Well, it's official now. Cannabis is now fully legal for recreational use California, with the first legal recreational sales having begun on January 1, 2018. The Golden State now joins seven other states and DC where recreational weed is currently legal to one degree or another, though medical use (now legal in a whoppoing 29 states now) has in fact been legal in California since 1996.
While Trump and especially Jeff Sessions are unlikely to take very kindly to this development, the fact remains that the proverbial dam has now finally broken, and the anti-legalization forces are becoming increasingly impotent despite the occasional rear-guard crackdown here and there. Prohibition is quickly unraveling as we speak. Legalization at the federal level has really become inevitable at this point--it's no longer a matter of if, but when.
Are there some flaws with California's system of legalization and regulation? Yes, it's not perfect, but if we make the perfect the enemy of the good, we ultimately end up with neither. For example, no matter how much we as both TSAP and Twenty-One Debunked loathe the 21 age limit, we nonetheless grudgingly supported it since we knew it would not have had a prayer of a chance at passing during the crucial years of 2012-2016. Once the dust settles, though, and national legalization really is a foregone conclusion, we will increasingly take all states to task for not lowering the age limit for cannabis to 18, just as we currently take all states to task for not lowering the drinking age to 18 and recently some states and localities for raising the tobacco smoking age to 21.
Canada, for example, already plans to set it at 18 federally, while at the provincial level it will be 18 or 19 depending on the province, as is the case with alcohol. Uruguay chose 18 as well. And the Netherlands has set it at 18 since 1996. No good reason why it should be any higher than 18 in what should be the land of the free as well.
In the meantime, we shall nonetheless rejoice at one of the very few bright spots in America's increasingly dark night of the soul that began on November 9, 2016 and began in earnest on January 20, 2017.
Showing posts with label cannabis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cannabis. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Monday, February 15, 2016
Will California Dreaming Finally Become A Reality in 2016?
In 2010, it seemed very likely that California would legalize recreational cannabis use via ballot initiative. Unfortunately, the initiative failed. But this year, it looks like they have a much better chance, given how it will be a presidential election and how California would not be the first state to do so this time around. The California Medical Association even endorses one such initiative. And as goes California, so goes the nation.
Of course, even bigger news is that several New England states are also looking this year to join Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and DC as states in which cannabis is fully legal. Ditto for Michigan and Nevada as well. There is even currently a bill in Congress called the "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act", which would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level by removing it from scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act and leave it up to the states to regulate as they see fit. Thus, it's only a matter of time before the ganja is fully legal nationwide.
And thus far, the best available evidence suggests that legalization has been a resounding success overall in the states where it has already been implemented. Not only did tax revenue exceed expectations, but practically none of the predicted "parade of horrors" that the fearmongering opponents predicted would occur actually materialized. And several recent studies have debunked many if not all of the prohibitionists' favorite talking points and scaremongering studies on the supposed dangers of cannabis. Looks like Brian C. Bennett was right after all--it's nowhere near as scary as they want us to think.
While cannabis, like any other psychoactive substance, is not 100% safe for everybody and can indeed be harmful when abused, the overwhelming weight of the scientific evidence of the past 150+ years suggests that by just about any rational and objective measure it is safer than alcohol, tobacco, most prescription drugs, Tylenol, and even some foods, and is generally less addictive than coffee. And while there is some evidence that regular use of weed, like alcohol, may present unique risks to people under 18 (and especially under 15), there is no hard scientific evidence that it is any more dangerous for an 18 year old than for a 21 year old or a 30 year old for that matter. And the best evidence suggests that, as we learned the hard way with alcohol in the 1920s, prohibition clearly does more harm than good. Thus, there is really no good reason to keep cannabis illegal or treat it any more stringently than alcohol or tobacco in a free society.
We should note that the TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not actually endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good on balance. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
To all those who live in California (or any other state with legalization or medicalization initiatives on the ballot), especially those under 30: Get out there and rock the vote this November!
AND NOW FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Kids, talk to your parents. Show them the following.
This is your country:
This is DrugWar:
This is your country on DrugWar:
Any questions?
Of course, even bigger news is that several New England states are also looking this year to join Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and DC as states in which cannabis is fully legal. Ditto for Michigan and Nevada as well. There is even currently a bill in Congress called the "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act", which would decriminalize cannabis at the federal level by removing it from scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act and leave it up to the states to regulate as they see fit. Thus, it's only a matter of time before the ganja is fully legal nationwide.
