Artie60438
Posts : 9728
| Subject: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes 11/6/2012, 11:07 pm | |
| Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes - Quote :
- An amendment that would make it legal in Colorado for individuals to possess and for businesses to sell marijuana for recreational use has passed.
The Denver Post made the call at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Amendment 64 led with 52.7 percent voting yes and 47.3 percent voting no, with 1,507,746 votes or more than 50 percent of active voters counted, according to the Colorado Secretary of State's office. The office said 25 counties had reported.
The early results prompted cheers throughout Casselman's, a downtown bar where hundreds of supporters were gathering.
Mason Tvert, co-director of Yes on 64, said the crowd was cautiously optimistic.
"We're not going to jump to any conclusions just yet," he said. "But we believe Colorado voters have decided to take a more sensible approach to how we deal with marijuana in the state."
If the amendment passes, Colorado could become the first state to legalize recreational use of the drug, possibly clearing the way for creation of a marijuana industry. There are similar measures before voters in Washington and Oregon.
The ballot measure to amend the state constitution has fostered a national discussion about marijuana policy. Supporters hope approval would place pressure on the federal government to end marijuana prohibition everywhere. But critics say it could make Colorado a destination for drug tourists and prompt a federal crackdown.
"It's unprecedented," said Jonathan Caulkins, a Carnegie Mellon University professor whose research focuses on marijuana legalization. Implications would be "huge and impossible to pinpoint," he said, and would put Colorado to the left of the Netherlands when it comes to marijuana policy.
The amendment would allow those 21 and older to purchase up to one ounce of the drug at specially regulated retail stores. Possession would be legal, but not public use. Adults could grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes.
Proponents have said the measure would not only divert profits from dangerous drug cartels to legitimate businesses, it would also generate tens of millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local governments.
Opponents say the revenue boost is uncertain and that approval would make Colorado a tourist destination for illegal drug dealers. They also say Amendment 64 would lead to greater use of the drug by children, and to more drugged driving.
Campaigns fighting for and against the measure have raised nearly $4 million this election season, and the latest Denver Post poll showed it had support of 50 percent of voters, while 44 percent opposed it.
"We've been working over the past several years to build support among Colorado voters for ending the failed marijuana prohibition," said Tvert.
Even if the measure passes, questions about its enforcement and long-term ramifications abound.
State criminal penalties for possessing the drug would disappear as soon as the election is certified, which could take up to two months.
The first recreational stores would be slated to open in January 2014 and would be separate from already existing medical marijuana dispensaries. Local governments could ban marijuana sales, and employers could still bar employees from using the drug. Long overdue and hopefully a start to reining in the ridiculous war on drugs. | |
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Heretic
Posts : 3520
| Subject: Re: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes 11/7/2012, 9:00 am | |
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Artie60438
Posts : 9728
| Subject: Re: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes 11/7/2012, 9:25 am | |
| Overall,a ton of progress on social issues was made last night. Besides the weed decision,Maine & Maryland legalized gay marriage and Wisconsin elected the first openly gay senator | |
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paul87920
Posts : 875
| Subject: Re: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes 11/10/2012, 4:34 pm | |
| Passed in Washington too along with marriage equality.
"It all makes sense now: Gay marriage legalized on the same day as marijuana makes perfect biblical sense. Leviticus 20:13 "A man who lays with another man should be stoned". Our interpretation has just been wrong for all these years" - Katie Stephens
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edge540
Posts : 1165
| Subject: Re: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes 11/10/2012, 4:50 pm | |
| - paul87920 wrote:
- Passed in Washington too along with marriage equality.
"It all makes sense now: Gay marriage legalized on the same day as marijuana makes perfect biblical sense. Leviticus 20:13 "A man who lays with another man should be stoned". Our interpretation has just been wrong for all these years" - Katie Stephens
And don't forget if your kid acts up you should stone him: If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother ... Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city ... And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 | |
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| Subject: Re: Colorado measure legalizing marijuana passes | |
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