NEW YORK — Voters in three states will decide next month whether to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. If a ballot measure in one of those states succeeds, as supporters predict, it may create a rare truce in the war on drugs — and trigger a showdown with the federal government.
State-level legalization would climax decades of struggle by reformers to convince voters that marijuana presents less of a threat to public safety than legal drugs, including alcohol. It would also show that pro-pot activists have learned from previous losses, like California’s Proposition 19.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that at least one of them will pass,” said Dan Riffle, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project.
His confidence appears justified. A September poll put support in Washington state at 57 percent. A Colorado poll out Monday from The Denver Post showed 48 percent in favor, versus 43 percent opposed. Support in Oregon was lagging.
Proponents have picked their battles. Legalization is only on the ballot in libertarian-leaning western states. Still-hostile state legislatures have been bypassed with ballot initiatives. And the presidential election will draw marijuana- friendly younger voters to polls.
Public support for marijuana legalization has been on a long-term upward curve, with a majority of Americans saying for the first time last year they favored it.
So, will one state become a legal pot state? What will the feds do? Which state will decriminalize marijuana? Does legalizing pot mean the war on drugs is over? Is pot really a drug?
All sorts of questions remain with this one. I don’t think Virginia will ever have pot on the ballot but you never know. Colorado isn’t the last bastion of liberalization either.
One impact of legalizing pot would be the number of potheads who would flock to the states. Nothing against potheads but I am guessing that decrimializing weed would definitely change the demographics.
Legalize it, tax the crap out of it. It will reduce crime in an instant. It will remove the big money the drug lords get for importing the drug. It is about time, you cannot fight it.
That is pretty much how I feel about it.
i would rather the criminals not have it. Too many people are languishing in jails still over small time sales.
I’m definitely for legalizing pot. Tax it, but be careful. Democrat-taxing it (like Herve describes) will create a nice fat black market (like cigarettes). But tax it to make money off of it….and for the love of God, save the “war on drugs” money.