Posted on 07/23/2014 10:57:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Everything's in motion for what could be a stunning victory for marijuana legalization this November.
Advocates in Oregon just got legalization of recreational marijuana on the ballot in the state, which means it could join Colorado and Washington as the only states to fully legalize (and tax) the drug.
But beyond Oregon, an even more important battle is brewing farther northwest. Legalization is also on the ballot in Alaska.
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
What makes Alaska special? There's a certain symbolic significance to passing marijuana legalization in a Republican-controlled red state. Colorado, Washington and Oregon all went for President Barack Obama in 2012, with Oregon giving Mitt Romney only 42% of the vote.
The tables are turned, though, in Alaska, where Romney received 55% of the vote. When it comes to public perception, it's one thing for hippie Pacific Northwest states to legalize weed. It's a whole 'nother story for the deep red state that gave us Sarah Palin to do the same thing.
Even advocates in Alaska seem to understand the difference. While Oregon's main advocacy group for the ballot measure is called New Approach Oregon, Alaska's is the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska. Who can argue with regulating drugs?
And if deep-red Alaska can pass a marijuana legalization bill, the same can be argued for other states like Texas and Georgia. If Alaska does legalize, it will be proof of marijuana's bi-partisan appeal, and sets the stage for further legalization in 2015.
How has it been going in the other states? Depends on who you ask. Colorado, the first state to sell recreational marijuana, was expecting lots of customers — predictions from the governor's office were set at $1 billion in sales, meaning $134 million in taxes and fees for the state.
Those predictions, though, may have been too high. Washington, despite strong early sales, also dropped off quickly. Part of this is thanks to a troubled start, with few stores and not a ton of product (marijuana sold must be grown in state, and there wasn't enough time to grow a full crop).
In both states, there are also market forces at work. Taxing the hell out of marijuana makes legalization easier to digest, but it also makes medical marijuana, or regular ol' illegal marijuana, a much cheaper option.
The difficulties are more growing pains than arguments against legalization, though. If Alaska does become the first red state to legalize, it'll be worth watching closely to see if it addresses these challenges any differently.
The no-holds-barred liberaltarians on this site will have an orgasm over this article.
Light up and drop out.
More signs of the downward spiral of the once great United States of America. I’m just waiting for “the other shoe to drop” — which is God’s full judgment upon America!
And part of it just burned up in the Douglas County wildfires.
I'm expecting that, too, but hardly due to marijuana legalization!
That is not the whole thing but just one of them.
And no ... I do not expect that the Messiah of Israel, when he comes to set up the Kingdom on earth and rules over all the nations on earth from his capital city of Jerusalem ... that he will have “legalized marijuana” for those in his Kingdom ... LOL ...
Do you expect He will have free tequila or scotch or something?
I don’t think we have long to wait. All this can’t go on much longer.
Well ... it’s NOT going to be a world that many who are here today ... are going to like, unfortunately. A lot of those things that people do today that many think are “okay” are not going to be there anymore.
“Heaven on earth” is basically for the “righteous” and not for sinners.
that he will have “legalized marijuana” for those in his Kingdom ... LOL ...
Marijuana and other worldly things will not even be there.
Oregon doesn’t have a sales tax. Hmmmm.
I miss that ... :-) ...
It’s hard to imagine God tolerating pot in his Kingdom. Dopers worship their dope and place it above all things, including God Himself.
Can anyone say idolatry?
Weak are the worshippers of a weed.
I think the income and property taxes make up for it.
Do you miss the rain?
Legalize and tax the hell out of it, charge for permits to sell marijuana, make big money off of DUIs if the marijuana in the bloodstream reaches a certin level that incapacitates functional abilities while operating a vehicle, rate marijuana users up on auto and healthcare policies, drive sells of snack items through the roof, etc...
All while altering personalities so people chill out and never get upset or rise up against the government...
What’s not to love about it from the government’s perspective?
Actually yes, because it’s a different kind of rain and you can walk around in the rain many times. In Oklahoma, where I’m at, it actually has more rainfall than in Oregon, but you can’t walk around in it the same way you can in Oregon.
Also, the ocean and the mountains ... there are only hills in Oklahoma ... :-) ...
It is now in the hands of the states, as it should be under the 10th Amendment.
Yes, the rain here is usually gentle compared to other places. I remember rain you can’t see through in Houston. But...It rained today, and yesterday and maybe tomorrow.....at least everything is really green!
I believe Alaska was the first state to put the Libertarian Party on the ballot. It’s a different kind of red state from the South.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.