And thus far, the best available evidence suggests that legalization has been a resounding success overall in the states where it has already been implemented. Not only did tax revenue exceed expectations, but practically none of the predicted "parade of horrors" that the fearmongering opponents predicted would occur actually materialized. And several recent studies have debunked many if not all of the prohibitionists' favorite talking points and scaremongering studies on the supposed dangers of cannabis. Looks like Brian C. Bennett was right after all--it's nowhere near as scary as they want us to think.
While cannabis, like any other psychoactive substance, is not 100% safe for everybody and can indeed be harmful when abused, the overwhelming weight of the scientific evidence of the past 150+ years suggests that by just about any rational and objective measure it is safer than alcohol, tobacco, most prescription drugs, Tylenol, and even some foods, and is generally less addictive than coffee. And while there is some evidence that regular use of weed, like alcohol, may present unique risks to people under 18 (and especially under 15), there is no hard scientific evidence that it is any more dangerous for an 18 year old than for a 21 year old or a 30 year old for that matter. And the best evidence suggests that, as we learned the hard way with alcohol in the 1920s, prohibition clearly does more harm than good. Thus, there is really no good reason to keep cannabis illegal or treat it any more stringently than alcohol or tobacco in a free society.
We should note that the TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not actually endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good on balance. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
To all those who live in California (or any other state with legalization or medicalization initiatives on the ballot), especially those under 30: Get out there and rock the vote this November!
AND NOW FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Kids, talk to your parents. Show them the following.
This is your country:
This is your country on DrugWar:
Any questions?
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Legal Weed Off to a Great Start
Two weeks ago on New Year's Day, history was made when retail cannabis shops began selling weed legally in Colorado, who legalized cannabis via a 2012 ballot initiative. And all indications show that it has been a great success so far, with essentially no significant problems. There were so many customers buying so much that many pot shops sold out within the first week, but now it seems that there will be plenty of ganja available for the foreseeable future. In 2013 the feds agreed to look the other way as long as certain protocols were followed in states where cannabis is legal, and it seems that they are keeping their word (for now). Washington State also legalized cannabis, but it will be a few months before the first retail outlets open over there.
Will any other states legalize cannabis anytime soon? Probably, and it looks like Alaska and California are among those who are trying to get a legalization initiative on the ballot this November. Since it's already legal in two states, adding California to the mix would greatly tip the balance in favor of national legalization, if history is any indication. For alcohol Prohibition, New York and California were the first to repeal it in 1923 and 1932, respectively, and as they say the rest is history. The latest poll numbers are even more in our favor than they were in 2010, when California's Proposition 19 just narrowly failed. Thus, it's just a matter of time, and the TSAP predicts that national legalization will occur within 5 years from now, if not sooner.
To all the prohibitionists and drug warriors out there, we have one question for you: How does it feel to be on the wrong side of history? Because we wouldn't know about that.
Will any other states legalize cannabis anytime soon? Probably, and it looks like Alaska and California are among those who are trying to get a legalization initiative on the ballot this November. Since it's already legal in two states, adding California to the mix would greatly tip the balance in favor of national legalization, if history is any indication. For alcohol Prohibition, New York and California were the first to repeal it in 1923 and 1932, respectively, and as they say the rest is history. The latest poll numbers are even more in our favor than they were in 2010, when California's Proposition 19 just narrowly failed. Thus, it's just a matter of time, and the TSAP predicts that national legalization will occur within 5 years from now, if not sooner.
To all the prohibitionists and drug warriors out there, we have one question for you: How does it feel to be on the wrong side of history? Because we wouldn't know about that.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Stoned in Seattle
Today is truly a historic occasion. In Washington State, the initiative that legalized cannabis goes into effect, marking the first time any US state fully legalized the herb since it was federally banned in 1937. In Seattle, there was plenty of celebration of this occasion, with hundreds of people toking up under the Space Needle. Colorado also legalized it as well, and that goes into effect on January 5, 2013 December 10, 2012 (see update below). In both states, the first legal retail outlets for weed are scheduled to be set up in early 2014 as the new laws are phased in. Looks like Cypress Hill finally got his wish in two states, even if California was not one of them.
Of course, cannabis is still illegal under federal law, and it is still not clear exactly what the Feds will do. While they say they will still enforce the current law, the situation is very similar to how NY ended alcohol Prohibition in 1923, ten years before national Prohibition was repealed. Basically, the only ones enforcing it there were the feds, and they did not have nearly enough manpower or resources to do it alone (and they still don't). That spelled the beginning of the end for Prohibition, and we hope that is true this time around for cannabis as well. We will be closely watching this story as the next few months progress.
