Advocates of legalizing marijuana for recreational use may be closing in on their first statewide victory. Voter initiatives that would legalize up to an ounce of pot will be on the ballot in three states in November: Oregon, Colorado and Washington State. Polling shows the measures leading in Washington and Colorado with at least 50 percent support.
“If Washington or Colorado wins in November, and both of them have a good chance to do so, it is going to be transformative in the way we think about marijuana policy in this country and even outside,” says longtime legalization advocate Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance.
There’s little organized opposition in Washington State. Interestingly, many of those who have spoken publicly against legalization are in the medical marijuana community. While some worry about pot dispensaries being put out of business, others fear new DUI laws that could make it illegal to be driving with even a trace of THC in one’s system.
