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Oregon ended marijuana prohibition at midnight Wednesday, joining Colorado, Washington state, Alaska and the District of Columbia in legalizing recreational use of the drug.
The new law means Oregon likely will reap benefits that appear to have followed legalization elsewhere: Reduced crime, from a legal industry supplanting a black market; higher tax revenue, once weed is legal to sell; and police forces and courts unburdened by droves of misdemeanor pot offenders.
Oregon voters in November approved Measure 91 with 56 percent of the vote. As of now, adults 21 and older can legally possess up to eight ounces of marijuana inside their home and up to one ounce outside. Adults can grow up to four plants per household, out of public view.
Sign of the times.
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 02 2015, @01:49PM
There are only 49 states, the District, and a handful of possessions and territories to go!
Or, if we want to be more technical, only about 30 more states. What's it take? 2/3 of the states to ratify a constitutional amendment? So - thirty two more states, and we can propose the amendment, push it through and get it ratified.
Yes, of course I'm being optimistic. The federal government isn't going to roll over so easily. Or, rather the Corporate Government. There's still a lot of money to be extorted out of people over drugs.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2015, @02:04PM
48, man.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2015, @02:07PM
Places where recreational marijuana is legal in the USA:
Colorado
Washington
Oregon
Washington, DC
However, it is only Colorado and Washington State where it is legal to sell it. The others just legalized possession.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Thexalon on Thursday July 02 2015, @02:27PM
In my home state of Ohio, small-scale pot possession with no intent to sell is currently about the same level of offense as a speeding ticket, and there are multiple legalization initiatives either expected to be on the 2015 ballot or in the middle of signature drives to get on the 2016 or 2017 ballot.
Some cops in these areas are on the record complaining about the pot legalization initiatives because it's making it impossible for them to falsely claim that they smell pot in order to legally search a vehicle or home. The concept that these are searches that they shouldn't be doing hasn't really crossed their mind.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2015, @06:30PM
Some cops in these areas are on the record complaining about the pot legalization initiatives because it's making it impossible for them to falsely claim that they smell pot in order to legally search a vehicle or home. The concept that these are searches that they shouldn't be doing hasn't really crossed their mind.
In a free society the police make it easier for citizens to do their jobs.
In an authoritarian society the citizens make it easier for the police to do their jobs.
(Score: 2) by fadrian on Thursday July 02 2015, @08:48PM
Oregon is only non-sale right now because the Liquor Control Commission is only now finishing up the rules for sale. Current estimates are early next year.
That is all.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by tathra on Thursday July 02 2015, @04:05PM
you've got it backwards - there's already precedent that prohibition requires a constitutional amendment, without that, any drug prohibition is flat-out unconstitutional. the lack of an amendment banning a drug means its legal, as established by the 18th and 21st amendments.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday July 02 2015, @07:03PM
49 states to go?
Have you been absent from the planet since you ran away in 1956?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 02 2015, @11:32PM
Oh - I forgot. There are 58 states now, right?