For the record, the TSAP supports full legalization of cannabis in all 50 states as well as federally. By that we mean it should be taxed and regulated in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco, with an age limit of 18, and no one should be arrested or jailed for simple possession of small amounts. Growing one's own weed (within reason) should be treated like growing one's own tobacco or brewing one's own beer, and passing around a joint should be treated like passing around a tobacco cigarette or a bottle of beer. Driving under the influence of cannabis should be treated the same as driving under the influence of alcohol, though the penalties should reflect the fact that the latter is far more dangerous than the former. And we hope this will all become reality sooner rather than later.
UPDATE: On December 10, Colorado Governor John Hinckenlooper signed an executive order that made the initiative currently official. Thus, cannabis possession is now legal in both states for all people over the age of 21, while sale remains at least technically illegal for now pending the creation of a regulatory framework for such sales.
Of course, cannabis is still illegal under federal law, and it is still not clear exactly what the Feds will do. While they say they will still enforce the current law, the situation is very similar to how NY ended alcohol Prohibition in 1923, ten years before national Prohibition was repealed. Basically, the only ones enforcing it there were the feds, and they did not have nearly enough manpower or resources to do it alone (and they still don't). That spelled the beginning of the end for Prohibition, and we hope that is true this time around for cannabis as well. We will be closely watching this story as the next few months progress.
For the record, the TSAP supports full legalization of cannabis in all 50 states as well as federally. By that we mean it should be taxed and regulated in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco, with an age limit of 18, and no one should be arrested or jailed for simple possession of small amounts. Growing one's own weed (within reason) should be treated like growing one's own tobacco or brewing one's own beer, and passing around a joint should be treated like passing around a tobacco cigarette or a bottle of beer. Driving under the influence of cannabis should be treated the same as driving under the influence of alcohol, though the penalties should reflect the fact that the latter is far more dangerous than the former. And we hope this will all become reality sooner rather than later.
UPDATE: On December 10, Colorado Governor John Hinckenlooper signed an executive order that made the initiative currently official. Thus, cannabis possession is now legal in both states for all people over the age of 21, while sale remains at least technically illegal for now pending the creation of a regulatory framework for such sales.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
California Proposition 19: FAIL
Unfortunately, it seems that "California Dreaming" did NOT become a reality in 2010 like we had hoped. Proposition 19, the ballot initiative that would have legalized, taxed, and regulated cannabis in California lost 46% to 54%. Close, but no cigar (or doobie).
However, this is still closer than any comparable initiative has ever come in history, and the debate it ignited will certainly NOT die anytime soon. The pro-legalization side is now gearing up for 2012, when similar initiatives have a better chance of passing.
The 2010 election was a major disappointment in general. In nearly all states, the Repugnicans won (while the TSAP does not like either major party, we generally feel that, as a rule, the Democrats are the lesser of two evils). California was one of the few exceptions to this trend. But at least some of the leftovers were thrown out, and many of the losing Democrat incumbents were spineless jellyfish anyway.
So why did Prop 19 fail? It was doing great in the polls up until early October, and it seemed like a sure thing, with 52% in favor. But then the Governator took some of the wind out of its sails by signing into law Senate Bill 1449, effective January 1, which decriminalized (not legalized) possession of less than an ounce of ganja to a mere violation, making it a $100 fine with no court appearance or criminal record. It was formerly a misdemeanor, though the fine was the same. Next, the federal Drug Czar and the Attorney General were threatening to vigorously enforce the federal laws against cannabis if it passes, potentially upending the "truce" over medical cannabis since early 2009. Finally, the "No" side geared up and used ridiculous scare tactics in their ads, which unfortunately worked due to voter ignorance as well as vague language in certain parts of the initiative's text. And the two big sugar daddies for the "Yes" campaign (billionaires George Soros and Peter B. Lewis) did not donate anything until a week or two before election day, essentially too late.
One can only hope that things will go differently in 2012, when the demographics will be more favorable. But just don't number it Prop 19 again--it appears to be bad luck, just like it was in 1972. And any unnecessary or vague language in the initiative that appears to be the least bit overreaching should be nixed at once, as it appears to be "one toke over the line," so to speak.
The TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
UPDATE: After much vote tallying for the past ten days, it turned out that Arizona's Proposition 203 narrowly passed as of November 14. This makes Arizona the latest state to legalize medical cannabis.
However, this is still closer than any comparable initiative has ever come in history, and the debate it ignited will certainly NOT die anytime soon. The pro-legalization side is now gearing up for 2012, when similar initiatives have a better chance of passing.
