Residents of Colorado will have the opportunity to vote in favor of ending marijuana prohibition this November. Today, the “Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act” was approved for the ballot by Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler. With this confirmation, Colorado now joins Washington as one of two states where measures specific to legalizing cannabis will appear on the electoral ballot.
Backers of the initiative had previously turned in over 160,000 signatures. However, the Secretary of State’s office on February 3 responded that petitioners still needed an additional 2,500 valid signatures from registered voters to place the initiative on the ballot. On February 17th, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted an additional 14,000 signatures, well in excess of what was required to meet that threshold. Today’s approval from the state cements their placement on this fall’s ballot.
The Colorado initiative seeks to allow for the limited possession and cultivation of cannabis by adults age 21 and over. The measure would further amend state law to establish regulations governing the commercial production and distribution of marijuana by licensed retailers.
The measure is supported by a broad coalition of reform organizations, including NORML, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, SAFER, Sensible Colorado, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Marijuana Policy Project.
“This is a very exciting prospect for marijuana law reform advocates,” states Erik Altieri, NORML’s Communications Coordinator, “Coloradans have already set the example for how to properly implement a state medical marijuana program and now they have the opportunity to lead the country yet again by being the first to end cannabis prohibition in their state. With their state pride and frontier mentality, the Centennial State stands a great chance of being the first state to declare an end to the war on cannabis consumers.”
Since its inception, the 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has been comprised of a broad-based coalition of state and national organizations that includes NORML. The NORML Board of Directors is expected to publicly endorse the initiative shortly.
More information on the initiative can be found at the campaign’s webpage here and on their Facebook here.
What a time to be alive. You know what to do Colorado.
This is incredible, baby steps to full scale legalization!
we will we will… texting and campaigning for votes NOW !! My state will be legal dor all come Navember.. go Colorado !!
I hope my parents live long enough to see this happen.
Boy, will this piss off the Feds. But it is has been a long time coming. I got off all painkillers with this plant-amazing, delicate, and spiritual to grow…
way to go colorado! now lets change the world!
Great! I don’t understand why this isn’t being done in all fifty states. There are bad drugs(ie. crack, heroin, meth) and natural less troublesome drugs(ie. marijuana, and shrooms. I would personally back this bill in Illinois and now thousands if not millions of my peers would as well. Lets take a lesson from our friends at Holland and decriminalize the “giggly” drug!
Just legalize marijuana already and fix the economy. Marijuana is the biggest cash crop that we have; that means all of your tax dollars are going into a big black hole which is the dealers black market pockets. That is why the economy is destroyed, the internet and the current legal status of marijuana.
Good job Colorado. Hopefully the dominoes start to fall come November. I believe Mason Tvert, and the folks from SAFER had a huge part in this. I’ll be voting yes on I-502 in WA this Nov. and with any luck CO’s initiative will pass as well. I predicted legalization was 10 years away in 2002 when I was still brand new in the military, and now it lookslike the end of prohibition is near. The Feds will have no choice but to re-schedule cannabis as the rest of the states in the Union follow suit. I hope CA can get their initiative on the ballot as well. I guess its about time to open my wallet up so this can become reality. Let’s do the damn thing! Go and vote yes!!!!!!
What are the chances that the state would adopt a winery model? What would NORML’s next steps in Colorado be if this were to be adopted this November?
I really hope the voters of Colorado pass this into law. Time to stop wasting money criminalizing marijuana and time to start making money with taxation and regulation.
Ava says it all:
“February 27, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I hope my parents live long enough to see this happen.”
DARE I say that Is From the Heart!
174,000 CO voter signatures, wow!!!
So ironic… the federal and many state laws treat cannabis as a crime similar to assault, rape, murder… I don’t see that on any ballots. I don’t expect to, either.
Are you listening Washington??? Do you hear young people hoping their “parents live long enough…” to see child abuse legal? No, you don’t. We see people who recognize cannabis as a basic commodity, like garlic or onions.
We see, Americans want the legalization of cannabis. Do NOT see it as anything remotely like the lies the ONDCP spreads.
Colorado – You Can Do It!!!
Stop The Hurt… Legalize!
This article neglects to mentions Californias’ “Regulate Pot Like Wine” act, which is basically the same thing.
Jon Smith
Alternative Healing Serivces
Tucson, AZ
520.777.7692
jonatcsa@Gmail.com
We’ve covered Regulate Like Wine in our previous blog post about all legalization initiatives, CO qualified for the ballot today and that is what we are reporting here, if and when Regulate Like Wine does we’ll do the same.
