A Crucial Election Season for Legalizing Marijuana and Ending the Drug War

The momentum of the legalization effort is REALLY picking up. This November we have the MOST drug policy reform issues on the ballot. The MOST in American history. Come November, this issue may truly break into the mainstream and the federal government will finally have to address the schedule 1 issue.

A Crucial Election Season for Legalizing Marijuana and Ending the Drug War

It may be an off-year election, but it's a big one for drug policy reform. In seven weeks, voters across the country will have a chance to accelerate the unprecedented momentum to legalize marijuana and end the wider drug war. In fact, there are more drug policy reform questions on the ballot this November than ever in American history. Voter initiatives -- primarily reforming or repealing marijuana laws -- appear on the ballots in seven states, at least 17 municipalities and one U.S. territory. To help you keep score at home, here's an overview, starting with the highest-profile measures.

The biggest ones are below (the rest are in the article):

Oregon: Passage of Measure 91 will make the Beaver State the third to legalize marijuana for adults outright. Like the historic laws adopted in Colorado and neighboring Washington two short years ago, this initiative would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and older and create a statewide system to regulate production and sales. And similar to Colorado's law, Measure 91 would allow adults to cultivate small amounts of marijuana under controlled circumstances. In this entirely vote-by-mail election, the initiative has already been endorsed by the Pacific Northwest's largest daily paper and would likely boost efforts across its southern border to end marijuana prohibition in California two years from now.

Alaska: The other statewide marijuana legalization initiative, Measure 2, is closely modeled on Colorado's Amendment 64 and tracks many of the elements in Oregon's prospective law. Alaska was something of a marijuana reform pioneer as possession and cultivation of small amounts for personal use in a private residence has been protected under the Alaska Constitution since the 1970s. Alongside Oregon in 1998, Alaska was among the first states to legalize medical marijuana. With a deep-rooted respect for personal freedom, Alaska would become the first red state to legalize marijuana for adult use, no doubt raising eyebrows across the political spectrum.

These two are similar laws and will add to the total number of states with full out legalization, including the FIRST red state to legalize marijuana. Yes even the conservatives are waking up to reality.

Florida: Amendment 2 is the only statewide medical marijuana initiative on the ballot this year, and it's one to watch. Victory would make Florida, with its huge population and bell weather status in American politics, the very first southern state to adopt a medical marijuana law. With 23 other medical marijuana states and super-majority support nationally, passage of Amendment 2 would effectively settle any lingering questions on public acceptance of marijuana as medicine. It's going to be a challenge, though, since Florida law requires 60% to pass a voter initiative. While polls indicate enormous support, casino mogul Sheldon Adelsoncontributed a few million dollars to stop it as Amendment 2 is associated with Charlie Crist's comeback gubernatorial campaign. Adelson's intervention has created the first well-funded opposition to a statewide marijuana reform campaign ever.

Medical marijuana, a nice first step!

California: On the heels of reforming its harshest-in-the-nation Three Strikes law in 2012, Californians are now poised to refine six low-level, nonviolent offenses, including simple drug possession, from felonies to misdemeanors. Proposition 47 would then dedicate the savings -- likely more than $1 billion a year -- to schools, victim services, and mental health treatment. With retroactive sentencing and expungement provisions, the impact of Prop 47 in California on wasteful corrections spending and individual lives would be profound and surely resonate across the country.

I'm still kind of surprised that California hasn't voted to legalize it yet. They paved the way back in '96 with medical marijuana and they are lagging behind two states with it being legal with that possibility going up to 4 (plus a district) come November. Though reclassifying felonies to misdemeanors is a decent thing.

District of Columbia: Earlier this year, the D.C. Council adopted the nation's most far-reaching marijuana decriminalization law. In November, voters in the nation's capital will decide whether to go even further. Initiative 71 makes it legal for adults over the age of 21 to possess and cultivate small amounts of marijuana. While District law prevents the ballot initiative from addressing the sale of marijuana, the D.C. Council is considering a bill that would tax and regulate marijuana within the District. D.C. has the highest per capita marijuana arrest rates in the U.S. with enormous racial disparities as police target African Americans for 91 percent of these arrests. Initiative 71 will be the first marijuana reform campaign fought primarily on the issue of the drug war's ongoing toxic impact on black communities.

This one is BIG. Legalization in DC! Alongside this issue I also have this article to support it. Washington, D.C., Voters Strongly Support Marijuana Legalization

Washington, D.C., voters appear to be ready to legalize marijuana, according to a new poll that puts support at 65 percent.

The NBC4/Washington Post/Marist poll's finding that district voters support legalization by amost a 2-1 margin “is the highest support ever for a marijuana legalization ballot initiative,” Adam Eidinger, chair of D.C. Cannabis Campaign, the group backing the legalization measure, said in a statement. “It vindicates the work of this campaign so far, but we still have more work to do turning out the vote come Election Day.”

TWO TO ONE! For comparison:

The new poll suggests D.C. will join Washington state and Colorado in legalizing recreational marijuana. Just days before Washington state voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, Public Policy Polling found 53 percent support for the measure. The day before Colorado voters approved marijuana for recreational use by adults, PPP found 52 percent support.

Washington and Colorado BARELY had above 50% support. DC voters support this measure by 65%!

The freedom train is coming folks and its gaining steam. Don't let it leave you behind. Hopefully these measures can make this discussion into a federal discussion, because it desperately needs to be one.

It would take more than legalizing marijuana to end the drug war.
Which leads me to ask...
If they legalized methamphetamine, would I be able to buy OTC cold medicine without showing my driver's license?

