If marijuana advocates in four states can get the required
signatures to put the question on ballots in 2014, marijuana could be legalized
for another 49 million Americans.
At the moment, public opinion is shifting, and Arizona,
California, Alaska and Oregon plan to ride the wave of momentum that was created
by Colorado and Washington last year. According to a survey by the Pew research
Center released in April, 52 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana
use.
The Justice Department’s announcement not to intervene in
the formation of a regulatory structure to oversee recreational marijuana in
Colorado and Washington, as long as prevent out-of-state distribution, access
to minors, drugged driving and revenue from going to cartels, will almost
definitely help accelerate change in public opinion.
In addition to recreational use, there are efforts to expand
the twenty states that allow medical marijuana. Ballot proposals to legalize medical
marijuana are being circulated in Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah and
Wyoming.
In Oregon, where a referendum to legalize recreational pot
narrowly failed last year, two pot measures are being circulated for
signatures. In Portland, Maine, voters will consider a measure next month that
would allow possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for adults 21 and
older. Economists say that legalizing marijuana could generate $8.7 billion
annually in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments.
While many marijuana advocates are hustling to get their
initiatives on the 2014 ballots, marijuana proponents in Montana are holding
off until 2016 because presidential elections typically bring out more, and
younger voters.
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