Colorado will become known as the truly free state and will be rewarded by huge amounts of income.
Sir Richard Branson testified before a House of Commons committee this past Friday.
“The market for cannabis in Britain should be regulated and taxed, and responsibility for drug policy moved from the Home Office to the health department, Sir Richard Branson has told MPs.”
Click on the website link to go to the Guardian’s article.
In the famous words of Neil Armstrong – “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Hooray
and YO Colorado!! In the words of Arsenio Hall – “Whoop, Whoop, Whoooooop”
If Colorado legalizes, other states will follow.
California would probably be second
This is wonderful news, i pray this goes through. \m/
Way to go Colorado. Great forward thinking and very mature of you. Well done.
This is pathetic, if this actually passes I can guarantee you that the addiction and over-use of weed will skyrocket. Not to mention that it wont help the hole “growing” situation.
It’s just a matter of time now.
I know where I’m moving
can i be the first to get a job doing what I love? i’ll do anything in the field of taking care of plants or growing.
i’d like to be one of the first to get into this field for a career.
The people making money from the current system will probably vote against it like they did in California. People better get out there and vote.
And soon the Feds will send letters to all state congress in Colorado stating if it is approved and implemented then those allowing it will be arrested. Get a clue America. ThIs is old England reborn.
Yes, the initiative is on the ballot!
NOW GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!!
this could still fail, if we stoners, chronics, and potheads celebrate before it’s finalized.
Do your part, and VOTE yes!! Tell your friends, your family, your coworkers, and complete strangers on the street to vote yes. Then drag there butts down to the polls on voting day and encourage them, once again, to vote yes.
Step one is done. Now only if the Colorado pot heads vote We will win. But when i took the survive well pot heads do not vote or even want to register to vote. I hope the pot heads in Colorado are not like the pot heads in Texas.
You rock Colorado!
It’s good to finally see some progressive stances coming through on this topic.
Im still waiting for North Carolina to legalize it ,
Dont think it is gonna happen though 🙁
If you live in Connecticut and want to end marijuana prohibition in our state, please take a minute to visit http://www.ctprimaryproject.com.
Please pass this on to anyone you know in Connecticut!
Its about time. Time to blow smoke in the federal govts face.
You know what to do Colorado!
its a shame its not happening in all states but its no longer if it will happen its now when will it reach your home state.
Here is a short an unusual perspective on the irrational marijuana prohibition: http://sebastianmarincolo.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/nightmare-marijuana-prohibition/
Please make sure you get out to vote and get ebery single person you know to do so as well !
Failure is NOT an option !
I’m hoping this will be the pebble that starts the landslide across America and the World !
170,000 thousand signatures seems really that with so many signatures required they were doing everything to keep it off of the ballot box . How many signatures are required for something else to get on the ballot …..a heck of a lot less, that’s how many .
its on like donkey kong
Rocky Mountain HIIIIIIIGGGHHH Colorado!!!!!!!!
Is there any way the federal government can get it taken off of the ballot? If not and it still doesn’t pass I’d almost say the government rigged the vote. They would never do something like that to us though becasue I trust them.
This is great new indeed!! Okay fellow Coloradoans here is our chance lets make it happen!!
When it passes I’m moving to Colorado 🙂
Jimmy jones, to put an item on the ballot, each state, town, city, etc.. has its own way. The signiture # i think were quoted at twice as many as needed. You need twice as many because the sect. of state certifies each signiture. If it can not be read or voter does not exist, the signitures do not count. Therefore you need twice as many. For presidental and govt positions, each state, town, city has their own rules, even for getting presidental canidates on the ballot from parties other they the two that we are stuck with. Any Way Colorado. I know two residents that will, My step bro and wife.
This is amazing, but it won’t pass. Big poppa won’t let it happen. I like the attempt though.
something as big as it actually being legalized there is no way the gov would allow it. they would rig it. to much is at stake to risk it getting enough votes.
Man I’m excited! I think this time around we have an exceptional chance. Numbers talk, this state has been showing a substantial amount of tax revenue with medicinal marijuana. Colorado has projected, if legalized,annual sales would generate $10 million respectively IN TAX REVINUES ALONE! Can’t wait to see what happens in November
I know where I’m going on my next big vacation….If this passes Colorado should anticipate its tourism to ramp up in the coming years
If you live in MICHIGAN and want to end marijuana prohibition in our state, please take a minute to visit
https://help.repealtoday.org/index.cfm
This is great, not only is this one of the first steps towards full legalization but this proves that the state have the power to make the decisions like this to legitimize a harmless plant.
ive become so pessimistic about our shit government that, i will believe it when i see it.do you really think the one percent(high dolla elite) who run our country will go for this…they stand to lose too much.i live in fla and, our pill pushin governor will never do it.but folks…do i wish it could happen…peace to you all..
