A new survey from Public Policy Polling finds a majority of voters in Washington support a marijuana legalization measure that will appear on the state ballot on Election Day.
53 percent say they support Initiative 502, while 44 percent remain opposed to the proposal, according to the poll.
The people intend to stop treating adult marijuana use as a crime and try a new approach that:
(1) Allows law enforcement resources to be focused on violent and property crimes;
(2) Generates new state and local tax revenue for education, health care, research, and substance abuse prevention; and
(3) Takes marijuana out of the hands of illegal drug organizations and brings it under a tightly regulated, state-licensed system similar to that for controlling hard alcohol.
This measure authorizes the state liquor control board to regulate and tax marijuana for persons twenty-one years of age and older, and add a new threshold for driving under the influence of marijuana.
Similar proposals are on the ballot in Colorado and Oregon.
A study released Wednesday by a respected Mexican think tank asserts that proposals to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado, Oregon and Washington could cut Mexican drug cartels' earnings from traffic to the U.S. by as much as 30 percent.
Opponents questioned some of the study's assumptions, saying the proposals could also offer new opportunities for cartels to operate inside the U.S. and replace any profit lost to a drop in international smuggling.
The ballot measures to be decided on Nov. 6 would allow adults to possess small amounts of pot under a regimen of state regulation and taxation. Polls have shown tight races in Washington and Colorado, with Washington's measure appearing to have the best chance of passing. Oregon's measure, which would impose the fewest regulations, does not appear likely to pass.
Do you think I-502 will pass in Washington? Vote below.
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Alaska
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alanasise/6847095796/" target="_hplink">Flickr: alana sise</a>
Arizona
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/billward/110338154/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Bill Ward's Brickpile</a>
California
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerbache/2260207829/" target="_hplink">Flickr: gerbache</a>
Colorado
Also legalized possession by non-medical users.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dok1/520845832/" target="_hplink">Flickr: dok1</a>
Connecticut
Legalized for medical use.
District Of Columbia
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigberto/2770838680/" target="_hplink">Flickr: ~MVI~ (off to coron)</a>
Delaware
Legalized for medical use.
Flickr: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/7749689644/">Doug Kerr</a>
Hawaii
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricardo_mangual/6006230817/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Ricymar Fine Art Photography</a>
Maine
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="www.flickr.com/photos/indywriter/2683524563/" target="_hplink">Flickr: indywriter</a>
Massachusetts
Passed ballot initiative for legalized medical marijuana in 2012.
Michigan
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayoticblue/213316452/" target="_hplink">Flickr: ckay</a>
Montana
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/csbarnhill/2633187564/" target="_hplink">Flickr: csbarnhill</a>
Nevada
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/http2007/4699361533/" target="_hplink">Flickr: http2007</a>
New Jersey
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulflannery/4021996652/" target="_hplink">Flickr: psflannery</a>
New Mexico
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/everyskyline/3134662783/" target="_hplink">Flickr: michaelwhitney</a>
Oregon
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/d-powell/2099638403/" target="_hplink">Flickr: digging90650</a>
Rhode Island
Legalized for medical use. Also decriminalized possession of less than one ounce.
Vermont
Legalized for medical use.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryanalexander/6129117/" target="_hplink">Flickr: BryanAlexander</a>
Washington
Legalized for medical use. Also legalized possession by non-medical users.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rose_braverman/6924724331/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Rose Braverman</a>
A new survey from Public Policy Polling finds a majority of voters in Washington support a marijuana legalization measure that will appear on the state ballot on Election Day.
53 percent say they s...
A new survey from Public Policy Polling finds a majority of voters in Washington support a marijuana legalization measure that will appear on the state ballot on Election Day.
53 percent say they s...
The only thing holding this up is the prison business, the DEA and other agencies that get funded to deal with this stuff and the businesses that service the law enforcement effort. Social conservatives still rubbed raw about 1968 don't really count -- by themselves, they wouldn't mean a thing. Religious leaders couldn't stop it either. It takes a big business, and that's the prison lobby and entrenched
Read More... federal law enforcement bureaucracy.
Watching all the drinkers last night as I got off of work at midnight clarified this for me; they were destroying their livers with the stuff but pot, which is much safer, is still the devil's plant.