I have serious issues with this in one respect. Although I support the people's right to use/grow Marijuana based on many medicinal properties.


I am still 100% dead set against the illegal Drug trade of heavier Narcotics.

No, I wouldn't put up with a child being driven to school by a crackhead bus driver.

Sorry

NO!

Good thread. F&S I really hope for the day of full legalization and decriminalization across the entire USA.
It's been a long time coming, there are better things law enforcement can concentrate on.
I was hoping for full legalization and decriminalization to be on the Michigan ballot this election.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
I have serious issues with this in one respect. Although I support the people's right to use/grow Marijuana based on many medicinal properties.


I am still 100% dead set against the illegal Drug trade of heavier Narcotics.

No, I wouldn't put up with a child being driven to school by a crackhead.

Sorry

NO!

I have to stand with you here.

Crack, Meth, heavy opiates I have to say is going too far. These sort of drugs have the potential to affect my freedom through spin off crime.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
No, I wouldn't put up with a child being driven to school by a crackhead bus driver.

But that one on anti-psychotic drugs is just fine though right? I mean suicidal thoughts and tendencies along with the urge to kill just sound like a trait I want in my school's bus driver.

BTW...they already have DWI laws........

a reply to: Krazysh0t

These things take time, but I think the next five years will see a radical overhaul of cannabis policy, who knows maybe even in the UK. I'm not sure about heavier drugs, but perhaps the elimination of incarceration for possession crimes would be nice to see.

Off topic, but I like the sound of Beaver County!

originally posted by: crazyewok
Crack, Meth, heavy opiates I have to say is going too far.

You do know people are prescribed these things daily by their doctor?

www.medicinenet.com... aine_hydrochloride-topical/article.htm

en.wikipedia.org...

www.rxlist.com...

The more you know.

a reply to: SLAYER69

In all honesty, it looks like HuffPo stuck the war on drugs moniker on there to sensationalize it a bit. This article is pretty much only for marijuana legalization.

That being said, I disagree with you. I feel like more good could be done by having those drugs legalized and regulated with funds being diverted from arrests to addiction and withdrawal assistance. Keep in mind that pharmaceutical opioid drugs such as percocet have outpaced heroin in OD's in this country and percocet is legal with a prescription.

originally posted by: proob4
Good thread. F&S I really hope for the day of full legalization and decriminalization across the entire USA.
It's been a long time coming, there are better things law enforcement can concentrate on.
I was hoping for full legalization and decriminalization to be on the Michigan ballot this election.

· Michigan: In the last two years, residents of seven cities have voted to remove local penalties for adult possession of small amounts of marijuana in a private residence. As of now, a whopping 11 other cities (with apparently more to come) will have the chance to follow suit this year.

Well it pretty much is looking that way... Apparently the state government didn't get the memo that the state wants this addressed.

a reply to: HandyDandy

We already have DWI laws...

Let's not forget is okay to drive while under the influence of a plethora of Dr. Prescribed narcotics, anti-depressant, and other possible impairment drugs.

To make the jump from legalizing a plant to crack heads bus drivers demonstrates the logic fallacies associated with those trying to keep it illegal.

Legalization is around the corner. The DEA is freaking out because most of their initial intel they gather starts from investigating users of that plant.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

AND


Meanwhile, Drugs such as Alcohol have all the above mentioned support groups, education and prevention in place yet we still have fatal Auto Accidents and over doses.

Six of one, Half Dozen of the other.

a reply to: SLAYER69

Yes, but when that alcoholic buys his next fix, his money isn't going to an international criminal organization that literally has the financial capital to run countries superseding the country's government.

originally posted by: SLAYER69
a reply to: Krazysh0t

AND


Meanwhile, Drugs such as Alcohol have all the above mentioned support groups, education and prevention in place yet we still have fatal Auto Accidents and over doses.

Six of one, Half Dozen of the other.

Are you saying we should go back to alcohol prohibition now?

I don't get your argument.

originally posted by: HandyDandy

originally posted by: crazyewok
Crack, Meth, heavy opiates I have to say is going too far.

You do know people are prescribed these things daily by their doctor?

www.medicinenet.com... aine_hydrochloride-topical/article.htm

en.wikipedia.org...

www.rxlist.com...

The more you know.

Yes I do.

And under a doctor supervision im 100% fine with that.

originally posted by: crazyewok
And under a doctor supervision im 100% fine with that.

Like Michael Jackson?

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
his money isn't going to an international criminal organization that literally has the financial capital to run countries superseding the country's government.

If you read some of the replies here at ATS Tax Dollars here in the US do exactly that already.

a reply to: crazyewok

Policy Impact: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses

These are not isolated events. Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. In 2008, more than 36,000 people died from drug overdoses, and most of these deaths were caused by prescription drugs.4

Prescription Drug Overdose in the United States: Fact Sheet

What doctor supervision would you be referring to?

a reply to: SLAYER69

I can't help what the government does with tax money, but I know that I don't want to hand my money directly over to a (public) criminal organization that murders, extorts, and all other sorts of nasty stuff to expand their business.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: crazyewok

Policy Impact: Prescription Painkiller Overdoses

These are not isolated events. Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. In 2008, more than 36,000 people died from drug overdoses, and most of these deaths were caused by prescription drugs.4

Prescription Drug Overdose in the United States: Fact Sheet

What doctor supervision would you be referring to?

So we already have problems with prescription meds and you think we should add more problems??