Cannabis '15: The Long Wait Until 2016

[CatoMinor]

You can't stop this freight train of awesomeness! WA and CO are just the beginning!

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http://reason.com/blog/2012/11/14/state-legislators-in-rhode-island-and-ma

[The Free North]

Awesomeness

Here in Texas the was a Marijuana march on the capitol Saturday, and our campus faculty NORML adviser gave a speech on the capitol steps.

There have been movements here in CT as well, but I think the governor is pretty anti-weed at the moment.

[greenforest32]

Any word from the Feds about these initiatives?

I suspect they will crack down on any commercial production/distribution activity or regulations in a bit. There's not much they can do about reduced possession penalties I think, unless they challenge the measures as a whole.

I am surprised how well the initiatives did at the ballot, even Oregon's which had little advertising and lots of negative press is now at ~46.5% with nearly all of the votes counted: http://www.oregonvotes.gov/results/2012G/645489344.html

It's kind of surreal to see the post-election reaction when an issue like this is forced to focus through an initiative.

[5280]

Which are the next states after WA and CO that will fully legalize? Any guesses?

[Gass3268]

Which are the next states after WA and CO that will fully legalize? Any guesses?

An article above says that Maine and Rhode Island will have bill's introduced. I heard somewhere else that Massachusetts and Vermont may do the same. I could also see California and Oregon giving it another try.

[Marokai Backbeat]

If Oregon's initiative was more like the WA and CO initiative, it probably would've passed. It's all about the approach, and it seems the pro-legalization movement has finally found one that works.

[politicallefty]

Which are the next states after WA and CO that will fully legalize? Any guesses?

An article above says that Maine and Rhode Island will have bill's introduced. I heard somewhere else that Massachusetts and Vermont may do the same. I could also see California and Oregon giving it another try.

The pro-marijuana forces in California weren't particularly smart in putting Prop 19 on the ballot in 2010 (although it may have been the spark to get the conversation going). I have almost no doubt it would have passed if it were on the ballot this year. Legalizing marijuana is considerably more difficult in midterms when you have a much older electorate as opposed to presidential years. The Colorado and Washington initiatives would've had a much harder time in 2010.

[Badger]

I wouldn't have supported the Washington initiative. The idea that a driver can be forced to undergo a blood test and be penalized for something they may have smoked ages ago is terrifying.

I agree it's less than ideal, but they can't test you without probable cause. So as long as you aren't driving erratically with a car reeking of weed you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Since when has probable cause been anything like a surefire safeguard in the War on Drugs?  Do people seriously not see being forced to have your blood tested by the police as an invasion of privacy? If that's not, I don't know what is. It's just not worth it. 
Thankfully the Supreme Court is taking up this issue in the context of warrantless blood tests for alcohol, where there is a good chance it will be struck down.

Drop the polemics. In Realityville, CT is basically right, and you are wrong.

[greenforest32]

Looks like 7 states (AK, RI, ME, OR, CA, MA, NV) are being targeted through 2013-2016 for CO/WA style legalization bills and initiatives: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kampia/state-marijuana-legalization_b_2377847.html

I'm still not sure when or how the federal government is going to respond to the Washington and Colorado measures but this seems to be their plan:

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[CatoMinor]

The times they are a-changing

[greenforest32]

Pretty thorough article about the recent developments: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/26/obamas-drug-war-medical-marijuana_n_2546178.html

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I wonder if there's support for at least federal decriminalization at this point.

[greenforest32]

Looks like 7 states (AK, RI, ME, OR, CA, MA, NV) are being targeted through 2013-2016 for CO/WA style legalization bills and initiatives: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-kampia/state-marijuana-legalization_b_2377847.html

Really haven't seen much action in 2013 yet. The Oregon legalization bill had a hearing a while back but that's been it so far. I don't get the impression it's going to pass the legislature in 2013 and Kitzhaber opposed the 2012 legalization ballot measure in Oregon (though he did support the 2010 medical marijuana dispensary initiative that ultimately failed) so it's probably back to the ballot. Not sure if they're aiming for 2014 or 2016 for that either. On that note:

1. Maryland became the 19th state to legalize medical marijuana, although it's a very limited program.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/01/marijuana-maryland-medical/2127433/

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2. The Colorado legislature passed the bills for the regulation and sale of marijuana in the state. After the Governor signs it, the bill covering the new marijuana excise/sales tax rates will automatically go to the November 2013 ballot for voter approval because of the state's TABOR amendment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/marijuana-legalization-bi_0_n_3238274.html

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[greenforest32]

1. Vermont becomes the 17th state to decriminalize small possession: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/13/vermont-decriminalizes-possession-of-marijuana/

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New Hampshire is now the only New England state with neither decriminalization or medical marijuana. The other five all have both. Ripe grounds for legalization. Massachusetts at the ballot in 2016 is probably the best bet.