Sure, someone will get baked and drive (more safely than if drunk, but that isn't the point, either) but there are laws already on the book covering the issue of DWI/DUI -- if that's the problem, then the enforcement has to get smarter regarding that. Restricting marijuana use strictly because of a fear of what drivers will do on it doesn't make sense if alcohol is freely sold despite the danger. If the thing is not intrinsically harmful and people are in favor of allowing it, then it shouldn't be policed. This is a waste of everyone's time, except that of the guys making money off it.
This is their rice bowl and the lobbying effort needs to recognize that these guys will deploy whatever they can to make sure they keep it. It needs to be highlighted that an entrenched minority is using undemocratic methods to force this prohibition. As the states start to push to legalize, the next step is to put pressure on federal elected officials to reign in the federal bureaucrats that inevitably try to preserve the status quo. Statewide measures are pointless if some appointee or bureaucrat in a midlevel office in the Department of Justice is going to go, "I dun care if they did vote fer it in a referendum, I ain't lettin them do that!" after all.
Godweiser: The only thing holding this up is the prison business,
Its about time they legalize it, its always been just a war on race anyways, we all know this, we arent like our parents, and absolutely in denial about this.
Justjack1: Its about time they legalize it, its always been just
Bad science on dui and the provisions for an open market are impossible to set up. it opens up the state to prosecution from the feds and the only part of the law to ever go into effect will be the dui laws in wich the current allowable limits would put legal consumption with the ability to drive being cut off at a bowl or two a week of smoked marijuana, and don't even think of eating it.
Washington_Dude: Bad science on dui and the provisions for an open
In Washington we had all mail in voter ballots.... so us pot heads technically won't have to get off our butts except to find a pen and drop them in mailboxes....
LNG_HURR: In Washington we had all mail in voter ballots.... so
I hope they pass it as well as the other two States that have it on the ballot. I have mixed feelings about the legalization, however the critical thinker knows that when you go to Home Depot to buy a bug zapper...it's a gift for a neighbor. If you put one of things in your back yard...you'll have more bugs than a Florida swamp!
Turpinator: I hope they pass it as well as the other
We live in Washington. We both voted in favor. Niether one of us smoke pot. Well, not since our teen years anyway, but both of us can get a green card. The drug war is a money pit and a failure. Manditory sentencing is ridiculous. Let them open it up for recreational use and let it join the "sin tax" list with smokes and booze. I hope this passes. It might cut into BC's profit margin but thats ok, I'm sure some people will still import it.
trixr4kids: We live in Washington. We both voted in favor. Niether
In May 2012, at least 600 people immediately lost their jobs when all cannabis cafes in three Dutch border provinces were turned into members' only clubs. Hundreds of people were arrested (in one provence alone) for drug offenses. In addition, Maastricht University researchers said that youngsters were being exposed to other drugs because the strict separation between hard and soft drugs no longer applied. There was also a sharp increase in demand for seeds and other equipment required to grow marijuana at home. By the end of October 2012, after it was clear to all that the new restrictive policy had resulted only in increased street-selling and associated criminality, the Dutch sensibly abandoning plans to roll out the 'Wietpas' over the rest of the country.
In May 2012, at least 6000 people lost there jobs including attornies when underground cafes and theft for drugs clubs were turned into private battery and murder clubs.Hundreds of people were arrested, some returned to their Country across the border and others remained to wait out the resolve of a government. In addition, UC Berkley researchers concluded that the cost and unavailability of street drugs caused high drop out rates and an increase in adult children living at home and stealing prescription drugs from their clueless parents. There was also a sharp demand for other peoples money and crimianl behavior. As of today no one can understand why any of these people should be held accountable for themselves.
Anyone can build a strawman. Build a real argument. You failed. I hope you're at most a sophmore.
Turpinator: In May 2012, at least 6000 people lost there jobs
That's not really relevant, what's going on there is totally different, and if states here wanted to restrict use to residents only, all they have to do is require them to show I.D. which they're going to be required to do anyway to buy it.
m6979: That's not really relevant, what's going on there is totally
The lies and stories made up in Hearst:s newspapers that started all this was because he controlled the forests and logging industries and they were beginning to use hemp for newsprint !! Cut down our forests and ruin hundreds of thousands of families lives so he could show off with his mistresses in his castle . Real nice guy huh!!!!
