Comments on: The Five States Most Likely to Legalize Marijuana Next http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2013/01/04/the-five-states-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-next/ Legalize marijuana Sat, 18 May 2013 10:36:58 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Kurt Sperry http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2013/01/04/the-five-states-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-next/#comment-6900 Kurt Sperry Fri, 04 Jan 2013 23:22:44 +0000 http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/?p=3745#comment-6900 Obama et al will do whatever they can do to stymie any legalization efforts. Any initiative can however essentially negate the Federal law by providing users a means to supply themselves non-commercially by allowing a number of plants to be grown for personal use as CO did-- and WA did not. The downside is obviously the lack of state and local tax revenues should the Feds decide to play hardball with state plans for commercial sale but the upside will be that users will be able to supply themselves (and in reality their friends) in a manner that leaves the Federal laws and policies completely unenforceable and thus practically irrelevant. Federal law enforcement and courts would be completely helpless to deal with a large number of small violators, they can only target and attack significant commerce and distribution nodes. The devil is in the details and the viability of state level legalization initiatives in the face of determined Federal opposition is all down to allowing individuals to legally supply themselves. It'd be nice if it could be commercialized and taxed to benefit local and state governments but relying on that necessarily hands the Feds the tools they need to thwart the will of the electorate. For now and for the foreseeable future the way forward is through locally legal closet and backyard grows too small to merit a Federal response. Obama et al will do whatever they can do to stymie any legalization efforts. Any initiative can however essentially negate the Federal law by providing users a means to supply themselves non-commercially by allowing a number of plants to be grown for personal use as CO did– and WA did not. The downside is obviously the lack of state and local tax revenues should the Feds decide to play hardball with state plans for commercial sale but the upside will be that users will be able to supply themselves (and in reality their friends) in a manner that leaves the Federal laws and policies completely unenforceable and thus practically irrelevant. Federal law enforcement and courts would be completely helpless to deal with a large number of small violators, they can only target and attack significant commerce and distribution nodes.

The devil is in the details and the viability of state level legalization initiatives in the face of determined Federal opposition is all down to allowing individuals to legally supply themselves. It’d be nice if it could be commercialized and taxed to benefit local and state governments but relying on that necessarily hands the Feds the tools they need to thwart the will of the electorate. For now and for the foreseeable future the way forward is through locally legal closet and backyard grows too small to merit a Federal response.

]]> By: BeerNotWar http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2013/01/04/the-five-states-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-next/#comment-6899 BeerNotWar Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:10:14 +0000 http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/?p=3745#comment-6899 Whether or not any other states vote to legalize it will be heavily impacted by the President's response to legalization in Washington and Colorado. If the DEA simply will not allow the states to set up legal manufacture and sale, along with taxation then I suspect legalization efforts around the country will stall. I'm frankly pessimistic based on the President's statement on the issue, in which he affirmed support for decriminalization of small-time possession, but hinted at resisting full legalization. Here in Washington our own Democratic governor has expressed little enthusiasm for fighting to support a legalization framework. We still have a fight on our hands to get the people's will enacted in the two legalization states. Whether or not any other states vote to legalize it will be heavily impacted by the President’s response to legalization in Washington and Colorado. If the DEA simply will not allow the states to set up legal manufacture and sale, along with taxation then I suspect legalization efforts around the country will stall.

I’m frankly pessimistic based on the President’s statement on the issue, in which he affirmed support for decriminalization of small-time possession, but hinted at resisting full legalization. Here in Washington our own Democratic governor has expressed little enthusiasm for fighting to support a legalization framework. We still have a fight on our hands to get the people’s will enacted in the two legalization states.

]]> By: hijean831 http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2013/01/04/the-five-states-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-next/#comment-6898 hijean831 Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:41:50 +0000 http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/?p=3745#comment-6898 Interesting sidelight - when CA was considering MM, I lived in a very red part of the state. A coworker did an informal poll of her contacts, and she found older & younger folks more open to it than middle-aged. Elders seemed to have the most thoughtful take, based on experience: they were more likely to have known someone who needed MM instead of expensive pharmaceuticals of dubious value and with demonstrated negative side effects. Interesting sidelight – when CA was considering MM, I lived in a very red part of the state. A coworker did an informal poll of her contacts, and she found older & younger folks more open to it than middle-aged.

Elders seemed to have the most thoughtful take, based on experience: they were more likely to have known someone who needed MM instead of expensive pharmaceuticals of dubious value and with demonstrated negative side effects.

]]> By: Watt4Bob http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/2013/01/04/the-five-states-most-likely-to-legalize-marijuana-next/#comment-6897 Watt4Bob Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:09:55 +0000 http://justsaynow.firedoglake.com/?p=3745#comment-6897 My guess would be that if the tax revenues resulting from legalization prove to be as large as predicted, there will be a sea-change in the way people feel about the issue. My guess would be that if the tax revenues resulting from legalization prove to be as large as predicted, there will be a sea-change in the way people feel about the issue.

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