the cause.

Supporters of a Colorado constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana were the first to declare victory, and opponents conceded defeat, after returns showed the measure garnering nearly 53 percent of the vote versus 47 percent against.

"Colorado will no longer have laws that steer people toward using alcohol, and adults will be free to use marijuana instead if that is what they prefer. And we will be better off as a society because of it," said Mason Tvert, co-director of the Colorado pro-legalization campaign.

The Drug Policy Alliance, a national advocacy group that backed the initiatives, said the outcome in Washington and Colorado reflected growing national support for liberalized pot laws, citing a Gallup poll last year that found 50 percent of Americans favored making it legal, versus 46 opposed.

Supporters of Washington state's pot legalization initiative declared victory after the Seattle Times and other media projected a win for marijuana proponents.

Early returns showed pro-legalization votes led with 55 percent versus to 44 percent opposed with about 60 percent of ballots tallied in the state's all-mail-in election system.

The outcomes in Colorado and Washington, which already have laws on the books legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, put both states in further conflict with the federal government, which classifies cannabis as an illegal narcotic.

The U.S. Department of Justice reacted to the measure's passage in Colorado by saying its enforcement policies remain unchanged, adding: "We are reviewing the ballot initiative and have no additional comment at this time."

Separately, medical marijuana measures were on the ballot in three other states, including Massachusetts, where CNN reported that voters approved an initiative to allow cannabis for medicinal reasons.

Supporters there issued a statement declaring victory for what they described as "the safest medical marijuana law in the country." Seventeen other states, plus the District of Columbia, already have medical marijuana laws on their books.

A measure that would have made Arkansas the first state in the South to legalize marijuana for medical purposes appeared headed for defeat by 51 percent to 49 percent with about 80 percent of the vote tallied.

MARIJUANA RULES

Under the recreational marijuana measures in Colorado and Washington, personal possession of up to an ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana would be legal for anyone at least 21 years of age. They also will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed stores in a system modeled after a regime many states have in place for alcohol sales.

Oregon's initiative would have legalized state-licensed sales, as well as possession and cultivation of unlimited amounts of pot for personal recreational use.

The Colorado measure will limit cultivation to six marijuana plants per person, but "grow-your-own" pot would be still be banned altogether in Washington state.

Tvert said provisions legalizing simple possession in Colorado would take effect after 30 days, once the election results are certified. Colorado's amendment also mandates establishing rules for sales and excise tax collections once the state legislature reconvenes in January.

"The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who opposed the measure, said in a statement. "This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through."

He added: "Federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."

The Obama administration has recently pressed an enforcement crackdown against pot dispensaries and greenhouses deemed to be engaged in large-scale drug trade under the pretense of supplying medical cannabis patients in California and elsewhere.

Before Tuesday's election, the administration had been largely silent on latest state ballot initiatives seeking to legalize recreational pot for adults.

Several former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration directors had urged Obama officials to come out forcefully against the measures, as U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder did when he criticized a 2010 California pot legalization referendum that was soundly defeated by voters.

Critics say the social harms of legalizing pot - from anticipated declines in economic productivity to a rise in traffic and workplace accidents - would trump any benefits.

Backers point to potential tax revenues to be gained and say anti-pot enforcement has accomplished little but to penalize otherwise law-abiding citizens, especially minorities.

They also argue that ending pot possession prosecutions would free up strained law enforcement resources and strike a blow against drug cartels, much as repealing alcohol prohibition in the 1930s crushed bootlegging by organized crime.

"It's no worse than alcohol, and it's widely used in Colorado anyway," said Jean Henderson, 73, a retired resident of Broomfield, explaining her vote in favor of legalization. "The state can benefit from the taxes rather than put people in jail."

(Reporting by Keith Coffman; Additional reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky, Laura Zuckerman and Dan Whitcomb; Writing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Jim Loney)

[BigV]

I voted in favor of Initiative 502, the legalization of marijuana in Washington. I'm glad it's passing. Still over a million ballots to be counted as of this morning, so, not conclusive. But it does have a very large lead and is likely to be reversed.

It's the end of prohibition, and it's gonna be bloody.

[piercehawkeye45]

This also brings up the question of how we should address harder drugs and the drug war in general.

I'm for weed legalization as long as its treated like alcohol but I would not want to see it extended to harder drugs such as cocaine or LSD. However, I am against the overtop drug war.

Also, are companies still allowed perform drug tests in those states?

[Ibby]

That's interesting, ph45, cause like - I wouldn't call LSD a harder drug the way I'd call coke. LSD, shrooms, weed, dxm... nah, shit should be legal and regulated. MDMA i'm not sure about, but it's largely much less harmful than most drugs. Coke, crack, heroin, meth, nah way bro.

[infinite monkey]

Drug tests make no sense. You can do coke for an entire week and 3 days later you're clean. More quickly if you drink more water. If you hit a joint at your friend's party two months ago you can fail, and get fired. Marijuana is fat soluble and can stay in your system for a very long time.

Mandated by the insurance companies, for money.

Of course doing drugs ON THE JOB is dangerous. So is drinking on the job. So we don't tolerate drinking on the job and we won't tolerate being stoned on the job.

It's not rocket science so why all the fear (from the opponents?)

[Ibby]

Even being stoned on the job depends honestly.
i've been stoned at work loads of times. As long as i don't get like, USELESSLY high, a bit of a buzz helps me focus and actually increases my productivity. depends on the person, depends on the job. I wouldn't want my surgeon or my cop or my building inspector to be high on the job. Mechanic? actor? chef? office monkey? paper pusher? why the hell not? I know folks who could definitely take apart and put back together an engine better high than sober.
Weed doesn't intoxicate at all the same way alcohol does.

