cannabisnews.com: Where Marijuana Legalization Votes Are Happening
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Where Marijuana Legalization Votes Are Happening
Posted by CN Staff on November 03, 2014 at 13:47:11 PT
By Katy Steinmetz
Source: Time Magazine
USA -- A handful of states and cities will vote to loosen restrictions on the drug, setting the stage for bigger battles in 2016. Residents in Lewiston, Maine may have seen an unusual Halloween decoration this year: a mobile billboard, towed around town on the bed of a truck, featuring a face screaming in horror and, in spooky-squiggly script, the words “Marijuana: Less toxic! Less addictive! Less scary than alcohol!”Here’s a rundown of the key votes on marijuana this year, which are all hovering in toss-up territory:
Alaska: Legalization with Tax and RegulationBallot Measure 2 would concretely legalize retail pot, giving the state the power to tax and regulate the substance like Colorado and Washington. Two recent polls show the electorate bending in opposite directions. One found that 57% of respondents support the measure, compared to 39% who oppose; another found that 53% of Alaskans would vote no on the measure, compared to 43% who said they would vote yes.“It’s very much looking like a coin flip,” says Taylor Bickford, a spokesman for the campaign supporting legalization.Oregon: Legalization with Tax and RegulationOregon has been down this road before. In 2012, state voters rejected a measure to legalize pot 56% to 44%. This year, more activists have been on the ground asking people to support the pro-legalization Measure 91, an effort funded partly by the deep-pocketed Drug Policy Alliance. The chances of passage here may be better than Alaska, but it’s still no lock: the most recent poll shows 46% of voters opposing the measure and 44% supporting it. The numbers have long hovered around 50%.All the campaigns are hoping for young people—who are generally more supportive of legalization—to turn out, despite their habit of staying home in non-presidential election years. “The young and young at heart are going to be important for us to pass this measure,” says Brad Reed, a spokesman for the Yes on Measure 91 campaign. “What’s clear from all of the polls is that it’s going to be a very close race.”Washington, D.C.: Semi-LegalizationInitiative 71 falls short of creating a government-regulated, taxable pot market like the ballot measures in Alaska and Oregon. But it would push the nation’s capital into decidedly cannabis-friendly territory, allowing people to possess up to 2 oz. of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants at home without facing criminal or civil penalties. Polls have shown locals supporting the measure by nearly 2-to-1.The question is not so much whether it will pass as whether it will stand. There remains a disconnect between the reaches of the local and federal governments in the District—the substance would remain illegal in the roughly one-fourth of D.C. on federal land—and Congress could choose to intervene, passing laws that supersede the actions of D.C. officials. Though Congress has held hearings about D.C.’s past pot-related decisions, like decriminalizing marijuana, passage of this measure may spur more than talk. Marijuana is, after all, still illegal under federal law.Florida: Medical MarijuanaVoters could make Florida the 24th state to allow medical marijuana. Despite the lack of history at stake, the campaign for Amendment 21 has drawn millions from big spenders on the left and right, including casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. It’s also an issue splitting the gubernatorial candidates in a very close race, with Democrat Charlie Crist in favor of legalization and Republican Rick Scott against it.Because it’s a constitutional amendment, the measure requires a 60% supermajority to pass, which is a tall order. Surveys have been all over the place during the campaign, but a Tampa Bay Times poll conducted in mid-October showed 48% of people supporting legalization of medical marijuana, compared to 44% opposing.Maine: Semi-LegalizationIn 2013, Maine’s largest city, Portland, legalized recreational marijuana. The vote essentially gave police the power not to prosecute anyone for possessing up to 2.5 oz. of weed, though the sale and purchase of marijuana remain illegal. And some police prosecuted people anyway, drawing on the authority of a state that still views the drug as verboten.Following Portland’s lead, two other cities have measures loosening marijuana restrictions on Tuesday’s ballot. Residents in Lewiston, Maine’s second largest city, and South Portland, Maine’s fourth largest city, will vote on laws similar to the one Portland passed last year. It’s not exactly polling data, but David Boyer of the Marijuana Policy Project, a legalization advocacy group, says the driver of the Halloween billboard has been lousy with thumbs up. “It’s been creating a real buzz around town, if you will,” he says.Source: Time Magazine (US)Author: Katy SteinmetzPublished: November 3, 2014Copyright: 2014 Time Inc.Contact: letters time.comWebsite: http://www.time.com/time/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/U3ITIZ2tCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 19:41:34 PT
Had Enough
Thank you. I wonder how Colorado will be with a Republican Governor. I am sure the new Governor will try to trip up Colorado like Christie did in New Jersey. All we can hope for is holding on to the Presidency and pressuring Hillary to take a stand on marijuana. No iffy stuff. The divide on our issue between Democrats and Republicans is broad. We all know which side is in favor of marijuana reform.They reported it on MSNBC tonight. I forgot the exact figures though.