Kenneth_Dorris: The lies and stories made up in Hearst:s newspapers that
First @ThatsTheTheWayItIs, I don't know who you know in the MMJ business in WA, even so I would like to meet them. I know 3 growers all of who have jobs. One has 3 because the BIG MONEY everyone thinks is being made is not. The ones truly in it for the patients don't make HUGE profits. That is New Approach Washington's propaganda, demonizing the MMJ community. They showed what they thought of them in the DUID section.
Second, if NAW 502 passes, and the papers told the truth, the head line would read:
WA State Green-lights The Expansion Of The Black Market
with a bi-line:
Young Adults & Minors Sell Weed To Fill The Need
Kirk_Ludden: First @ThatsTheTheWayItIs, I don't know who you know in the
Keep telling yourself that BS. Cannabis users are generally smarter, healthier and less likely to be obese than non-users. Your silly stereotypes are ridiculous.
RMForbes: Keep telling yourself that BS. Cannabis users are generally smarter,
It does looks like Washington state is gonna pass I-502 (legalize & tax cannabis).
If it should will the people in prison serving years for weed be released earlier and make room for the real crimers the People that commit crimes.that should be locked up .
If everyone will go vote this can happen.
Carmella_Milicia: It does looks like Washington state is gonna pass I-502
I doubt people will be let out of jail or prison for weed and havent heard anything to make me think that they will? When they did what they got in trouble for it was still illegal so they may have to finish out their punishment? I hope this inst true but prove me wrong? P.S. Yes on 502, also Tom Morello for President!
Lostprophet: I doubt people will be let out of jail or
It does pose some interesting quesetions. Since the initiative would make possession and consumption legal would those serving prison sentences for those very things be set free? Theses going to be a lot of work to do as far as these questions are concerned among many other things. All I know is I'm glad my state is going to lead the way in this new untapped industry.
Shane_Meece: It does pose some interesting quesetions. Since the initiative would
I agree cannabis needs to be legalized. Only 30% of the population uses cannabis, those with medical cannabis laws already have most of the 30% using it. We need it legal to make this planet GREEN. HEMP TO SAVE OUR PLANET. Hemp will be the bigger industry, not cannabis. Hemp has MANY functions & purposes, it will get us off fossil fuels & save us & the planet.
Kirk_Ludden: I agree cannabis needs to be legalized. Only 30% of
30%? lol! Yeah, its a bit more that 30% if you listen to anyones #'s besides the Gov't, and remember how we have been doing our best go keep thosd #'s low in their eyes? Im guessing you have not had any prior Weed retail EXP? If you did you would know 30% is short by a ways! The Gov't only has an idea what amout of money it will be playing with!
Lostprophet: 30%? lol! Yeah, its a bit more that 30% if
Is the grass in your yard legalized? Did the government legalize trees and does it make a profit from taxing them? This is just a bunch of bull. No one has the right to tell anyone that they cannot have anything that nature provides and it is criminal to charge anyone a fee (tax) to have it. Voting for permission is begging. "Please, oh masters. We will pay you to allow us to have a PLANT!"
AndyWright68: Weed should not be legalized! Is the grass in your
And the feds are busy becoming gloablists. The day is coming when you want to appeal a marijuana conviction, you will have to appear in Spain or some ridiculous place.
Jose3: And the feds are busy becoming gloablists. The day is
Ok, I'll support legalization of marijuana but ONLY IF it's the new narcotic free strain of marijuana recently developed by scientists at a company called Tikkun Olam. Also, the US must enact programs to erradicate all narcotic forms of marijuana and the UN must follow suit with all member nations. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israeli-scientists-take-the-high-out-of-weed-1.434387
jdptlbb_Jdptlbb: Ok, I'll support legalization of marijuana but ONLY IF it's
Lol really? What do you think the government has been trying to do for the past fourty years? Cannabis is never going away. It is fun, it is safe, it is mildly mind altering, it is beneficial to the mind, body, and spirit. I applaud the developement of a non psychoactive strain for those who desire it, but to say that all other strains should be eradicated is short sighted at best.
You are advocating the status quo. Time for a new approach.
SchumannFu: Lol really? What do you think the government has been
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Posted: 11/03/2012 10:21 pm EDT