Which will be the second U.S. state to legalize pot?

Ladewig

I lost an avatar bet.
Ladewig
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I have a friend who is convinced that California's budget crunch will force it to legalize marijuana. He insists that the potential revenue stream is too attractive to avoid. If he is right, then which state would be the second one?

Those dependent on tourist dollars (Nevada, Louisiana)?

Those near population centers (New Jersey, Indiana)?

Those near California (Oregon, Washington)?

Those that are already known for their quality work (Hawaii)?

Those that are mired in poverty (Mississippi, West Virginia)?

Those that value personal freedom (New Hampshire)?
 
Perhaps Seminole, or Pechena, or Pequod? Take your pick.

Edt: You know, I thought that was a pretty snappy answer. Unfortunately, drug laws are federal as well as state, as oposed to gambling, which are state only. I don't think anyone claims that Indian sovereignty overrides federal law. I just thought what the feds thought of California making medical marijuana available.
 
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Ladewig said:
Those near population centers (New Jersey, Indiana)?
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New Jersey is considered "near population centers" to you? Most of the state consists of areas that are either suburban or part of the greater metropolitan are for Philadelphia and New York. This is also on top of it being the most densely population state in the nation. It's pretty much a population center of its own, though mostly thanks to NYC and Philly.

That said, if Curlyfornia can fully legalize it, my best guess would be that the state to follow would most likely be New Jersey, Vermont, or Mass., in that order of likelihood. I believe the state senate in NJ has flirted with floating the viability of it in the past, Vermont tends to be a pretty independence-minded and "buck the trend" type of state, and Mass. tends toward being fairly progressive in its acceptance of marijuana decriminalization (having already voted in favor of it).
 
Smoking pot can lead to emphysema, lung damage and cancer. If you want to destroy your life, go for it, but, there's no need to facilitate the destruction of lives by easing access to pot.
 
Marc39 said:
Smoking pot can lead to emphysema, lung damage and cancer. If you want to destroy your life, go for it, but, there's no need to facilitate the destruction of lives by easing access to pot.
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Obvious troll is outstandingly obvious! :D
 
Hawai'i legalized it years ago. It is the federal statutes that are currently making growing/owning marijuana illegal out here.


ETA: Whoops, the signed legislation was for medical purposes only (back in 2000), but has provisions for commericial farming, should medical use become legal on a federal level. There were rumblings about general legalization, but no one wanted to tackle the FDA at the time.
 
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How can a state make MJ legal when I thought SCOTUS ruled it was illegal, even for medical purposes.

Wouldn't the federal law apply, such that no state could make it legal?

Am I missing something here?
 
bpesta22 said:
How can a state make MJ legal when I thought SCOTUS ruled it was illegal, even for medical purposes.

Wouldn't the federal law apply, such that no state could make it legal?

Am I missing something here?
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The jurisdictional issues are horribly muddled.

Every state in the union has laws banning pot for recreational use but some time ago, the federal government decided that they wanted to get in on the drug regulation business. They did so by appealing to the commerce clause of the Constitution (which, in my opinion, is a load of crap).

Serious constitutional problems would arise if a state were to repeal their pot laws because the federal government would still claim the right to prosecute.

See Gonzales v. Raich.
 
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Thirty years ago this same question was still a current issue. I feel as though I am in a time warp.

Funny, the modest decriminalization of the seventies has been overturned.
 
Darth Rotor said:
Thirty years ago this same question was still a current issue. I feel as though I am in a time warp.

Funny, the modest decriminalization of the seventies has been overturned.
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I am convinced that pot will become legal for recreational use in at least one state at some point in my lifetime.
 
KingMerv00 said:
I am convinced that pot will become legal for recreational use in at least one state at some point in my lifetime.
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I sincerely hope you are right. I'd like to see Virginia and Carolina tobacco farmers switch crops, since tobacco use seems to be on the decline. I'm all about jobs, jobs, jobs ... if they can remember how to get to work! :D

(Standard pot memory joke, recycled for your amusement or derisive rejoinder.)
 
KingMerv00 said:
I am convinced that pot will become legal for recreational use in at least one state at some point in my lifetime.
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I was convinced of that ten years ago. But it's always going to be political suicide for whoever does it. Anyone running against "the person who legalized drug use" will win. Demonizing your opponent often works, and with a gimme like that, who could resist?
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
I was convinced of that ten years ago. But it's always going to be political suicide for whoever does it. Anyone running against "the person who legalized drug use" will win. Demonizing your opponent often works, and with a gimme like that, who could resist?
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Which is why it almost certainly will be done by referendum. Last year Massachusetts decriminalized pot (it is now a misdemeanor rather than a felony, and not subject to arrest) by referendum.
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
I was convinced of that ten years ago. But it's always going to be political suicide for whoever does it. Anyone running against "the person who legalized drug use" will win. Demonizing your opponent often works, and with a gimme like that, who could resist?
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The people who respond to demonizing pot tend to be older and are dying off one by one.
 
Magnifico2.0 said:
It. Will. Not. Happen. In. This. Lifetime.
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Why so sure? The prohibition on alcohol was overturned.

Magnifico2.0 said:
I was convinced of that ten years ago. But it's always going to be political suicide for whoever does it. Anyone running against "the person who legalized drug use" will win. Demonizing your opponent often works, and with a gimme like that, who could resist?
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Again, is that what happened to the people who overturned the prohibition on alchohol? Is that what happened the the people in the Netherlands that legalized pot, or in California when they legalized it for medical purposes?

I don't think the political implications are quite as one-sided as you suggest.
True, it would be a brave politician who favors legalization, but not necessarily a sure loser.
 
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