Great job. One step forward by some hardworking visionaries. 420 freedom for all. I tweeted this good news. #taoswire
Damn, should of took that job in Colorado when I had the chance. Big props to all who helped get this initiative on the ballot. It give me some hope that the entirety of the human race isn’t completely screwed.
Es una buena noticia y ademas sensata. Queria comentar una noticia sobre un ayuntamiento de Cataluña (Spain) que quiere cultivar cannabis para una asociación canabica. Si os pasais por el blog hydroplanet-blog.blogspot.com comentamos la noticia y hay un link de un periodico local. Todo esta en catalan y el blog es muy reciente.
Saludos y despenalización del cannabis.
This is the step in the right direction.. But we also need a separate movement that is stronger and more powerful to get Prohibition ended on a federal level. And that all victimless criminals related to Marijuana should be excused and cleared off their records. If we want stuff like this, we’ll need someone like Ron Paul leading the country as well as people like him in Congress.
first fuck all who thing it will not pass this is what we need it starts will colorado but will end with the US legalizing every one in colorado vote for it in november the government will see how much money it will make and then legalize for every one
I live in Colorado, and my gut feeling is that not only will it pass, but it will pass by a double digit percentage victory!
Even if Colorado passes this, the Federal government will claim ultimate authority about this.
The government can only so so much, the awareness of marijuana is growing exponentially. The only way for the government to control us entirely is by military force (God forbid >.>) we’ll get there one way or another, it has to start somewhere! Props to Colorado! 😀
Pass it Please!
Gee, I wonder what caused so many petition signatures to be rejected? I wonder what’s the criteria for a valid signature?
I really hope this passes and starts a tidal wave of controversy in the media especially before the 2012 presidential elections. I wonder if this is going to become a major talking point for the candidates? Very interesting to see how this turns out.
I wonder how many signatures would be needed to get this on the national ballot to end pot prohibition?
[Editor’s note: There are no such things as national ballots or referendum. The only national vote is the president/vice presidential elections every four years.
Approximately twenty two states allow for direct voter initiatives.]
This is how it should be. Did anyone else have the feeling marijuana laws are like repeating history? And alcohol is even worse for you too… i never understood it. All im saying is if this happens, it better spread over the U.S. soon, preferably in PA haa
oh, it may pass and that would be awesome….but, our government will continue to beat the dead horse…..they will find another diversion…..
At heart, I’m all for decriminalization and legalization; we should all be free to ingest whatever chemicals we choose so long as we do not hurt others while under the influence. I am very concerned though that companies like Pfizer, if it is nationally legalized for medicinal purposes, and RJ Reynolds/Phillip Morris, if it is nationally legalized for recreational purposes, will patent it. Did you know that it is illegal to grow your own tobacco? The big tobacco companies now own the plant and are free to alter it as they wish to make it more addictive, less medicinal, and more dangerous and you are not allowed to grow your own plant to maintain the healthier genetic varieties. I’m really frightened they’re going to steal cannabis from us and turn it into something dangerous and disgusting and continue to get richer and richer off of us; my understanding is that they’ve already bought acres and acres and acres of land in California’s emerald triangle and are just sitting and waiting for it be legalized so they can begin production. It’s so sad that I have to feel so torn about this issue…
You are about to see what kind of government we have. WATCH THE TRUTH COME OUT. And when thay say, just say NO. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? this will be fun to see. SKYRIDER.
if either and hopefully both states get this passed and after they and the rest of America sees the tax dollars this will generate as well as save on incarcerating/imprisoning people over nothing, I think we may see several states jump on board, I hope in my Lifetime to see it legal nation wide as it should be, both for medical reasons and recreational, as a recreational drug there has been 0 deaths recorded caused by marijuana, EVER, can you say the same for alcohol?
MS and FL only allow ballot initiative
constitutional amendments, not statutes.<— does this mean MS can or can't have one of these petitions?
If EVERYONE votes this shit could happen. then everyone would move to CO. Then other states would follow the leader and legalize. WIN
sounds good to me.i will be looking for property in co.
