cannabisnews.com: Voters Give Nod To Legal Marijuana
function share_this(num) {
 tit=encodeURIComponent('Voters Give Nod To Legal Marijuana');
 url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/28/thread28348.shtml');
 site = new Array(5);
 site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit;
 window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500');
 return false;
}






Voters Give Nod To Legal Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on November 05, 2014 at 05:05:38 PT
By Shelby Sebens
Source: Reuters
USA --  Residents of Oregon, Alaska, and the U.S. capital voted to legalize marijuana on Tuesday, in key victories that could fuel the legalization movement as cannabis usage is increasingly recognized by the American mainstream.The Oregon and Alaska measures would legalize recreational pot use and usher in a network of retail pot shops similar to those operating in Washington state and Colorado, which in 2012 voted to become the first U.S. states to allow marijuana use for fun.
A less far-reaching proposal in the District of Columbia to allow marijuana possession but not retail sales won nearly 65 percent of the vote with all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed. The referendums come amid shifts in American opinions on marijuana in recent years that have energized efforts to legalize cannabis, a drug that remains illegal under federal law even as Colorado and Washington state have been given the go-ahead to experiment with legalization. "In 2016 we're going to push the ball forward in several states until we end prohibition," Leland Berger, a Portland attorney who helped write the new law, told Reuters outside a packed Portland nightclub where advocates declared victory amid pot-centric revelry.Advocates have portrayed the District of Columbia measure as a civil rights issue, saying studies have shown that African Americans are disproportionately more likely to be arrested on marijuana charges than are people of other races. The D.C. measure had been strongly favored to pass but could still be halted during a review by the U.S. Congress, which has constitutional oversight over the capital. The measure would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to two ounces (57 grams) of cannabis and grow up to six plants.Pot Opponents To Fight OnThe Oregon law, which drew 54 percent support in preliminary returns, takes effect in July 2015 and stores could open the following year. The Alaska measure was leading by about 52-48 percent with nearly 97 percent of precincts reporting preliminary results late on Tuesday, and groups for and against the initiative said it had passed. If given official approval, a regulatory body would have nine months to write regulations after the election is certified and the measure becomes law, with stores likely coming at some point in 2016.Opponents of legal weed in Oregon say they would take their fight to the Oregon legislature, pushing for stricter laws designed to limit access to pot by children, among other efforts. Kevin Sabet, co-founder of anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said his group would redouble its efforts to build a broader coalition to beat back better-funded pro-cannabis groups ahead of what is expected to be an expanded fight in 2016."Tonight is going to inspire us to do better and to try harder and go after the donors we have to go after in order to level the playing field," Sabet said. "The more people that hear about legalization, the more people are uncomfortable with it. For us it's about getting our message out."Meanwhile, a proposed constitutional amendment to make Florida the 24th state and the first in the South to allow medical marijuana was defeated after falling short of the 60 percent support needed to pass, according to groups both for and against the measure.In Maine, a proposal to legalize the possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana failed in Lewiston and passed in South Portland, advocacy groups said. In Guam, unofficial results indicated it became the first U.S. territory to approve medical marijuana, an election official there said.Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington, D.C., Steve Quinn in Juneau, Alaska, and Barbara Liston in Orlando, Florida; Writing by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Mohammad Zargham, Eric Beech, Jim Loney and Ken WillsSource: Reuters (Wire)Author: Shelby SebensPublished: November 5, 2014Copyright: 2014 Thomson ReutersCannabisNews   -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help 
     
     
     
     




Comment #8 posted by schmeff on November 05, 2014 at 08:40:32 PT
Sabet's a Loser
Prohibition still reigns in 46 states, and Sabet claims the forces of darkness just need the right "big money" donors to "Level the playing field." WTF?Catch a clue Kevin Sabet: An infinity of lies is insufficient to "level the playing field" against truth.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by runruff on November 05, 2014 at 07:38:49 PT
Moving forward into the past.
Oregon just took a giant leap backward into the realm of liberty! America was built on hemp, now we can start to heal with it. Freedom in the garden is a basic right to self care and survival! Thank you My State for seeing the light!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 05, 2014 at 07:13:02 PT
Hope and Runruff
Thank you. Since 1998 we have battled unbelievable obstacles but now it is only a matter of time. When I check the stats I am very happy.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Hope on November 05, 2014 at 07:05:33 PT
Runruff is right, FoM.
To me, and my rural life, this site is the place for news about our fight for justice and FoM is a hero in the struggle. It's the place where we meet and hone are activism skills and encourage each other. The value of Cannabis News and how it has helped in this fight is inestimable.Onward we go!Love you, FoM!Congratulations Washington, Oregon, and hopefully, Alaska!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by runruff on November 05, 2014 at 06:40:52 PT
FoM
Take a bow my dear. With each and every turn of the wheels of freedom you have been there. I for one will always think of you and your dedicated work as one of the heroes of the hemp revolution. In the long run this will be the most important event since the signing of the constitution.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by runruff on November 05, 2014 at 06:29:49 PT
Lame threats and promises, Good-bye Ken!
How Custer would sound if he were Sabet, " Boy,you guys have had it now by golly, now I'm really mad"!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 05, 2014 at 06:03:54 PT
runruff
Congratulations! We don't get a lot of people commenting anymore but out Stats are through the roof! We are winning!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by runruff on November 05, 2014 at 05:33:40 PT
What a sore loser!
Ken Sabet is trying to fight legalization by introducing his famous Whine.He said, "It's not over in Oregon and maybe now the anti-marijuana crowd will get serious by 2016. We can still stop this thing"! He wants more funding and more support.Another good thing, like I said would happen, The Sheriff's Asso. wasted a lot of money. I wish they had bet more.Oh, and another thing; Michele, now you may remove your devil-dogs from our state. You were never welcome here anyhow and I have hosted your gang of thugs for the last time! Very good riddance...I'll teach you blood soaked thieves to mess with me!That's right, I'm plucky!
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment