Staff Writer
Seven
states had some type of marijuana reform on their ballots on November 4. Residents
of Oregon, District of Columbia (D.C.), New Mexico, California, New Jersey,
Alaska, and Florida cast ballots on the state policy regarding marijuana. When
the voters spoke, reform was passed in every state except Florida. Even Guam, South
Portland, and many counties in Michigan have loosened their grip on the
prohibition of marijuana.
Oregon,
D.C., and Alaska are now the latest examples of legalized recreational marijuana
with Alaska following exactly in Colorado’s footsteps. Other local governments
didn’t see much drastic reform; many states and counties only changed how the
justice system handles drug users without changing its legality. For example,
New Mexico decriminalized up to one ounce marijuana and many Michigan counties
agreed that penalties against small amounts of marijuana are not valid on
private property. California underwent the most change, reforming practically
the entire justice process for drug possessions and other non-violent crimes.
California voters agreed with the state’s bill, Proposition 47, during the
midterm election on November 4. The bill will
refine six low-level, nonviolent offenses (including simple drug possession)
from felonies to misdemeanors, and then redirect the one billion dollar surplus
from the prison system to schools, victim services, and mental health
treatment.
Opinions
seem to be shifting across the country, but why did Florida remain unchanged?
When Florida’s Amendment 2 was placed on the ballot, the majority voters
supported the bill. Fifty-seven percent voted in support, but it still was not
passed. This is because in Florida voters need a 60 percent voting majority in
order for a bill to be passed, leaving the bill short of passing by three
percent.
Regardless,
this swing in opinions will have a major impact on upcoming decisions for the government.
Right now, the Obama Administration is finding a replacement for Attorney
General, Eric Holder, who officially announced his resignation in September. The
Attorney General is responsible for gathering information about drugs and
deciding which schedule each drug belongs under. This makes the midterm
election essential in the decision making of who will take Holder’s place. With
23 states already authorizing medicinal marijuana, the Federal Government has a
lot to consider in the upcoming years when it comes to drug policy.
