This is a bad take. State-level Democrats have made tons of real progress on legalization (up to and including legalization itself) all over the country. There's been a significant pro-legalization wing of the party for about a decade now, and Democrats have taken the issue seriously (which includes stuff like medical marijuana laws or decriminalization measures) for closer to two decades. Republicans are way behind -- I don't believe they've led any pro-pot movement anywhere in the country, and they picked noted drug warrior Jeff Sessions as AG a few years ago.
This is one area where there's actually a material difference between the two parties. The criticism of Democrats is that (1) they still have plenty of Drug War blood on their hands, (2) national Democrats lag far behind state and local Democrats on the issue, and (3) it's such an obvious opportunity for improvement that there's no excuse to not have passed it years ago. Still, parts of the party have done some real good here.
Republicans are way behind – I don’t believe they’ve led any pro-pot movement anywhere in the country, and they picked noted drug warrior Jeff Sessions as AG a few years ago.
Oklahoma has one of the biggest, laxest medical marijuana programs in the country. Their Republican AG actually overturned a bunch of proposed regulations for being too strict (things like banning everything but edibles from dispensaries or requiring a pharmacist be on site), and the state courts have shut down proposed restrictions. My guess is that this wil be a trend in other Red states in the next 10 years or so. It's going to be nanny state libs that make you have the Apple Store experience with product under lock and key and it's more expensive and shittier than what your dealer has. Red States will be more like how you expect - jars of weed that you pick out that are half the price.
It’s going to be nanny state libs that make you have the Apple Store experience with product under lock and key and it’s more expensive and shittier than what your dealer has. Red States will be more like how you expect - jars of weed that you pick out that are half the price.
I suppose this is possible, but given the last ~20 years of each party's approach to drug policy I'm not ready to give Republicans any unearned credit. Note also that some red states still have restrictive alcohol laws, so they haven't even ended our first disastrous prohibition experiment.
Republicans are stubborn, and there will be dry counties, but the cat is out of the bag when it comes to the drug war. Legal marijuana passed a ballot initiative in South Dakota last year with 54% of the vote!
Note also that some red states still have restrictive alcohol laws
A lot of blue/purple states do as well. Have you ever been to PA? Or Massachusetts, where you can't even have happy hours!
This is a bad take. State-level Democrats have made tons of real progress on legalization (up to and including legalization itself) all over the country. There's been a significant pro-legalization wing of the party for about a decade now, and Democrats have taken the issue seriously (which includes stuff like medical marijuana laws or decriminalization measures) for closer to two decades. Republicans are way behind -- I don't believe they've led any pro-pot movement anywhere in the country, and they picked noted drug warrior Jeff Sessions as AG a few years ago.
This is one area where there's actually a material difference between the two parties. The criticism of Democrats is that (1) they still have plenty of Drug War blood on their hands, (2) national Democrats lag far behind state and local Democrats on the issue, and (3) it's such an obvious opportunity for improvement that there's no excuse to not have passed it years ago. Still, parts of the party have done some real good here.
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Oklahoma has one of the biggest, laxest medical marijuana programs in the country. Their Republican AG actually overturned a bunch of proposed regulations for being too strict (things like banning everything but edibles from dispensaries or requiring a pharmacist be on site), and the state courts have shut down proposed restrictions. My guess is that this wil be a trend in other Red states in the next 10 years or so. It's going to be nanny state libs that make you have the Apple Store experience with product under lock and key and it's more expensive and shittier than what your dealer has. Red States will be more like how you expect - jars of weed that you pick out that are half the price.
Ahh, good catch.
I suppose this is possible, but given the last ~20 years of each party's approach to drug policy I'm not ready to give Republicans any unearned credit. Note also that some red states still have restrictive alcohol laws, so they haven't even ended our first disastrous prohibition experiment.
Republicans are stubborn, and there will be dry counties, but the cat is out of the bag when it comes to the drug war. Legal marijuana passed a ballot initiative in South Dakota last year with 54% of the vote!
A lot of blue/purple states do as well. Have you ever been to PA? Or Massachusetts, where you can't even have happy hours!