CNN: 'Marijuana is Now Legal in Washington State'

Source:CNN- Holy smokes, Batman! Marijuana is now legal in Washington State. LOL

"A new law makes it legal to possess and smoke marijuana in Washington state, but pot possession is still a federal crime."

From CNN

One of the best stories of 2012, because it proves how far America is moving to become that big government out of our wallets and personal lives country that both Barry Goldwater and John F. Kennedy, who agreed as often as it snows in Los Angeles, that they both advocated for in the 1960s. 

It also shows that even though Millennial's are flirting with socialism and big government from the Left, ( Far-Left, really) That my Generation X is becoming a generation that doesn't want Uncle Sam or any other government uncle running our lives for us. 

Marijuana legalization was a fringe issue even back in 2004 and now eight years later it is legal in two more states in Colorado and Washington  and could be headed to New Hampshire, my State of Maryland, California, and perhaps other states in the next 5-10 years. Because more Americans are coming to realize the failures of the so-called War on Drugs and that we need a better approach to how we deal with narcotics like marijuana and instead locking people up for possessing or usage of it, legalize and regulate it like legal narcotics. Like alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs and other drugs. 

Tomo News Funnies: 'Marijuana Legalization 2012- Colorado, Oregon, & Washington Vote'

Source:Tomo News Funnies- Holy smokes, Batman! We may finally be able to smoke marijuana legally! LOL

"Marijuana legalization 2012: On November 6, citizens in Colorado will vote on Amendment 64 (the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act), citizens in Washington state will vote on Initiative 502, and citizens in Oregon will vote on Measure 80 (the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act).

This isn't Trojan horse-style medical marijuana legalization. Each of these measures would permit citizens to possess a defined amount of marijuana, without a doctor's permit.

Polls show strong support for Amendment 64 in Colorado. Opponents, however, worry about motorists driving under the influence of marijuana. Governor John Hickenlooper has argued that legalization would send the message to kids that drugs are OK. Backers of legalization in Oregon said marijuana could increase tourism, much like the wine industry has increased tourism."

From Tomo News Funnies

Hopefully the next step for marijuana legalization in America will be marijuana legalization, but state by state with a federalist approach. Not the Obama Administration trying to legalize marijuana through executive order, not that they would do that anyway. But instead Uncle Sam backing off and allowing for the states and localities, to make their own decisions on marijuana. And no longer arresting people for simply possession or usage of marijuana, if they're 21 or over. Because even though marijuana may be legal in one jurisdiction, it is not legal nationally.

And I'm not being optimistic on this, because I haven't seen any evidence of this happening yet, but hopefully the Obama Administration, will take a wait and see approach and see how marijuana legalization is working in Colorado and Washington State and see how it works there. 

President Obama was overwhelmingly reelected in the Electoral College by Liberal Democrats such as myself, who want to see marijuana legalization nationwide and take a states rights approach. And say: "Look, we aren't going to legalize marijuana nationwide, but if states want to do this, then that's their decision as long as they are taxing and regulating it. And that it will up to the states to regulate this while the Federal Government won't endorse or interfere with it." But they are responsible for the consequences of it as well. 

And let's see five years from now how marijuana legalization is doing in America. Is tax revenue up in the states, is crime less, more, or about the same, does our criminal justice system have fewer offenders, or not, etc. And then go from there.

The Red Dragon: 'Will Weed Be Legalized? President Obama Wins Election 2012'

Source:The Red Dragon- Holy smokes, Batman! Its President Barack Obama & Governor Mitt Romney. LOL 

"Election 2012 discussion. Today is the day that we cast our vote for the next President. But there are plenty more interesting things that will be decided today besides the president. Legalization of Marijuana (Weed) is on the ballot in 3 states. Who will Win?

From The Red Dragon

Marijuana legalization could be coming to a state near you in 2013, with these proposals passing in November. Which I believe they all have a good shot, as we are becoming younger and more liberal-libertarian as a country. 

You even now have Conservatives in the conservative-libertarian sense, especially in Congress like Senator Rand Paul and his father Representative Ron Paul, Representative Walter Jones, who at the very least are now open to marijuana decriminalization. Because they see the so-called War on Drugs from both a civil liberties, as well as a fiscally conservative point of view, as failures. And are questioning why is America locking up people simply for possessing what are illegal narcotics in America like marijuana. 

Legalizing alcohol in the 1930s wasn't an endorsement of alcohol and saying that alcohol is a good thing for people. Assuming marijuana is fully legalized in America, at least as far as the Federal Government getting out-of-way of it and allowing the states and localities make their own decisions here, won't be an endorsement of marijuana. But a statement saying that the War on Drugs is more costly to society than one drug. 

CNN: Elliot C. McLaughlin- 'Marijuana Advocates Hope To Rise From Prohibition'

Source:CNN- "Just say no to prohibition." Kire Schneider.

"Turn on a television show or open a magazine in the United States today and you’re bound to see someone with a drink in hand – something unthinkable nearly a century ago.

Advocates of marijuana hope that someday that drug will emerge from its current “prohibition” period, the same way alcohol did, and become not only legal but as socially acceptable as having a drink.

Could that happen? Depends who you ask. Advocates point to the November ballot in Colorado and Washington, where voters approved legal pot for everyone, not just for those who have a medical reason... 

From CNN

A growing consensus in America that marijuana prohibition is a bad idea.

A&E: Beyond Scared Straight- 'Episode 26: Sneak Peek 1'

Source:A&E- Beyond Scared Straight sneak peek.

"In this Sneak Peek from the episode, 'St. Clair, IL', The correctional officers send the teens to the quiet room. A room where inmates go that are too violent for general population. Find out more about the show and watch full episodes on our site:Beyond Scared Straight ." 

From A&E

This is a really good show and I hope the kids they are trying to speak to, are getting something positive out of it, so these kids don't end up making the same mistakes that these inmates did. That they instead graduate from school, stay out of trouble, and don't have kids before they are ready.