The Green Thread: Marijuana in the states

[Virginiá]

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/marijuana/2017/07/08/nevada-fire-resources/452606001/

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Looks like legalization is a massive success in Nevada so far. Perhaps too successful!

[NOVA Green]

Marijuana Prohibition in Michigan is done!

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What's the deadline to get enough sigs to make it to the ballot as a citizen's initiative?

I'm fairly confident that if it makes it to the voters in Michigan it will likely pass, but frequently even in states where citizen ballot initiatives are common, ballot thresholds can make it tight towards the endgame, especially if a chunk of supporters are relatively younger and more likely to move around and such, which can create a much higher % of "invalid" signatures when the SoS does the "spot checks", and I'm sure that Washtenaw and Ingham will be disproportionately audited on this particular initiative....

[vanguard96]

What's the deadline to get enough sigs to make it to the ballot as a citizen's initiative?

I'm fairly confident that if it makes it to the voters in Michigan it will likely pass, but frequently even in states where citizen ballot initiatives are common, ballot thresholds can make it tight towards the endgame, especially if a chunk of supporters are relatively younger and more likely to move around and such, which can create a much higher % of "invalid" signatures when the SoS does the "spot checks", and I'm sure that Washtenaw and Ingham will be disproportionately audited on this particular initiative....

180 days

Yes, the campaign behind is being run quite well - they are ahead of target on signing and are trying to get a strong support in their polling for their proposals. Revenue wise it is mid-range, plant restriction wise it is one of the least restrictive.

A speaker from MI Legalize came to our last monthly meeting. I liked how the new laws did not create any new more stringent penalties where there were not before.

Of course the police are not very forthcoming with comments on it but a lot of other groups they've put the proposals to have been fairly supportive.

[kozasf]

Illinois should legalize it so they can tax it and help themselves out of their black hole of debt.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Decriminalization signed in New Hampshire

[_]

Illinois should legalize it so they can tax it and help themselves out of their black hole of debt.

>thinking anyone in the hellhole known as Springfield has enough of a brain to use this idea.
Ha Ha Ha
dear god I hate my state.

[Virginiá]

This is going to soon become a lot more ubiquitous, so I won't post about it much, but:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/342754-tax-revenue-for-legal-weed-sales-in-colorado-exceeds-500-million

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So it looks like they could be in for over or about 220 million in tax revenue. Just for Colorado. Imagine a state like California, where I think the total tax revenue was projected to hit over a billion.

Honestly, it still boggles my mind how other states are passing on this opportunity to tax a substance people are already using en masse. If I could say something to them, it would be: Face it. Your side lost. Whether you like it or not, cannabis prohibition is coming to a close. Might as well fill some budget holes with sales taxes on it or stupidly pass on it out of stubbornness.

[Zioneer]

New poll in Utah shows 77% support for medical marijuana:

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Of note is that 45% strongly support, and almost 33% somewhat support, with only about 20% strongly opposing or somewhat opposing.

If it gets on the ballot, it's going to win. I'm absolutely sure of it.

[KingSweden]

Legalization seems to have much more bipartisan support in the West, to nobody's surprise

[NOVA Green]

Not sure if this is the best thread to post, or if it belongs more in the Gubernatorial FL category but Politico just profiled John Morgan as a contender for FL GOV '18...

Still, even simply running for Governor as a dark-horse Democrat will raise the profile of Legalized Marijuana in Florida, in a way that your establishment Dem candidate will not. Additionally, if he rolls the dice and makes a run, it will likely significantly increase Dem turnout in a midterm election, that would potentially have down-ballot impact as well in what might be a very interesting year for incumbent Republicans in the US House.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/01/can-weed-make-john-morgan-governor-of-florida-215446

[Virginiá]

Advocates eye constitutional convention as path to legalizing marijuana in New York

No doubt I'm excited to see if they can actually pull that off. A convention opens up all sorts of possibilities, including a significant expansion of voter access laws that have been previously blocked. That and basically everything else progressives can't get due to a Republican state Senate and a Governor more interested in a split-legislature and weak "half-win"'s to burnish his 2020 profile.

With that in mind, legalization proponents would do well to try and draw in advocates for other issues (like single payer) to help up their chances of success.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Illinois is holding hearings for legalization proposals with two bills introduced in the House and Senate

[Zioneer]

Another poll in Utah shows 74% support for medical marijuana, despite LDS Church opposition.

Of note:

74% support overall

63% active Mormons (that is, churchgoing, tithe-paying, allowed in LDS temples) support it.

61% of Republicans support it.

93% of Democrats support it.

81% of independents support it.

51% of those who describe themselves as “very conservative” support it.

Basically, if this gets on the ballot, (which it should, the signature gatherers are well funded and motivated), it will pass. What's interesting though is that the face of medical marijuana legalization in Utah are good Mormon moms and kids (and a few grandmas). The medical marijuana coalition (called TRUCE) is essentially using the "think of the children and the moms" argument, but in favor rather than against marijuana.

