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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"don't break out the cheetos just yet"
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/07/politics/marijuana-legalization/index.htmlLos Angeles (CNN) -- Pro-pot groups cheered passage of referendums legalizing recreational marijuana in Colorado and Washington state as the "light at the end of the tunnel" in their 50-year campaign to make the drug legal nationwide.
"Yesterday's elections have forever changed the playing field regarding cannabis prohibition laws in America (and probably in large parts of the world, too)," Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, wrote in a celebratory blog Wednesday.
But Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper warned it's too soon to "break out the Cheetos," because his state must still navigate federal laws before citizens can legally buy and sell cannabis.
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NORML's main argument is that marijuana is "far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco," which are the only recreational drugs more popular than pot in the United States.
"Marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose," while hundreds of thousands die from tobacco and alcohol use each year, NORML's website says.
Legalization could save U.S. taxpayers the $10 billion spent each year on enforcing marijuana prohibition, and eliminate the criminal cases against more than 750,000 people arrested per year for possession, which NORML says is "far more than the total number of arrestees for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault."
"The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper said in a written statement released by his office.
"This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don't break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly," he said, referring to two snack food products.
Marijuana could be legal across Colorado within two months, according to a spokesman for the governor's office.
The 536 medical marijuana dispensaries in Colorado could begin selling to the general public then, according to University of Denver law professor Sam Kamin.
Whether the federal government allows that to happen is "a billion dollar question," Kamin said.
"Every store that sells marijuana here is violating federal law," he said. "The federal government could come in and seize assets. They could charge people criminally. They could send people to jail for scores of years. They have chosen, so far, not to do that."
With almost half the states now legalizing marijuana to some degree, the federal government will have to make a decision, he said.
"It simply can't go on the way it is," Kamin said. "It can't be a big industry and a Federal crime at the same time."
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TlalocW
(15,383 posts)I was hoping Seth Rogan would move to Colorado and never make another movie or be heard from again.
TlalocW
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)millions of jobs
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)And I think it is critical that the federal government should at the very least issue a statement on how they plan to deal or not deal with legalized pot in states.
former-republican
(2,163 posts)If push came to shove the federal government could imprison the state officials of Colorado.
A state can put any law change they want on a ballot but if it's against federal law it's not legal whether
the residents of the state passed it or not.
how am I wrong
backtoblue
(11,343 posts)then that is the only way that I can see the federal government putting it to a congressional vote or even supreme court decision.
former-republican
(2,163 posts)Texas could put a repeal of the machine gun act of 1986 on the ballot.
If it passed then legal machine guns could be manufactured and sold to the residents Of Texas.
But guess who would step in ?
99Forever
(14,524 posts)... check your use of misleading analogies at the door, Mr "Former".
Pot doesn't kill people, guns, especially "machine guns" do.
Nor do a majority of people across this Nation believe that "machine guns" should be legalized.
Nor has there been the passage of laws in ANY state to legalize "machine guns".
You aren't sounding very "former" at all.
Fail.
former-republican
(2,163 posts)in Colorado.
My example is perfectly valid AND a perfectly legal argument whether you agree with it or not.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Look up "false equivocation," Mr "Former".
Who the fuck do you think you're fooling?
former-republican
(2,163 posts)The subject matter of my analogy is irrelevant.The subject matter is state versus federal law.
Until the federal government changes the law where marijuana is legal (key word) not decriminalized.
The federal law still stands ......get it now or do I need to spell it out again once more to you ?
99Forever
(14,524 posts)You seem to have retained some of the tactics your "former" political affiliation commonly use to spread their lies. Save it for freeperville.
Caretha
(2,737 posts)if you twist yourself into a pretzel.
That tactic only works on low info Repigs.
Have a nice day!
Autumn
(45,096 posts)and figure out a way to move it forward, this is good for our schools and our economy and I trust him on this. Fuck the feds, we made this choice.