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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 umafuckitt on Thursday July 02 2015, @06:35PM
Although I'm no longer living in the US, I'm glad to hear of the progressive changes to cannabis laws as it will likely influence other countries. I smoke only rarely and prefer to grow my own. In fact, growing is half the fun for me. Worldwide the legalisation situation has been a bit up and down, with both the UK and Switzerland going through periods of more lax and then more stringent laws over the last decade. Overall, however, things are moving in the right direction.
Although cannabis was made illegal under the shadow of racism and the "reefer madness" idiocy, I think it should now be clear to governments that the dangers aren't what was claimed two generations ago. I wonder what drives the continued strict drug classifications. Could it be simply due to the inertia required to move a government to change its mind? Or could it be that they know it's not genuinely harmful and they worry what pushers and dealers might replace cannabis with should it be legalised. Remember that cannabis is currently by far the most widely taken illegal substance. I think the Spanish model is a happy middle ground: trafficking is illegal, but consumption and growing your own is not.
(Score: 4, Funny) by frojack on Thursday July 02 2015, @08:13PM
I wonder what drives the continued strict drug classifications.
Easy arrest tallies, "proving" the value of the police, is my guess.
There is almost no hue and cry to continue to ban pot EXCEPT by Police. Cops like pressing pot charges because pot heads are easy targets, seldom dangerous, and it is just one more manifestation of their control over people. People attracted to police work tend to have control-freak personalities.
I suggest, only half tongue in cheek, that police in recreational states be required to smoke pot once a week, on their days off. It would do wonders for them personally, re-acquaint them with their wives, (and cookies), and enhance the safety of society in general.
Note: Not a user, used to be mildly opposed to legalization, watched it happen in Washington where I live, accepted the voters decision, and saw zero ill effects. Never bought into the gateway drug bullshit, and laughed my ass off at reefer madness in 7th grade.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by tathra on Thursday July 02 2015, @08:19PM
bigotry and greed. the greed part should be obvious, for proof of bigotry, DEA officers are told not to enforce drug laws in white areas [bennorton.com].
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday July 02 2015, @11:32PM
Can users of other drugs get by with cannabis and thus manage their needs with legalized drugs completely? or do other drugs have properties that they just can't be without?
(Score: 2) by umafuckitt on Friday July 03 2015, @06:18AM
It's all down to which "other drugs" you're talking about. There are quite large differences between drugs. If I want a beer then I'm unlikely to see coffee, magic mushrooms, or even cannabis, as good alternatives.