Washington Needs to Legalize Cannabis: Voters may relax the rules Tuesday, bringing the total to 32

Wall Street Journal ^ | November 5, 2018 | John Boehner

[billorites]

Citizens in four states vote Tuesday on ballot initiatives to legalize some form of cannabis. Residents of Missouri and Utah will decide on its medical availability, Michigan and North Dakota on recreational consumption for adults. If all four measures pass, the tally of states that allow some sort of cannabis use will jump to 32, nearly two-thirds of the U.S.

The trend could not be clearer: Cannabis prohibition is coming to an end. A Gallup poll last month found 66% of Americans favor legal marijuana.

I am now one of those Americans. It began when a friend of mine who suffered from chronic back pain found relief using medical cannabis. Intrigued, I looked deeper into the uses of marijuana. I learned that in April the Food and Drug Administration approved medication called Epidiolex, which can reduce the number of seizures epileptic children have to endure. It contains only nonpsychoactive components of cannabis plants.

Marijuana is helping people across the country. Since joining the board of cannabis operator Acreage Holdings this past spring, I’ve spoken with countless senior citizens, baby boomers and millennials about their experiences medicating with cannabis to thwart the rigors of chemotherapy, ease muscle pain, relieve anxiety and more. Convinced as I am by mounting scientific and anecdotal evidence, what resonates most with me is that one by one, our states have spoken.

Until cannabis is legalized federally, Washington needs to respect states’ rights to regulate it within their borders. The 10th Amendment clearly protects states’ prerogative to do so, and we must not allow the federal nanny state to dictate otherwise. The bipartisan Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, introduced in the House and Senate in June, is a step in the right direction. It would let states make their own decisions about the possession,

[billorites]

Seems like a done deal.

[b4its2late]

The Stoned Boner speaks!

[TruthFactor]

If you want to get on the fast track to permanent mental impairment, smoke weed on a regular basis.

[Red Badger]

Just you can doesn’t mean you should.......................

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Reefer madness...

[Parmy]

Here in Washington St., more and more vehicle accidents and fatalities are being attributed to stoned drivers.

Just another unintended consequence of politicians wanting money.

And, the sheeple comply.

[KC_Lion]

For your interest.

[Magic Fingers]

Or get drunk regularly.

[billorites]

Our society doesn't seem to be in desperate need of another legal intoxicant.

Canada perhaps, but not the U.S.

[Ron H.]

If you want to get on the fast track to permanent mental impairment, smoke weed on a regular basis.

Agreed. Have never met a stoner yet who didn't try and somehow validate and justify their smoking that mind dumbing down and brain cell destroying drug.

[luv2ski]

As a medical user in a recreationally legal state (Colorado), I strongly support this move. I don't use it recreationally- I use topicals that are not psycho active- but still believe we need to legalize it so we can control / regulate it. In CO, there is still a small black market but most of the industry was taken away from the gangs/ cartels.

Having it regulated/ taxed by the government would be a much better way to deal with a substance that is present anyway. There is no reason to waste law enforcement resources / man hours chasing around after a few weed smokers.

We also have fewer opioid overdoses in CO as a result of legal weed. If people can use CBD/ weed/ THC instead of narcotics, we will all be better off as a society.

[Ron H.]

Just another unintended consequence of politicians wanting money.

More like pandering for votes from the mind numbed potheads.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Had a tragic accident in this area some time back.
A young mother was jogging with her two babies in a tandem stroller. A 19-year old driver mowed her down at an intersection. Miraculously the children were unharmed, but they became orphans.

The driver admitted to having fired up a joint just before getting behind the wheel.

[G Larry]

thanks john.....America needs just one more poison to undermine our culture.

[throwback]

“Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” John. You might be able to buy some used lungs with your profits. Decay is the natural order.

[Leep]

Are they driving to the voting booths stoned...?

[Dutch Boy]

That has been mostly my experience too. Why someone would want to go through live impaired is beyond me. That goes for anything that impairs you, not just pot. I’ve made enough bad choices in my life without the help of chemicals.

[morphing libertarian]

washington should never butted in in the first place.

[animal172]

That just makes me so proud. Once totally legalized we can start on meth legalization. It is a personal choice you know? In fact, lets go all in and have the Feds pay for all our drug needs.