A crowd of hundreds gathered to light up joints under the Space Needle in Seattle this morning as recreational marijuana use officially became legal in the state of Washington.
A similar scene is likely to unfold on the streets of Denver in the coming weeks as Colorado’s marijuana legalization law goes into effect.
In Washington, it is now legal for people to possess up to one ounce of the drug, which is illegal in most states, including Florida. While the new state law in Washington doesn’t usurp federal laws that criminalize marijuana use, local cops are no longer going to give people age 21 and up a hard time for lighting up a joint in the privacy of their own homes. The public display at the Space Needle technically remains illegal, but police in that state decided to let it fly on the morning pot smoking became legal there.
Cops in Washington seem to be taking a rather nonchalant approach to the new state rules, too.
The Seattle Police Department has issued some interesting directives to its officers.
Police spokesman Jonah Spangenthal-Lee is quoted on the Huffington Post as saying, "The police department believes that, under state law, you may responsibly get baked, order some pizzas and enjoy a `Lord of the Rings' marathon in the privacy of your own home, if you want to."
He also quoted the cult classic film "The Big Lebowski": “The Dude abides, and says `take it inside!' "
Colorado’s law goes into effect on Jan. 5. Washington state, the Post says, anticipates the new law will bring millions of dollars into the state’s coffers as regulations begin to go into place.
While lighting up a joint at home – or in public – remains illegal in Florida, we’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue Tampa Bay! Do you think our state should look at decriminalization? Should the federal government review its own laws? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Fortunately the public is becoming more informed on this issue and as we do, we will demand that the money be directed to more useful endeavors. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/legalizations-biggest-enemies-20130117 http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/legalization-hits-the-hill-20130206
only a few people have problems when they smoke marijuana. and just like alcoholics some people abuse marijuana. but the benefits of smoking pot far outweigh the dangers. and if you don't wanna smoke it, just make some brownies. yum yum.lol and if Florida was to legalized growing it we could become the capital of high quality paper in the country. we plant a field of marijuana that grows to full hieght in 1 season. that puts people to work in the beginning of the season and in the end of the season. where you plant pine trees one year and in 20 years you go back to harvest them. if we were to grow commercial grade hemp, we would need people to work the fields year around. hemp also makes a better quality paper with 1 third of the chemicals needed to make paper. Florida has the perfect climate to do this. growing hemp would get Florida out of the red, were we could lower taxes and put our firemen and police officers back to work all while lowering our taxes. and for those who don't know commercial hemp,, you can't get high from it.
As for President Obama I like his comments on this issue, it is best to read his interview with Walters; http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/14/obama-ive-got-bigger-fish-to-fry-than-pot-smokers/
You are correct about state vs fed enforcement. That is why it needs to eventually be resolved at the federal level. Prohibition was repealed the same way, start in the states, and repeal the amendment at the federal level. No time like the present to get started. Enforcement of the marijuana laws is ineffecient, ineffective and wastes money in terms of both enforcement and incarceration. Our drug laws also export guns and violence to Mexico. The laws against marijuana were formed to protect W.R. Hearst's investment in fibre. He lobbied for the law and produced Refer Madness to make his point. It was all about money, not about protecting the public. Frankly, the laws have done more harm to the public than they have helped anyone (except of course the dealers and the Mexicans). There is a large market waiting to be tapped by growing and marketing hemp and the medicinal form of the herb. The tax revenue would not be insignificant at a time when we desperately need it. Shift the dollars from enforcement and incarceration to better uses of the funds. What are we waiting for?
I applaud President Obama for the fact he wants to protect the kids which is the way it should be, I emphasize once more I am sure there are many responsible adults over 21 but there are that many irresponsible adults who I guarantee will abuse the privilege same way alcohol, tobacco & prescription drugs has been abused, good day to you Ken!
also look at firework’s here in Florida there legal but we cannot get thing like ashcans which are a metal rapped with a water proof fuse M-80 and blockbusters which are equivalent of a quarter stick of dynamite. But in NY were all fireworks are illegal there as easy to find around the fourth of July as pizza is there
The problem is that we as a society are clogging the courts and putting people in jail, for what? Answer me that. What benefit do you see? I see none. Switzerland and Portugal just decriminalized drug use and did not see an uptick in the use of formerly illegal drugs. Now they are able to redirect law enforcement to more important activities. Our priorities as a nation are all fouled up. A recent article in the Rolling Stone magazine titled Too Big to Jail discussed the illegal activities of London based bank HSBC, caught red handed suppressing their illegal activities, handling the money laundering for murderous drug lords and rogue nations under sanctions. They get away with rigging LIBOR rates and other crimes with minor fines and slaps on the wrist. And you would advocate jailing harmless pot smokers because kids might get a hold of some. Are you even aware of what the elite are getting away with when they break the law? Probably not.
In the mean time Florida is losing millions in the form of new business start up as well as losing millions spent in law enforcement which could be put to a far better use. Drug abuse like many other societal ills we suffer, is a mental health issue. Yet we keep cutting mental health programs and attach all kinds of stigma to the very idea of anyone getting mental health help. In this age of scarcity when many can not get the medical help they need or are forced into bankruptcy due to illness wouldn't it make sense to give people an option that can actually promote good health and bring many desperately needed jobs to our state? There shouldn't even be a question about it. at this point.
Pills with crazy side effects such as possible heart attacks, death, certain risks...why not cut pills out of the question for SOME conditions, Marijuana, IF grown safely and correctly can get rid of dangerous side effects yet get rid of pain at the same time...i say LETS DO IT FLORIDA!!
I will add my voice to those that wish Marijuana to be made legal everywhere, if it needs to be made medical first so be it. There really is far too much evidence pertaining to it's benefits as a medicine to keep it illegal.
I fail to see why you would resort to name calling when people just want the 'right' to do as they please. Someone using Marijuana to ease their illness are far less harmful to others than the person drinking their pains away, drunks can and have been violent to themselves and those around them. So...take a deep breath and relax.
and doing just fine , remember GOD made good man made not so good
It would truly benefit this discussion if you would research this topic for yourself before you start getting involved in the discussion. Ignorance is just so ugly.