Marijuana, same-sex marriage initiatives are winners

The 2012 election broke new ground on the controversial issues of same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana use, with voters in some states voting in favor of both of them.

Colorado and Washington on Tuesday became the first states in the nation to approve of recreational marijuana. Early Wednesday morning, a third ballot measure to legalize marijuana appeared set to fail in Oregon.

Meanwhile, Maine and Maryland became the first two states to pass ballot initiatives approving of same-sex marriage.

In Colorado, Amendment 64 legalizes the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults ages 21 and older. It also requires the state to tax and regulate the sales of the substance. Washington state's Initiative 502 also legalizes, regulates and taxes marijuana.

It's unclear exactly how the federal government will respond to these initiatives, since marijuana use is still against federal law.

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Colorado's Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper told CBS News that "it's not immediately apparent" how the state will reconcile its new rules with federal law.

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Colorado governor on marijuana legalization

"I'm not sure we can make it as legal as voters would like us to do, but clearly the voters spoke," he told CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley.

Seventeen states have, over the past decade and a half, legalized medical marijuana -- also in violation of federal law, which prohibits any use of marijuana. However, it's up to federal officials how to enforce federal laws. In his first presidential campaign, President Obama promised to respect state medical marijuana laws, but his administration has cracked down on hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries, including some in compliance with state laws.

Three other states voted Tuesday night on medical marijuana: Massachusetts approved its Question 3 ballot initiative, while the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act appeared set to fail by early Wednesday morning. In Montana, medical marijuana is already legal, but voters as of Wednesday appeared set to approve a measure to keep more stringent restrictions in place.

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[suzanajohnson]

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[mikesfilms]

The Fiscal Cliff. Solution is easy. Dems and Teas get to work:

1. Hike the Rich Tax to Clinton levels. Raise $300-Bill.
2. Drop Defense budget by $250-Bill.
3. Trade: Get more buyers for US products. Income $200-Bill.
4. Stimulate economy with 1-3 above. Tax income up: $290-Bill.
5. $1-Trill Deficit down to ZERO by 2014.

[g1001]

at least somebody won last night.

[americalove1]

Mobilecouple, FYI, I've spent my entire career treating those junkies and welfare addicts in the inner city - and did a darn good job of it too. That doesn't mean I side with them or agree with them in any way, shape, or form.

You all can moan and groan all you want, it doesn't change the fact that those on welfare and drug addicts are the product of their own poor choices in this life, period.

I don't want to hear about car accidents. I was in 2 major car accidents and still continued to work. The difference is that I had education, training, and a desire to work. I was raised not to live off the public dole and we taught our kids the same.

Our daughter has MS and seizures. And she works full time! She's a divorced Mom supporting her kids completely because her shiftless ex won't help. If she can, most others can too.

How educated and trained are you? Did you use welfare to educate yourself? Or just sit around? Sorry, I worked the city too long. I have little sympathy.

[SocialWrkrKP]

Amen, I'm a homeless outreach worker, couldn't have put it better myself.

[tsigili]

The pot initiatives were put on the ballots to get the youth vote, by the democrats, knowing those laws could not actually be implemented.

[YelsewTheGreat]

The only reason these laws can't be implemented is that the federal government is over stepping their authority(the Fed is not suppose to requlate intra-state trade only inter-state). When the U.S. people stopped allowing our elected officials to over step their authority this will become the great nation it was once.

[Mobilecouple]

I don't think it is a big deal it grows naturally and helps with pain more than most message. People that are sick to their stomach it helps more than Phenagran (nausea med) and allows you to eat. The Government has spent BILLIONS to "End the war on drugs" I think it boils down to they aren't getting any money and it makes them mad that they don't get to line their pocket from these sells. It is a Schedule 1 drug which is the HIGHEST (BTW when they did the law it was because the main people at the time and known as a "black person or Latino drug). I can't understand how Pot is a Schedule 1 when Meth, Cocaine, Oxycontin, Morphine, Heroin is a Schedule 2 drug)!!! Also, I have lost friends and family from DRUNK DRIVING BUT NOT FROM MARIJUANA. I have seen people get arrested with it on or in their car but I have YET to hear of anyone getting "high" and causing a wreck that someone has died. I think it should be used for actual medications conditions. I know the DEA has a job to do but find the meth labs, secure our borders for cocaine and go after these heroin sellers. This is just my thought you might not agree but that's why we live in the USA!

[eroteme2]

And now we will accelerate our downward cultural alide. It will be enjoyed by numbers great. We will add frosting to the cake when we equalize the wealth of those with greater wealth and those with lesser wealth. Utopia, here we come!

[kbbpll]

The forty year war on drugs is an utter failure. Let's see how this plays out in CO. Putting drug cartels out of business and sending tax revenue to state funding instead can't be a bad thing. I doubt usage patterns will change at all.

[Rick03466]

SOCIALWRKRKP , I agree in general with you that Alcohol is more Toxic and tied to More Anti Social Behavior (in some part perhaps because it is legal and easy to see) By current definitions it can create dependence, cannabis can not. Both are clinically addictive at the same rate. That said it is time to criminalizing recreational use and also to stop pretending that use is for medical purposes.

[jonathanboyd]

Cannabis is NOT addictive, there is no withdrawl issues physically, though some people may develope habituation issues, not unlike cravings of anything used excessively, casual use-NOT. Canabis was put schedual One back in 1930's based on incorrect testomony to congress, most of which was racially motivated.Legalize use, tax it and control it like tobacco(alot more dangerous and nicotine IS addictive)make it legal and the cartels are out of the pot business,there is alot of lost revenue potential,just look at how much Calif, colorado have raked in!

[retiredgustav]

If this catches on it is going to lead to more unemployment. Before you know it we will be laying off cops and prison guards and the DEA. Oh the horrors, what is happening to us!

[Mobilecouple]

Read my thing on here. I don't think anyone would lose their jobs pot is illegal but with so little impact. Then they can focus those billions of dollars and get the real stuff of the street heroin, cocaine, meth, pimps making these hookers to get addictive to those drugs so they can get them high and send out to make money for him just so they can get their next fix and some are teens and their parent don't know were their child is. To me Pot should be on the bottle of the list get a hold on the drugs above (which will not be done) and after that then worry about pot.