The 2010 election was a major disappointment in general. In nearly all states, the Repugnicans won (while the TSAP does not like either major party, we generally feel that, as a rule, the Democrats are the lesser of two evils). California was one of the few exceptions to this trend. But at least some of the leftovers were thrown out, and many of the losing Democrat incumbents were spineless jellyfish anyway.
So why did Prop 19 fail? It was doing great in the polls up until early October, and it seemed like a sure thing, with 52% in favor. But then the Governator took some of the wind out of its sails by signing into law Senate Bill 1449, effective January 1, which decriminalized (not legalized) possession of less than an ounce of ganja to a mere violation, making it a $100 fine with no court appearance or criminal record. It was formerly a misdemeanor, though the fine was the same. Next, the federal Drug Czar and the Attorney General were threatening to vigorously enforce the federal laws against cannabis if it passes, potentially upending the "truce" over medical cannabis since early 2009. Finally, the "No" side geared up and used ridiculous scare tactics in their ads, which unfortunately worked due to voter ignorance as well as vague language in certain parts of the initiative's text. And the two big sugar daddies for the "Yes" campaign (billionaires George Soros and Peter B. Lewis) did not donate anything until a week or two before election day, essentially too late.
One can only hope that things will go differently in 2012, when the demographics will be more favorable. But just don't number it Prop 19 again--it appears to be bad luck, just like it was in 1972. And any unnecessary or vague language in the initiative that appears to be the least bit overreaching should be nixed at once, as it appears to be "one toke over the line," so to speak.
The TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
UPDATE: After much vote tallying for the past ten days, it turned out that Arizona's Proposition 203 narrowly passed as of November 14. This makes Arizona the latest state to legalize medical cannabis.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Will California Dreaming Become a Reality?
Looks like California has put an initiative to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis on the ballot for November 2010. It now has a number: Proposition 19 (the same number as the last time a legalization initiative was put on the ballot, in 1972). The initiative, though somewhat flawed, has a decent chance of passing. A whopping 56% of Californians support legalization, as do 53% of Americans overall, the highest in US history, though more recent polls have shown varying results. And the state needs something to help plug their monstrous budget deficit--they are technically bankrupt. Will "California Dreaming" finally become a reality? We predict it will pass in 2010 since (unlike in 1972) they finally have a critical mass of supporters. If any state can do it, California can. But it will be a very close vote, with younger voters (especially under 25) being crucial to its passage.
America currently arrests over 800,000 people for pot each year, the majority of which are for possession, a victimless crime. And it costs a ludicrous amount of money to do so. The number of people arrested for destroying the Gulf of Mexico via the oil spill? A big fat ZERO.
Recently, the California chapter of the NAACP has signed on as a supporter of Prop 19. This is primarily because blacks are arrested at twice (or triple or even quadruple in some areas) the rate of whites for cannabis offenses, despite being less likely to toke up. Clearly, blacks (and Latinos) are being targeted by the Drug Warriors, while whites who get busted are little more than collateral damage. And let's not forget the racist history of how cannabis prohibition came to pass, with the first such laws aimed at Mexicans and later at blacks.
Opponents of the bill include the usual suspects: MADD, police organizations, several church groups, and anti-drug organizations. The feds can be considered in opposition as well. There is probably not much that will convince the staunchest opponents to see the light. However, not all cops are against legalization--there is even an organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) who sees what a failure drug prohibition has been and the harm it has caused. They know that prohibition has brought only death, destruction, violence, corruption, and more dangerous drugs, and that it needs to end as soon as possible.
We at the TSAP endorse the initiative as a starting point, but notes that it is far from perfect. For example, the age limit is 21 rather than 18, and several provisions appear to conflict somewhat with the Compassionate Use Act's protections of medical cannabis patients. We believe that all legal adults (18 and over) have the right to do what they want to their own bodies as long as it does not harm others. But those "wrinkles" can be ironed out later. The sooner we legalize, the better. And we hope other states will join California as well (already Oregon and Washington are considering it). If enough states do so, that will eventually force the feds to reconsider and perhaps legalize at the federal level. Plus, legalization would deal a major death blow to the drug cartels that terrorize Mexico and increasingly the United States as well.
As we stated before, we predict success, albeit by a narrow margin. That is, as long as there is no "October Surprise" to scare the voters into voting no. We cannot dismiss this possibility out of hand, as the anti-cannabis lobby (as well as the DEA and ONDCP) has been known to use junk science to scare people in the past. Alaska and Nevada know this all too well.