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2. Illinois is on track to be the 20th state to legalize medical marijuana though it's a fairly restrictive proposal like Maryland: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/illinois-medical-marijuan_0_n_3245500.html

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[greenforest32]

1. The Illinois Senate approved the medical marijuana bill and it's now at Quinn's desk: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/20/pat-quinn-medical-marijuana-illinois_n_3308005.html

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2. An update on the Oregon proposal(s). Now we're talkin': http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/05/pot_pressure_mounts_in_salem_a.html

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I guess they want it on the ballot either way because they're confident Kitzhaber would veto the bill. Hickenlooper and Gregoire probably would have done the same if the Washington and Colorado legalization measures were bills from the state legislature.

Edit: Oh and since HB3371 increases taxes, it needs a 3/5 supermajority in both chambers which Democrats are two seats short of in both chambers. That means 2 Republicans in the state house and 2 in the state senate need to support it as well to send it to the Governor's desk whereas referring it to the ballot only requires a simple majority in both chambers, something Democrats do have.

[CatoMinor]

My guess would be Vermont for the next state to legalize fully.

[CatoMinor]

Facts are becoming harder and harder to argue against.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/07/05/ten-years-after-decriminalization-drug-abuse-down-by-half-in-portugal/

[politicallefty]

My guess would be Vermont for the next state to legalize fully.

If you mean before the next ballot initiative on legal marijuana, I think you're probably right. There aren't many states where I could see it passing through the legislative process, but Vermont would be the most probable state. Otherwise, I think marijuana legalization is pretty much stuck to ballot initiatives.

[CatoMinor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h11rMTjdQNY#at=82

hahaha....

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[© tweed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h11rMTjdQNY#at=82

hahaha....

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jury nullification would be an interesting grassroots strategy to pursue if the feds don't lay off soon.

[Nhoj]

This article has a rundown of states looking into it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/marijuana-legalization-states_n_3838866.html

[greenforest32]

Quinn signed the Illinois medical marijuana bill. Similar thing happened in New Hampshire with Hassan so now there's 20 states with legal medical marijuana (21 if you include Maryland's 2013 bill which most reports seem to be excluding).

This article has a rundown of states looking into it.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/marijuana-legalization-states_n_3838866.html

I think they're overrating the chances in Vermont and Rhode Island. It just doesn't seem like we're at the point where a legislature will vote to legalize (just look how hard it is to get decriminalization or medical marijuana passed) and I'm not sure why they talk about the possibility of ballot initiatives in those two states as neither VT or RI have initiatives.

[publicunofficial]

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130912/NEWS/309120047/Leaders-consider-writing-pot-law?nclick_check=1

Democrat and Republican leaders of the Oregon State House (Currently 34-26 Democrat) are considering drafting their own measure to legalize marijuana to put on the 2014 ballot.

Most cite the confusing and unclear nature of the 2012 legalization initiative as the main reason for its failure, and a professionally written law would likely see more success.

[greenforest32]

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130912/NEWS/309120047/Leaders-consider-writing-pot-law?nclick_check=1

Democrat and Republican leaders of the Oregon State House (Currently 34-26 Democrat) are considering drafting their own measure to legalize marijuana to put on the 2014 ballot.

Most cite the confusing and unclear nature of the 2012 legalization initiative as the main reason for its failure, and a professionally written law would likely see more success.

I'm still betting on another initiative in 2014 rather than the legislature referring a measure. The 2013 legislative legalization bill they talked about only passed in a state house committee as opposed to both houses of the legislature. That said, the 2012 results on those marijuana measures did embolden Democrats here a bit regarding marijuana in this legislative session (pardon the link ): http://www.theweedblog.com/which-state-has-had-the-most-marijuana-reform-during-the-2013-legislative-session/

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[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

PPIC Poll: 60% of Likely Voters in California Back Marijuana Legalization

[greenforest32]

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2013/PPP_Release_MA_926.pdf

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