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Comment #19 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 19:21:02 PT
Broward County
FoM...BayNews 9 reporting that Broward County is a Democrat majority...and they are always late reporting their results...As of now...Rick Scott.. 48 %...Charley Crist.. 47 %Amendment 2...57 % 97 % of precincts reported...More voted for Amendment 2 than the governors... :)
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Comment #18 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:38:38 PT
Broward County
FoM…not sure…when I was in that area it seemed more liberal than conservative…but that was in the early 1990’s…not sure now…
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Comment #17 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:34:51 PT
Amenment 2
Still 57%...need 3 more points...80% of districts reported at this time...BayNews 9 reporting defeat...
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 18:33:04 PT
Had Enough
Is Broward County a liberal or conservative county? They wouldn't extend the voting even though there was a glitch.
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Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:24:53 PT
Amendment 2
Still 57%...need 3 more points...76% of districts reported at this time...
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Comment #14 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:21:41 PT
Bondi
Pam Bondi...making her victory speech now...
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 18:21:13 PT
Ohio
I didn't vote for Kasich but I knew he would win.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 18:20:08 PT
Had Enough
That will make my nephew upset for sure.
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Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:16:36 PT
Rick Scott & Co.
Looks like Rick Scott and Pam Bondi will retain office...
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 18:14:43 PT
Had Enough
Even if it doesn't make the 60% needed 57% is a winning number!
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Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on November 04, 2014 at 18:13:10 PT
Amendment 2
57% need 3 more points...71% of districts reported at this time...
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 04:50:32 PT
Hope
That's a tough one but it can be done if everyone gets out and votes. I sure hope Charlie Crist beats Governor Scott too.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 04, 2014 at 04:48:43 PT
Had Enough
I hope it passes so much for you and Florida! My nephew voted already.
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Comment #6 posted by runruff on November 04, 2014 at 02:55:47 PT
mind you...
Survey USA-52% for 41% against.The Oregonian Newspaper found 46% against 44% for it.
Here is the kicker, the Oregonian has endorsed every republican presidential candidate since 1993. The handwriting is on the wall!
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Comment #5 posted by Had Enough on November 03, 2014 at 21:39:22 PT
Time to roll..
Now is the time for all good men & women…to come to the aid of their brothers & sisters… Okay Floridians…the time is now…lot of blood, sweat, and tears got this on the ballot…all you have to do now is show up and fill in the dot for Amendment 2…Just do it…get off your ass and jam************Another good reason for Amendment 2…http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2014/11/3/clearwater_woman_rec.html
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on November 03, 2014 at 19:41:33 PT
60 percent
That's a lot. Has any initiative about anything ever passed there in Florida with that sort of majority?
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on November 03, 2014 at 18:24:53 PT
FoM,
It almost time to get excited with about 24 hours remaining.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on November 03, 2014 at 17:57:28 PT
The GCW
If they didn't need 60% I think it would pass. I think votes will be 50% or a little more but it won't be enough. I hope they get 60%.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on November 03, 2014 at 16:18:35 PT
Florida votes.
This in the Denver Post is also in My Summit Daily News paper edition today and it's probably in other rags.Seniors could be key on medical marijuana in Fla.http://www.denverpost.com/marijuana/ci_26849560/seniors-could-be-key-medical-marijuana-fla-0-Especially older citizens should have a choice in the medications they use. When Pharm. pills which contain side effects including death may be reduced or replaced by a relatively safe God-given plant, as described on the very 1st page of the Bible, it should be available without risk of being caged for using it.And I'm greatly disturbed by people who vote to cage those who choose to use the God-given plant.
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