The June Suprise, if one wishes to call it that, unsurprisingly was a bogus study that purported to show that traffic fatalities would skyrocket if cannabis was legalized, based loosely on data from 2004-2008, when California expanded its medical cannabis program that was first enacted in 1996. However, this is easily debunked when you consider that, whether you use 1995, 1996, 2003, or 2004 as the base year, California's overall traffic fatalities per VMT actually declined, and at a faster rate than the nation as a whole. Ditto for self-reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs as a whole from 2002-2009. So much for being a menace to society.
Oh, but what about the children? As for teen use of cannabis, student surveys show that such use also declined since 1996 in California, again at a faster rate than the nation as a whole despite legalizing medical use (even for patients who are under 21). Ditto for most other states that also legalized it. So much for sending the wrong message.
The TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
To all those who live in California (or any other state with legalization or medicalization initiatives on the ballot), especially those under 30: Get out there and rock the vote this November!
AND NOW FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Kids, talk to your parents. Show them the following.
This is your country:
This is DrugWar:
This is your country on DrugWar:
Any questions?
America currently arrests over 800,000 people for pot each year, the majority of which are for possession, a victimless crime. And it costs a ludicrous amount of money to do so. The number of people arrested for destroying the Gulf of Mexico via the oil spill? A big fat ZERO.
Recently, the California chapter of the NAACP has signed on as a supporter of Prop 19. This is primarily because blacks are arrested at twice (or triple or even quadruple in some areas) the rate of whites for cannabis offenses, despite being less likely to toke up. Clearly, blacks (and Latinos) are being targeted by the Drug Warriors, while whites who get busted are little more than collateral damage. And let's not forget the racist history of how cannabis prohibition came to pass, with the first such laws aimed at Mexicans and later at blacks.
Opponents of the bill include the usual suspects: MADD, police organizations, several church groups, and anti-drug organizations. The feds can be considered in opposition as well. There is probably not much that will convince the staunchest opponents to see the light. However, not all cops are against legalization--there is even an organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) who sees what a failure drug prohibition has been and the harm it has caused. They know that prohibition has brought only death, destruction, violence, corruption, and more dangerous drugs, and that it needs to end as soon as possible.
We at the TSAP endorse the initiative as a starting point, but notes that it is far from perfect. For example, the age limit is 21 rather than 18, and several provisions appear to conflict somewhat with the Compassionate Use Act's protections of medical cannabis patients. We believe that all legal adults (18 and over) have the right to do what they want to their own bodies as long as it does not harm others. But those "wrinkles" can be ironed out later. The sooner we legalize, the better. And we hope other states will join California as well (already Oregon and Washington are considering it). If enough states do so, that will eventually force the feds to reconsider and perhaps legalize at the federal level. Plus, legalization would deal a major death blow to the drug cartels that terrorize Mexico and increasingly the United States as well.
As we stated before, we predict success, albeit by a narrow margin. That is, as long as there is no "October Surprise" to scare the voters into voting no. We cannot dismiss this possibility out of hand, as the anti-cannabis lobby (as well as the DEA and ONDCP) has been known to use junk science to scare people in the past. Alaska and Nevada know this all too well.
The June Suprise, if one wishes to call it that, unsurprisingly was a bogus study that purported to show that traffic fatalities would skyrocket if cannabis was legalized, based loosely on data from 2004-2008, when California expanded its medical cannabis program that was first enacted in 1996. However, this is easily debunked when you consider that, whether you use 1995, 1996, 2003, or 2004 as the base year, California's overall traffic fatalities per VMT actually declined, and at a faster rate than the nation as a whole. Ditto for self-reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs as a whole from 2002-2009. So much for being a menace to society.
Oh, but what about the children? As for teen use of cannabis, student surveys show that such use also declined since 1996 in California, again at a faster rate than the nation as a whole despite legalizing medical use (even for patients who are under 21). Ditto for most other states that also legalized it. So much for sending the wrong message.
The TSAP is not a "pro-drugs" party. Rather, we are pro-liberty and anti-tyranny. We do not endorse the use of any substances, including alcohol and tobacco, but believe that legal adults are sovereign in body and mind and that prohibition of these substances clearly does more harm than good. Remember, the term "controlled substance" is actually a misnomer since it is virtually impossible to adequately control that which is prohibited.
To all those who live in California (or any other state with legalization or medicalization initiatives on the ballot), especially those under 30: Get out there and rock the vote this November!
AND NOW FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Kids, talk to your parents. Show them the following.
This is your country:
This is your country on DrugWar:
Any questions?
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