Monday, April 06, 2009
To date, 13 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) have adopted laws legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Most of these states adopted their medical marijuana laws through the initiative process, according to Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge, a non-profit that promotes citizens to use the initiative and referendum processes. Although the federal government under President George W. Bush refused to support these state laws, and used the Justice Department to go after cannabis clubs, Jacob says the current economic downturn may prove fortuitous for supporters of medical marijuana.
With the recession continuing to grow worse, Jacob argues that the time might be right for a change in policy regarding marijuana. “During the last Depression, Prohibition was repealed,” he writes. “Way back then, the states lacked for revenues. They wanted to tax alcohol. The new Democratic Congress followed the new Democratic president’s lead and worked hard to repeal Prohibition”—and in the process, found new monies for the treasury by legalizing and taxing the sale of alcohol.
Jacob admits the country might not be ready yet for complete legalization of marijuana. But at least there is movement in that direction. He cites the example of Massachusetts, where voters in 2008 approved the downgrading of laws criminalizing marijuana possession from felony to misdemeanor status.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
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