The public has been fed pure lies about cannabis for the past 80 years via the media The public needs to become educated as to what’s real & what isn’t real about cannabis instead of illogical, fictitious, & superstitious notions The prohibition of cannabis is a cruel & oppressive miscarriage of American Justice!
For all those thinking that this is an impossibility, take note that we already have three cities in which it is legal to carry an ounce or less here in Colorado. Even in the more conservative Colorado Springs, where I live, the police are pretty lax about persecuting on the grounds of pot use. They have to worry a lot more about the cokeheads and meth-heads, who actually do commit crimes.
If you live in Colorado, get out there and VOTE when this comes around! I know I will be.
I live in IN. and would love fot this to pass in CO. lead other states into listening to the people that live in them. Stop the underground market and the violence that accompanys it.
don’t blow it if you live in colorado vote
war on drugs?, or war over drugs? who gets to make the money, isn’t that what it really comes down to
COLORADO AND WASHINGTON PLEASE VOTE!!!
I would move to CO the next month!
Correction I would move myself and bussiness to CO if this goes though.
this is great of course it wont pass but it shows that there is a chance thats coming soon for this BS proabition to end tho that doesnt mean we shouldnt just lay back and not vote dear colorado get out vote on this and make it heard
haterz gonna hate.
I think the trend is clear. Eventually legalization will be the order of the day. We’ve had three Presidents who smoked it (whether they admitted it). Clinton, “W”, and Obama.
Almost everyone who was a teenager after 1972 was exposed to it. That means the majority has smoked it, or knew people who smoked it.
In another ten years, pretty much everyone who is alive will fall into that category.
The forces opposed to legalization are shrinking every single day.
Legalization is coming.
The mafia annd cartels control the drug market. Prop 19 hehe in Ca failed due tothe wholesale price plunge, and thefed threat of no money to the state. As A Hawaii property owner, i am losing a million a year, no one can fix this nightmare.MAYBE BY 2020!!!!!
what a waste of money to jail 777,000 people daily!~Dupoint , alcohol, prescription , drugs, and tobbacco aqre the real other reasons~ Why would the feds wantt the price to drop to 500 a pound of killer green bud~
i spoke to my governer , here in ca , jerry brown about it, he is really ‘old school’ .I spoke to my senator , barbara boxer about it , she is against it . I spoke to my other senator, fienstien about it , she is for more prisons~against it too. I spoke to my local rep , BABRA LEE < SHE IS FOR IT < AS WELL AS OAKLAND I quess thats why i live here and not HAWAII!~ ONE DAY!
how does the gov of colorado feel about it/?One state like nevada , Henry HYDES state needs to stand up to the fed and say , enough is enough , WE DO NOT WANT YOUR FED MONEY!
War on Drugs AND a war over drugs. I must say in my 50 years of being a user and not a criminal I never expected this stupidity. Should not have let this change guy fool me though. Let the repubs have it; Im not voting. Honestly, we used to smoke all over nyc, in the parks, our homes pretty much any place. Nobody cared. All gone to shit there, Colorado you can be our hope for a better tomorrow. Move it up!!!!!
Towards the sun says he won’t vote at all, but hopes it will pass. Well, I encourage you to vote; for marijuana, for legislators and representatives, for judges, and clerks. Lest we die having no effort given, let us be the ones to make it clear at every election what we stand up for. Those who are unable to stand, who need this medicine, most likely would agree with me. we got the vote by the ballot box, for women, and we got Prop 215 frothe ballot box. Don’t throw it away. Further, if you don’t vote, we will have a zealot in the oval office. if you think Obama is a pawn, a traitor, a man with two tounges, think again about why you vote, not for a man or a woman, but to further the democratic process. We have not reached a stalemate. we are at a crescendo. We are so close to the top of the mountain. Soon, we will see the other side, and we will know the vision of MLK and Harvey Milk. Vote. Someone’s life may depend upon it. last, consider how those four jjudges in California came to power, and then, figure out how we can change this. These are not four Obama appointees, or are they? Please tell.
I was born and raised in Colorado and i see that Marijuana is not a problem. I support it being legalized. Yes some people can be stupid with marijuana and get into a car accident but there has never been and overdose by marijuana, you cant say that about liquor. I don’t like to drink liquor that much and i don’t like the taste of cigarettes plus they kill people all over the world. POWER TO THE PEOPLE. I think if the legalization of marijuana passes the federal government should not get a single penny in taxes because they still view it as “illegal”, why should all our hard work make them a profit. But if they were to use the taxes to fight Meth, Crack, Coke, and other harmful drugs then it would be fine. I want to start a business to provide our state with industrial hemp and take the money from the oil and lumber companies to give it to the people. “the Government should be afraid of the people” not “the people afraid of the government”.
