By John K. Ross – The march towards good sense and marijuana freedom continues apace. To give a glimpse of what’s in store for 2014, here’s a 50-state guide to legislation and ballot measures that are in the works thus far this year.
By my count, 13 states may follow Colorado and Washington State’s lead and legalize recreational use—either at the ballot box or in state capitols. Medical marijuana is on the table in 16 states. Five states may decriminalize possession, replacing criminal penalties with civil fines.
Of the 20 states that do not have a push underway this year, 12 have already OK’d medical marijuana or decriminalization. Additionally, activists in at least three states with nothing currently underway are organizing 2016 initiative drives.
The following leans heavily on reportage from The Daily Chronic and an ACLU report, The War on Marijuana in Black and White.
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Hawaii – Nothing
House Majority Floor Leader Rida Cabanilla (D-Waipahu) has introduced a bill directing a working group to put together a plan to allow farmers to grow marijuana for export. The bill does not allow for recreational use, though 66 percent of Hawaiian voters would support such a measure according to a poll.
A full 77 percent no longer support criminal penalties for possession.
Last year, legislators liberalized the state’s 14-year-old medical marijuana law, increasing the amount of cannabis patients are allowed to possess. In 2010, police in Hawaii made 1,448 arrests for marijuana possession.
Current law
Recreational: No
Medical: Yes
Decriminalization: No
For the full report log onto Reason.com
About time people are waking up to this, hopefully America leads the way for the rest of the west. I think most of South America may follow Uruguay, and it would be weird if Europe and other English speaking countries followed suit. Big question mark over Asia though, don't know if they'd ever come around.
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I was really saurprised when i found out pot was legal in colorado, but I thought that would be it. Now you;'re telling us pot might be l;egalised in 13 more states? We're definitely moving fast. Also, just yesterday I found an article from the sixties which stated that pot might be legalised soon. Just to put things in perspective
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