In the midst of the victorious re-election of the nation's first black President, Barack Obama, an equally historic victory was celebrated by supporters of marijuana legalization. Colorado passed Amendment 64 while Washington state passed Initiative 502 regulating taxes sales of small amounts of marijuana for adults making them the first two states to end marijuana prohibition in the U.S
Over the past years, previous attempts to legalize "pot" through ballot measures failed in states like California, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado and Nevada since 1972 but now analysts are predicting budget boost to the nation's crippling economy through legalizing marijuana sales.
In Colorado, Amendment 64, the "Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol" Act won approval from a majority of Colorado voters allowing the personal use of marijuana for adults 21 years old and above. The Colorado approval was deeply divided as America's re-election of president Obama until the vote that came as more of a surprise with 53% of voters saying they plan to support it to 46% who are opposed. This is the second time Colorado voted on legal marijuana, in 2006, the measure was voted off. Under Amendment 64, marijuana is taxed and regulated similar to alcohol and tobacco with equivalent offenses prescribed for driving. The Amendment allows possession of an ounce (28 grams) and permits growing as many as six plants in private, secure areas.
"The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (a vocal opponent to the measure) in a statement. "This is a complicated process, but we intend to follow through."
Meanwhile, Initiative 502 in Washington, legalized the recreational use of Marijuana for those 21 years old and above to buy up to one ounce (28 grams) of marijuana from a licensed retailers and treating the drug the same way Alcohol is controlled in the country.
The Washington initiative to legalize marijuana sales counts for a 25% tax rate imposed on the product three times, growers to the processors, processors to retailers and retailers to consumers. The measure may generate as much as $1.9 billion in revenue over five fiscal years, according to the state's Office of Financial Management.
With this year's lowest employment rate and national debt running in trillions, the current initiative proposes creating new jobs related to the marijuana industry promising fully regulated system of cultivation and sales that is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars per year in new revenue which otherwise would have gone to the underground market . Plus save on criminal justice and eliminate the underground marijuana market.
An economist whose study was funded by a pro-marijuana group projects as much as a $60 million boost by 2017.
"It's very monumental," said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), a Washington-based group that advocates legalization told SFGate. "No state has ever done this. Technically, marijuana isn't even legal in Amsterdam."
A common error is to believe that the Netherlands has already legalized Marijuana but the law legalized only the retail sale of 5 grams (about a sixth of an ounce) or less.
The drug warriors say that states that legalize marijuana for recreational use will trigger a "Constitutional showdown" with the federal government. But pro-legalization don't foresee federal agents interfering in states that have legalized marijuana.
The Amendment is viewed to also reduces teens' use of marijuana because the access would be limited to persons 21 and older, provides an alternative to teens' use of more dangerous drugs, and makes the sale and purchase of marijuana safe.
Opposition to Marijuana use sees the amendment would lead to increased use of marijuana, and damaging to children because they believe it "permanently affects brain development, impairs learning ability and contributes to depression"
In Washington state, decriminalization and new rules on driving under the influence take effect Dec. 6. The state liquor control board must adopt rules by Dec. 1, 2013 for licensing producers, processors and retailers.
Although Colorado "legalized it," it will be several months, perhaps as long as a year, before Colorado adults 21-and-over can enjoy the legal sale of marijuana as the Amendment will directly contradict with federal policy, which continues to treat marijuana as illegal.
In Oregon, voters rejected a third legalization referendum on their ballot. On the other hand, one -third of U.S. states support for marijuana's recreational use built on measures that allow it for medical purposes.
The measure taken by Colorado and Washington will likely be closely-watched....as marijuana is still an illegal drug under the federal law.
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