If it gets the vote from the people and the bitch ass gov overules it, im movin to amsterdamn
Stupid! If it passes, 2012 will be my last trip to Co. Let’s see, 80% of males arrested for ANYTHING in the US were on drugs. Oh, and in Ca you can’t tell the diff between legal and cartel grown MJ. So say hi to the drug cartels in Co, just like CA.
the 80% you are talking about, the majority of them were drug charges, pointless charges against innocent people guilty of nothing more than smoking or possessing a joint or sack of weed, stop the ignorant war against our own people,,,
Marijuana != Drugs. If you believe this, then you have been brainwashed and should be fighting for a more personal cause. Media is more dangerous than Marijuana, think about it…Life wasn’t so bad when we were confined to printed material for our information and alcohol has always been a cause of terrible “accidents.” I’ll take Marijuana over either of these any day.
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Larry, Your an idiot! I’m on 13 different heart, acid reflux, depression med. and 3 strong narcotic meds. I’m 36 and have had to have 2 back surgery, open heart surgery due to a heredatery Heart inlarged Heart, I have a difibulator, a metal rod in my left hemas bone. And yes I’m a grown Man! And I should be able to treat myself with medical pot instead of the narcotic addictive pills. And I know here in Arkansas a drug store is robed at least 1 a week and there have been people killed. There are standards, taxed,and Regulated by local, state, federal government with I’m sure very intense background checks the police at all levels need to worry about other larger and more deadly drugs. I hope you or your family never have to take 13 different regular non narcotic drug. But Im a grown and I should have an option. And the cartels would move away from pot and focus on more powder products.
Larry, you are lost my, fellow American, in an old and misguided school of thought. Red, you are on the money about the cartels moving away from the pot and focusing on the powder products.
If the USA would make pot legal, tax & reg. it like they do alcohol & cigarettes, not only would it free up our police, prisons, and justice system from petty pot charges and allow the system to focus on serious & violent crimes, it would also keep a lot of US dollars here in America.
With that said, how about fighting terrorism from our southern border? By cutting a good chunk of the cartel’s revenue off by legalizing pot and allowing the American farmers to grow it, the cartels wouldn’t have that large source of income. Cartels operate off of revenue just like any business. Like any business, the size and power of a company and/or corporation is directly related to its income. Want to strike a blow to the drug cartels? Legalize a product that they can’t sell here in America anymore at a profit worth messing with. If they try to smuggle pot into the US after that, if we catch the transport then we seize it as always, lock the smugglers up, sell their pot on our stores and the US government taxes it.
Hm,Mexican, Canadian, grass, drug cartel. Take away their consumer market and harness it. Cartel fade away, grass is taxed, the gov’t uses their pot prohibition funds towards something better. Jobs are created. Happier, healthier, wealthier, and safer Americans. hm
Bettie understands the situation. America’s economy is crumbling beneath our feet. Our jails and prisons are full of people guilty of nothing but possessing a plant. Americans should understand that people who want to consume marijuana will do so regardless of the law. Why not tax it and free up our costly jails and prisons for real criminals such as our politicians who are destroying our future by inaction on our crippling debt and illegal immigration?
I respect your opinion especially with mind altering substances I would never expect someone to support them blindly but I want to ask you one question do you drink alcohol? Are you fully educated on the short and long term effects of pot? I challenge you to do a side-by-side comparison of alcohol and marijuana. And I am willing to bet that you will find that you should have condemned Colorado years back for their breweries rather than waiting till now to boycott an entire state because of what they choose to let their residents do. On a side note check the child and spousal abuse statistics related with alcohol and related with marijuana.
Larry, I respect your opinion especially with mind altering substances I would never expect someone to support them blindly but I want to ask you one question do you drink alcohol? Are you fully educated on the short and long term effects of pot? I challenge you to do a side-by-side comparison of alcohol and marijuana. And I am willing to bet that you will find that you should have condemned Colorado years back for their breweries rather than waiting till now to boycott an entire state because of what they choose to let their residents do. On a side note check the child and spousal abuse statistics related with alcohol and then related with marijuana.
Sorry for the double post I realized that in the first post I had not stated who it was in response to.
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