Pot at the polls

[marmar]

from the Detroit Metro Times:



Pot at the polls
Marijuana law reformers aim for long-term change on Election Day

By Larry Gabriel
Published: October 31, 2012


The stakes are high for marijuana laws in next Tuesday's elections. Three states are voting on some form of a tax-and-regulate law, and two states are voting on medical marijuana. In Michigan, where voters said yes to medical marijuana in 2008, there are proposals in five cities that would further mitigate legal penalties for marijuana possession and use.

Detroit's Proposal M seeks to legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana on private property by adults 21 and older. In Grand Rapids, Proposal 2 calls for making possession or use of marijuana a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $100. Kalamazoo voters will decide on amending the city charter to allow up to three marijuana dispensaries in the city. And in Flint and Ypsilanti, there are questions on the ballots that, if approved, would direct police to make enforcement of marijuana-possession laws their lowest priority.

For marijuana law reformers, this is the most significant Election Day ever. By this time next week, we should see some interesting developments in the movement. If voters in even one of the three states where legalization is on the ballot — Colorado, Oregon or Washington state — decide to approve and regulate the use of marijuana for adults, it will probably be a long-term game-changer. And, based on the polls, it's looking very likely that the initiatives in Colorado and Washington will pass.

"That there are so many initiatives going this fall really speaks to the fact that public opinion is changing in America against prohibition and for a wide variety of different reforms," says Morgan Fox, communications manager for the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project. "Washington looks like it's polling very well, and they have put together a good campaign to appeal to undecided voters; people who are not the most comfortable with marijuana but also uncomfortable with the way things are being run now. They got a lot of respectable establishment figures to not only back the initiative, but to be its primary spokespeople. People in Colorado are fairly used to a legitimized marijuana industry. I think there is a good chance it will pass in Colorado. It's still polling higher than the opposition. Oregon is not polling well. They had a lot less time to work on their campaign, but it's always possible." ...............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://metrotimes.com/mmj/pot-at-the-polls-1.1396002

[Eleanors38]

1. It's the "lotto effect." No state wants business/taxes going next door.

This is why the state-by-state strategy will work, and you won't need many states to start the fire of nation-wide legalization.

Been a member of MPP for years; they know what they are doing.

[musiclawyer]

2. " you can change the world"

This should be the motto in CO and WA because its true !
If even one of these measures pass, the aggregate economy of the west coast and mountain west will take of like a rocket, within 5 years, fueled by hemp and weed !

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended for ending the dysfunctional, immoral and unjust prohibition against cannabis

Thanks for the thread, marmar.