LogicSoDeveloped
Bluelighter
Introduction
When even a federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan calls the criminalization of marijuana "absurd," you know we've come a long way from "Just Say No." As many as three states could vote to legalize pot this November, and not just for medical purposes – for straight-up getting high purposes. There’s always the chance they'll chicken out, like California voters did in 2010. But sooner or later, and probably sooner, a state will go green.
Even President Obama admits the status quo isn't working
"It is entirely legitimate to have a conversation about whether the laws in place are doing more harm than good," President Obama said at the Summit of Americas in April 2012. However, he stopped well short of endorsing legalization of marijuana or any other drug – no big surprise, since his administration has waged a "war on pot."
Public opinion has come around. 50 percent of Americans now favor legalizing marijuana – a "record high."
Legalization made the November ballot in three states. Legalization is up for a vote this fall in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Colorado and Washington look like pretty good bets.
Very serious people are calling for drug reform. Last year, the gold-plated Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes several former Latin American presidents and big shots like former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, called on governments to "break the taboo," and consider alternatives to the criminalization of drugs.
The first-ever legalization bill has been introduced to Congress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) are pushing bipartisan legislation to end the federal ban on marijuana and let the states decide whether to legalize it.
The rest at: http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...bill-has-been-introduced-in-congress-19691231
sorry for the broken up look, the article was in an atypical format
When even a federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan calls the criminalization of marijuana "absurd," you know we've come a long way from "Just Say No." As many as three states could vote to legalize pot this November, and not just for medical purposes – for straight-up getting high purposes. There’s always the chance they'll chicken out, like California voters did in 2010. But sooner or later, and probably sooner, a state will go green.
Even President Obama admits the status quo isn't working
"It is entirely legitimate to have a conversation about whether the laws in place are doing more harm than good," President Obama said at the Summit of Americas in April 2012. However, he stopped well short of endorsing legalization of marijuana or any other drug – no big surprise, since his administration has waged a "war on pot."
Public opinion has come around. 50 percent of Americans now favor legalizing marijuana – a "record high."
Legalization made the November ballot in three states. Legalization is up for a vote this fall in Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Colorado and Washington look like pretty good bets.
Very serious people are calling for drug reform. Last year, the gold-plated Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes several former Latin American presidents and big shots like former U.S. Secretary of State George Schultz former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, called on governments to "break the taboo," and consider alternatives to the criminalization of drugs.
The first-ever legalization bill has been introduced to Congress. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) are pushing bipartisan legislation to end the federal ban on marijuana and let the states decide whether to legalize it.
The rest at: http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...bill-has-been-introduced-in-congress-19691231
sorry for the broken up look, the article was in an atypical format