Sure, most employers would say, yeah, okay, dont come in high. fine. But I can imagine that a lot of small businesses wouldnt give a fuck if it didnt affect performance.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Ibby

Even being stoned on the job depends honestly.
i've been stoned at work loads of times. As long as i don't get like, USELESSLY high, a bit of a buzz helps me focus and actually increases my productivity. depends on the person, depends on the job. I wouldn't want my surgeon or my cop or my building inspector to be high on the job. Mechanic? actor? chef? office monkey? paper pusher? why the hell not? I know folks who could definitely take apart and put back together an engine better high than sober.
Weed doesn't intoxicate at all the same way alcohol does.

Sure, most employers would say, yeah, okay, dont come in high. fine. But I can imagine that a lot of small businesses wouldnt give a fuck if it didnt affect performance.

I was sort of playing devil's advocate. I agree with you...but you're not going to convince the opponents of that. And I think if things do change it's a concession we'll have to make.

Back in my heyday...it was awesome to take a quick break and catch a buzz while working at the bar. Of course, having a couple drinks was OK too if you don't get stupid. I think it's hard to get stupid smoking weed (at least the crap shit you find these days...bring back my heyday with sensi and indica.) Working on tiny assemblies and soldering too...you could get so focused.

I wouldn't do it now. Though I tell you...it sure would help with the stress.

[Ibby]

Actually, the average THC content per mg of plant matter has gone up a LOT in the past 40 years and is continuing to rise. Shit's getting danker, not worse.

[glatt]

As long as it doesn't negatively impact the work, employers shouldn't care. And if it does negatively impact the work, the employers can discipline based on the poor performance, not on the reason behind the poor performance.

I don't see a reason for drug tests. Just fire the kid for eating all the twinkies in the 7-11, not for being high.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by Ibby

That's interesting, ph45, cause like - I wouldn't call LSD a harder drug the way I'd call coke. LSD, shrooms, weed, dxm... nah, shit should be legal and regulated. MDMA i'm not sure about, but it's largely much less harmful than most drugs. Coke, crack, heroin, meth, nah way bro.

LSD isn't addictive but there is too much we currently don't know about it to justify its legalization. Weed is justifiable because even though I would argue that the net effects are negative when used as a habit, the effects are no worse than alcohol.

LSD is a drug that can have drastically different effects depending on the hit and person. One person may be able to take LSD on a regular basis (once a month) for years and experience very little negative effects while another person may be fucked up for life by taking a single hit. I'm not opposed to people using it, I would argue no legal consequences unless you are dealing, but it is something that should not be promoted within our society in any way. Too much uncertainty.

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Ibby

Actually, the average THC content per mg of plant matter has gone up a LOT in the past 40 years and is continuing to rise. Shit's getting danker, not worse.

[thisisn'tme] I've heard that too...but having been alive and kicking it in the 80s I'm not seeing it. I certainly haven't had a one hit wonder in about 20 years. Of course, it could be a local problem.[/thisisn'tme]

[fargon]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

[thisisn'tme] I've heard that too...but having been alive and kicking it in the 80s I'm not seeing it. I certainly haven't had a one hit wonder in about 20 years. Of course, it could be a local problem.[/thisisn'tme]

You haven't been smoking the same stuff I have been smoking IM.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

[thisisn'tme] I've heard that too...but having been alive and kicking it in the 80s I'm not seeing it. I certainly haven't had a one hit wonder in about 20 years. Of course, it could be a local problem.[/thisisn'tme]

Depends on location and what you get. Some of the good west coast weed will knock anyone out with a single hit while the same people can smoke lesser quality weed all day long and not feel it.

[Ibby]

Originally Posted by anonymous

I've had NY sour D, canadian hydro, VT organic, SoCal shake, Humboldt haze, dispensary cough, afghan goo, and indian purp. there is a LOT of really fantastic stuff on the market. You just gotta buy quantity. if youre pickin up dimebags and twennybags yer gonna get shake and maybe mids at best. you gotta go over an eighth, and you start getting quality headies and danks.

[SamIam]

The party's still going on here in Colorado. My next door neighbor figures that as long as he doesn't toke up in a National Park, the Feds are nothing to worry about. My other next door neighbor dropped by with some of the best weed I've ever smoked. My friend Jim thinks we should get in on the ground floor and once the rules for commercial growers have been set out by the department of revenue, we should get the paperwork and go into the biz.

If I did, I would actually be following in the steps of my grandfather who devoted a portion of his farm back in Kentucky to the cultivation of hemp as a part of the war effort back in WWII. My patriotic grandfather could never there after completely eradicate the weed from his fields. I can remember how irritated he'd get when kids from Eastern University (which was right over the farm's south boundary) would trample his tobacco plants in their quest to score a free high.

It's taken about 67 years for it to become legal again. 67 years of wasted effort and tax payer dollars and the rise of the Mexican marijuana cartels - all over a plant that can be made into some pretty sturdy rope but is put to far better use when smoked to get on a nice, relaxed buzz.

I think society is ready to change it's all or nothing thinking when it comes to pot. You never hear about some guy getting stoned, then beating up the wife and kids. I've encountered any number of mean drunks, but I've never met a mean stoner. There's no pot equivalent of crack cocaine or meth that I'm aware of, anyhow. Pot was never a problem when legal, but making pot illegal has caused society any number of problems , not the least of which is the rise of a set of ruthless criminals right on our southern borders.

If the US legalized pot and allowed growers to get licenses to grow it commercially, the Mexican marijuana cartel problem would all but vanish; state governments would get some badly needed income from new taxes that even a Tea Bagger couldn't object to; and law enforcement resources would be freed up to go after the substances that actually do cause considerable harm.

I think the Feds will begin to see reason, and I bet it won't take them another 67 years, either.