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Today could be a historic day for both marriage equality and marijuana policy reform. In previous elections every time the issue of same-sex marriage or marijuana legalization appeared on a statewide ballot it was rejected by voters.
This election, though, thanks to a rapid change in popular opinion and a younger generation that takes a live-and-let-live attitude, that trend could finally end.
Colorado, Oregon and Washington State all feature ballot initiatives that would legalize marijuana under state law. In Colorado and Washington the final polls put the measure at just over 50 percent support. If any of them pass it should force a national conversation about our marijuana laws.
The issue of marriage equality is on the ballot in four states. Voters in Maine, Maryland, and Washington State will have the chance to approve same-sex marriage laws. In Minnesota voters will be deciding on an amendment that would put a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution. The final set of polls show the marriage equality show them narrowly leading in Maine and Washington and the ban on same-sex marriage narrowly losing in Minnesota.
What is remarkable is how close almost all the marriage equality and marijuana legalization ballot measures are in the final polls. If you live in one of these states and care about these issue make sure to vote. There is the real possibility that some of them will be decided by just a fraction of a percent.
Photo by ilmungo under Creative Commons license
10 Comments
i haven’t actually read it, but my friends and people i trust are telling me that the CO “legalization” bill is anything but and actually increases the penalties for ‘improper’ use.
Massachusetts voters voted for no penalties on possession of small quantities of marijuana for personal use a few years ago. On the Massachusetts ballot today is medical marijuana provision.
Nope! It’s actually a Constitutional Amendment that we’re voting on here. Here’s the text in its entirety:
The subsequent code [Here - PDF!] Is not unreasonable in any way to my reading.
Best part is? It’s going to pass. I’m saying I’m 99.9% sure it will.
actually the penality in Mass is a small fine
i think it’s all that regulation stuff my friends are worried about, Kelly. hopefully the state won’t make all that an impossible hurdle for the small growers.
Consider this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/05/marijuana-legalization-states-2012_n_2078759.html
Apparently, marriage equality, at the state level, will be allowed to go “forward” …
DW
Isn’t it absurd that the word “allowed” even has to be used! People have/had rights and no one should be able to decide on another persons rights.
Hey, DW
The “six plants” thing is a joke. Is it legal, or isn’t it? Is there a legal limit on how many tomato plants I can grow? There is a legal limit on how much beer I can brew, but it’s pretty big (like 200 gallons?).
The one ounce limit is also a joke. Is there a legal limit on how many bottles of wine I can have in the basement?
Compromises have to be made, and this is what could get enough signatures to get on the ballot, but it leaves a lot to be desired.
I voted for it, but I think it is nothing more than a first step.
When I went to school in Ann Arbor, marijuana was decriminalized in the city, so the city and campus cops pretty much ignored any non-dealing activity. I expect something similar to happen here – city/county/state police will simply ignore marijuana issues. If the Feds are arresting you for making bomb threats, they’ll add some Federal drug charges along with it if they find your stash.
We need to work out some sort of reasonable DUI statues for MJ, and they can’t be zero blood content. You need a reasonable road-side test. This will be a good opportunity to develop one.
The whole commercial side is going to be a problem with the Feds, of course. Hemp cultivation is part of this law. It’s a great crop and farmers should be seriously considering it, but it’s pretty conspicuous to have a 200 acre hemp field. Do the Feds get involved? Are you sure enough about it to risk them confiscating the family farm?
What I hope is that this forces Congress to address the issue. Paul and Frank (both retiring) co-sponsored a bill that would allow state law regarding (medical?) marijuana to be an affirmative defence in Federal court – effectively resolving Federal pre-emption of state law in this specific case. It didn’t get a vote, of course, but something like that could be a good step.
So, first legalize. Then get more states to join us. Then work out the Federal issues. Then pass a new amendment that unifies the medical and recreational/commercial amendments and brings it into alignment with the Feds.
The Federal government has no more sovereign authority within the Constitution to prohibit cannabis than it did alcohol– which is why alcohol prohibition had to be enacted via a Constitutional amendment. If the Federal courts follow the Constitution (not something they frequently are inclined to, granted), they will have no choice but to defer to state law. One honest court ruling and the Federal roadblocks to legalization on a state by state basis evaporate.
Many states are voting/voted on Marijuana or Hemp today. MMJ passed in Massachusetts. Here are the 18 states voting on it today:
Arkansas;
California (LA);
Colorado;
Illinois;
Massachusetts;
Missouri (Springfield);
Montana (voting to repeal);
New Hampshire;
New Jersey;
New York;
Ohio;
Oregon;
Pennsylvania;
South Carolina;
Tennessee;
Vermont (Burlington);
and Washington.