2006 Marijuana Mid-Term Results
November 8th, 2006 by Alex
Well, all the results are in and it’s time to get them out to the public. The conclusions from these mid-term elections are mixed. Seeing how close some of the major ballots came to being passed, it looks like we’re on the right track towards legalization.
Honorable mentions go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Massachusetts for passing ordinances and low level resolutions aiding in the deprioritization of marijuana arrests.
Read below to see official sites and measure summaries:
California
Measure P (Santa Barbara) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure K (Santa Cruz) – Complete pot deprioritization
Measure Y (Santa Monica) – Complete pot deprioritization
Colorado
Amendment 44 – Legalization of up to 1 ounce of marijuana for adults 21+ years old
Montana
Initiative 2 (Missoula) – Complete pot deprioritization
Nevada
Question 7 – Remove all civil penalties for the private possession, create state-wide system for taxation & distribution
South Dakota
Initiated Measure 4 – Allow the physician-authorized use of cannabis for medicinal purposes
[all data via NORML]
Marijuana Reform Breakdown
November 4th, 2006 by Alex
TalkLeft has put together a nice, quick breakdown of the upcoming marijuana reform initiatives that are taking place in Colorado, Nevada and South Dakota. This years’ mid-term elections are not only important because of the obvious Democrat vs. Republican struggle, but also because these measures might be the first steps toward legalization.
Public opinion is starting to swing in many states. Organizations like LEAP and SAFER Colorado are doing their part to improve awareness and promote the benefits of herb rather than the demonization and scare tactics employed by the US government.
Overall, even if these measures don’t succeed (and I sure as hell hope they do), I still believe we are on the path towards a more intellectual approach to smoking. When you compare the benefits and drawbacks against many other legal substances in the US, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
[via TalkLeft]
RegulateMarijuana.org
September 14th, 2006 by AlexKeeping with the West Coast theme we’ve got going for today, let’s swing over to Nevada and the political side of things. RegulateMarijuana.org created a flash movie that helps explain exactly what their legalization initiative will do for the state. It’s well thought out and, if passed, will add a huge boost to the marijuana legalization movement in general.
Enjoy.
Nevada Legalization Movement
August 15th, 2006 by Alex
Unlike Colorado, the initiative in Nevada has gathered a more wide-ranging support, even from conservative organizations. Specifics of the measure allow anyone 21 years or older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana for personal use. It would also set up a system of “pot shops” and allow for taxation of products sold, similar to alcohol. The supporters were able to gather 86,000 signatures for placement on the ballot – this shows a significant backing of public opinion.
So, this is a state level initiative, what about the federal laws that still make marijuana illegal? Chuck Muth, the leader of conservative networking organization Citizen Outreach, had this to say:
Bring it on. This country has needed a big fight over federalism for a long time. I’d love to see it here. If the feds came in, you’d start to see a backlash against the drug war and the federal government. The war on drugs is a total failure. It’s time to bring the troops home.
With conservative backing, support from Las Vegas (plus the huge economic boom it would receive) and a little bit of luck – this measure just might have enough fire power to get lawmakers across the country to take notice. The West Coast is pioneering the movement towards legalization and anyone in Nevada should vote on this measure when they get the chance.
