Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. Legalize Marijuana

The movement to legalize marijuana rolls across the U.S. with voters in Oregon, Alaska and Washington D.C. casting ballots in favor of making use of cannabis legal for recreational use. They followed in the footsteps of Colorado and Washington, where the drug was legalized in 2012. Florida`s measure to legalize medical marijuana use has failed as the voters did not pass the 60% threshold necessary for passing a constitutional amendment, the AP reports.

In Alaska, the pro-legalization campaign had 52% of the vote with 97% of precincts reporting. In this state, 80% of drug arrests are for marijuana. Now the number of arrests will significantly reduce. New Alaska`s law makes the use of drug legal for people over 21 years. Under the initiative, they can possess one ounce of marijuana and six plants. A state commission will regulate the production and sales of the drug. The law will go into effect in 90 days after the election are certified.

In Oregon, 54.8% of the voters supported Measure 91 allowing adults over the age of 21 to have up to eight ounces of weed and four marijuana plants. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission d will regulate production and sales of cannabis. The tax revenues will go toward enforcement and education initiatives.

Washington, D.C. voted for legalizing pot use and possession in small amounts. The measure allows for adults 21 and over to possess two ounces and six plants of marijuana for personal use. Sale of cannabis or taxation won`t be permitted as voter measure by law cannot impact the District of Columbia budget. However, the measure is still subject to local government and U.S. Congress review. Moreover, many residents of the capital still won`t be allowed to use cannabis. Federal employees, (nearly 30% of the capital residents) are banned from using the drug.

Pro-legalization activists are looking towards 2016, when the similar ballot will probably be put to voters in California, one of more than 20 states, which enacted protection for medical marijuana patients and their main caregivers.

Legalization advocates promoted it as a means to combat drug cartels and generate tax revenues, which can be allocated to law enforcement, schools and health initiatives. They also say that marijuana legalization will relieve the police of time-wasting arrests for possessing small amounts of cannabis.

What do you think about this issue? Is a nationwide “green rush” still far from reality, or marijuana legalization is a necessary evil, which should be accepted across the country? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

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