[junior chįmp]

Marijuana decriminalization introduced in VA Senate for 2018 term

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Marijuana decriminalization introduced in VA Senate for 2018 term

I doubt it'll pass, but Freedom Bill nonetheless.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Weed is now officially legal in California.  Congrats to all the CA posters!

     

[Sestak]

Weed is now officially legal in California.  Congrats to all the CA posters!

     

Whoop Whoop!

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Weed is now officially legal in California.  Congrats to all the CA posters!

     

Shockingly, not much has changed here. Here in SoCal, the only places that had dispensaries opened today were Palm Springs, Cathedral City, San Diego, and Santa Ana. West Hollywood starts selling by Wednesday, Los Angeles won't be giving out permits till later this month, and Moreno Valley will sell in the summer. For the time being, I gotta drive 45-60 minutes to find a permitted dispensary

Everywhere else has either completely banned it or is in "wait and see" mode. Hasn't stopped the existing/illegal dispensaries from opening their doors to everyone 21+ without a rec though

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Weed is now officially legal in California.  Congrats to all the CA posters!

     

Shockingly, not much has changed here. Here in SoCal, the only places that had dispensaries opened today were Palm Springs, Cathedral City, San Diego, and Santa Ana. West Hollywood starts selling by Wednesday, Los Angeles won't be giving out permits till later this month, and Moreno Valley will sell in the summer. For the time being, I gotta drive 45-60 minutes to find a permitted dispensary

Everywhere else has either completely banned it or is in "wait and see" mode. Hasn't stopped the existing/illegal medical dispensaries from opening their doors to everyone 21+ without a rec though

How can that be if it was legalized statewide?  Are city governments flat-out refusing to grant permits?

[Virginiá]

Shockingly, not much has changed here. Here in SoCal, the only places that had dispensaries opened today were Palm Springs, Cathedral City, San Diego, and Santa Ana. West Hollywood starts selling by Wednesday, Los Angeles won't be giving out permits till later this month, and Moreno Valley will sell in the summer. For the time being, I gotta drive 45-60 minutes to find a permitted dispensary

Everywhere else has either completely banned it or is in "wait and see" mode. Hasn't stopped the existing/illegal medical dispensaries from opening their doors to everyone 21+ without a rec though

How can that be if it was legalized statewide?  Are city governments flat-out refusing to grant permits?

This is something that really pisses me off. Unless a city or county flat out voted against the legalization initiative to begin with, they should not be allowed to ban or significantly curtail dispensaries unless they put a measure doing so on the ballot for voters to approve in a high turnout general election (to avoid attempts to guarantee an outcome by 'selecting' a lower turnout electorate of old people). To ban dispensaries despite your town and/or county voting to legalize is just politicians nullifying the wish of their citizens simply because they can't accept that their old, crusty views are no longer acceptable to their constituents.

It's bad enough we have Old Man Sessions scheming to take away the progress we have made. The last thing we need is officials at the local level playing games too

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Weed is now officially legal in California.  Congrats to all the CA posters!

     

Shockingly, not much has changed here. Here in SoCal, the only places that had dispensaries opened today were Palm Springs, Cathedral City, San Diego, and Santa Ana. West Hollywood starts selling by Wednesday, Los Angeles won't be giving out permits till later this month, and Moreno Valley will sell in the summer. For the time being, I gotta drive 45-60 minutes to find a permitted dispensary

Everywhere else has either completely banned it or is in "wait and see" mode. Hasn't stopped the existing/illegal medical dispensaries from opening their doors to everyone 21+ without a rec though

How can that be if it was legalized statewide?  Are city governments flat-out refusing to grant permits?

Prop 64 gave local governments authority over allowing businesses in their locales. However, it allows residents to grow up to 6 plants indoors or in an enclosed structure (Such as a greenhouse).

- Bakersfield/Fresno: Placed bans on all pot businesses
- Riverside: Imposed a moratorium on all businesses until September
- San Jacinto: Approved manufacturing/distribution, but not dispensaries
- San Bernardino: Voter-approved dispensary measure recently got struck down in court. The issue goes to the city council, who haven't been very supportive about allowing them.
- Desert Hot Springs: More recreational dispensaries open than all of LA County

I'd give it another year until the recreational market gets into the full swing of things, at least in Southern California

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Sessions rescinding Cole Memo

This is not good news.

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Sessions rescinding Cole Memo

This is not good news.

Pot was federally illegal anyway, so I don't think the federal response will be as drastic as it's made out to be

On the contrary, I'm curious if this ends up galvanizing the legalization movement more than anything. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Democrats investing in some ballot measures this year or in 2020

[junior chįmp]

Good news. Ballot initiative legalizing Medical marijuana cleared for a vote in Oklahoma:

Oklahoma to vote on medical marijuana in June

Jeff Sessions BTFO

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

Vermont House passes bill to legalize pot. It now has to be approved by the State Senate, the Governor has already said he'll sign it

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/government/2018/01/04/vermont-house-vote-marijuana-legalization-thursday/1003206001/