Cannabis '15: The Long Wait Until 2016

[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.

[publicunofficial]

Is there any state besides Utah that is likely to disapprove of legalization?

[publicunofficial]

I haven't been following this.  Where are we going next in terms of referenda?  Who's going to do this in 2014?  Oregon?  Rhode Island?  Vermont?

Rhode Island doesn't have Initiatives, and their Democratic legislature is too right-wing to support legalization, so I'd say they'll take a while. Vermont could legalize it legislatively, but I don't know the situation on that.

Oregon looks likely to try again in 2014, along with Alaska. Arizona could happen in 2014 or 2016.

[publicunofficial]

Alaskans have enough signatures to put marijuana on the ballot. It's a matter of verification now.

Hopefully this can encourage the base to turn out for Begich too.

The ballot initiative would be on the ballot in August, not November. Doesn't affect Begich at all.

[publicunofficial]

66% support legalization in Hawaii

[publicunofficial]

What states do you think would be opposed if polled? I suspect Ohio and Illinois would be.

Why Illinois?

Don't know about Illinois, but fun and happiness is forbidden in Ohio.

[publicunofficial]

PPP: Alaska's November marijuana legalization referendum leads 48-45

Some interesting crosstabs there. Apparently 18-29 year olds oppose marijuana legalization more than 65+ year olds do.

I call BS

Theory: 65+ year olds are old enough to remember when marijuana was legal in Alaska, and thus the idea of it being legal again is not so foreign and scary.

[publicunofficial]

After passing in Oregon and Alaska this cycle, activists have already gathered enough signatures to put marijuana legalization on the ballot in Nevada for 2016.

Marijuana legalization has been on the ballot in Nevada before. It got 39% in 2002, and 44% in 2006.