Alaska, Oregon, D.C. vote to legalize marijuana

The states of Alaska and Oregon and the capital of the United States Washington D.C. voted to legalize cannabis on Tuesday. The results are a reflection of the increasing acceptance that marijuana is enjoying among the American public, both for medicinal and recreational use. “In 2016 we’re going to push the ball forward in several states until we end prohibition,” Portland attorney Leland Berger, who helped draft the law, told Reuters as advocates celebrated outside a local nightclub – at which point one of them presumably said to another, “Hey, remember when I dropped my keys and you thought the phone was ringing?”

The Alaska law was ahead by approximately 52%-48% with about 97% of precincts reporting preliminary results late on Tuesday; both proponents and opponents said the initiative had passed. If officially approved, a regulatory body would have 9 months’ time to draft regulations after the election is certified and the measure becomes law. The Oregon measure drew 54% support in preliminary results, and will become effective in July 2015. In both cases, a network of retail weed stores could open somewhere in 2016. A more conservative proposal in D.C. allowing users 21 and older possession of up to two ounces of pot but not retail sales won about 65% of the vote, according to unofficial returns from all precincts.

The District of Columbia law may still be subject to halting during a U.S. Congress review – Congress has constitutional oversight over the capital. Meanwhile in Oregon, opponents of legal cannabis are far from calling it a day and will instead push for stronger laws to restrict access to marijuana by children (won’t somebody please think of the children!?). “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,” co-founder of anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana Kevin 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.”

Related Read:

Voters give nod to legal marijuana in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C.

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