Perhaps it's my LEO background, but I detected no muddle...

Hey, I didn't pick the cherry, you did! I just noted it didn't taste ripe..

POSSIBLY because you were disinclined?? :D

"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request... That means 'NO' "
-Captain Barbossa, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

:D

Michale

I'd be inclined to agree with you on Oregon's effort. I was fortunate enough to be on the ground in Portland during both petition drives. The first one definitely had the taste of "won't it be cool to get high legally". The last round had a much more polished act, lots of clean cut, neatly dressed young people collecting the signatures. Act 2 also came with a very polished set of sociological and economic reasons to support legalization.

It seems to be paying off as the mood on the ground seems to be that of "the current prohibition regime is not working out so well for "us" let's try regulating and taxing it, let's get some economic benefits out of this, let's free up some law enforcement resources". It feels like no matter the reason for supporting legalizing people have recognized that cannabis is not going away and perhaps it is time to try something new.

All in all I'd say that the cannabis industry has mounted a fairly good campaign this time around. If successful I would not be surprised to see others efforts emulate this second effort. Just as I will not be surprised to see lobbying against such efforts also get more expensive and polished.

"For example, if you have a dry town that, one day, allows alcohol and, within weeks of that event, the amount of car crashes jumps dramatically....."

Right, but no such example was presented. What was presented is a muddle with contradictory policy implications.

Hey, I didn't pick the cherry, you did! I just noted it didn't taste ripe.

It ain't rocket science to figure that there might be a connection....

Michale

Me? I am just a knuckle-dragging ground pounder... But if it quacks like a duck and waddles like a duck, it's a good bet that it's a duck...

Michale

"data the researchers use does not reveal whether those drivers were impaired at the time of the crash or whether they were at fault."

and

"Both conclude their analyses in 2011 — the latest year for which data are available but prior to the 2012 legalization of recreational pot."

and

"Overall traffic fatalities in Colorado fell slightly during that period."

Was Paul Murky, of Murky Research and a long time Car Talk consultant, involved in either of these studies? Just sayin'.....

I'm just sayin'....

Michale

I hear you. There are many powerful interests working against legalization, not least of which is a Kennedy offspring. But I still see the chances of OR and AK voting for their ballot initiatives as fairly high (if you'll forgive the pun). The pro-reform movement is learning lessons as time goes on, and is much more effective these days.

-CW

Five special interest groups lobbying to keep marijuana illegal, and their incentives for doing so:

Pharmaceutical Corporations: perceived competition to pain and depression products.

Isn't it even SLIGHTLY possible that people might have reasonable and logical objections to legalizing drugs??

Why do people always have to assign ulterior motives to other people who simply believe different things??

Michale

Police Unions: drug war grants and confiscated drug assets.

Private Prisons Corporations: more prisoners = more money per head.

Prison Guard Unions: more prisoners = more guards collecting salary

Alcohol and Beer Companies: perceived competition from recreational pot

Pharmaceutical Corporations: perceived competition to pain and depression products.

These powerful groups can mobilize a lot of influence pedaling money. There is going to be significant push back from these vested interests, and the slow pace of state by state reform makes their task relatively easy. Don't count on demographic shifts to win the day.

The ugly truth is that state (and federal) governments need to be prepared to buy these interests out. Oh, the horror! So, if you prefer a more positive political marketing spin, get them on the side of drug reform by sharing new tax revenue.

Encourage big alcohol,tobacco and pharma interests to go after emerging marijuana markets. Give police and prisons more productive missions and fund them directly from marijuana tax revenues. Political gears grind more quickly if well lubricated.

http://www.republicreport.org/2012/marijuana-lobby-illegal/