Months after Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, the push to make toking up legal is gaining momentum.
But it hasn't been easy. Activists still face stiff opposition from politicians, as well as the White House and a number of former Drug Enforcement chiefs, among others.
The fight will continue, however, especially with eight states considering legislation that would legalize marijuana this year.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island's marijuana laws are slowly changing, although it's been a bumpy ride. Limited medicinal use and authorized 'compassion centers' were approved with legislation and amendments beginning in 2006.
In 2011, however, the Governor halted further licensing of the dispensaries due to federal pressure, then reversed his position the next year. Rhode Island lowered the punishment for possession of the drug to a civil offense last year, which takes effect on April 1.
Now, new bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate that remove state-level criminal penalties altogether, for growing and using a small amount of marijuana for adults 21 and over.
If enacted, the law would establish regulations for stores, cultivation, and taxation on the drug.
Vermont
Three Vermont state representatives have introduced a bill that would allow adults 21 or older to have up to two ounces of marijuana, paraphernalia, and allow private growing of up to three plants. It is currently up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee.
The Vermont state Senate is also considering a separate bill that would create a study committee to look at the issue of legalization and regulation of retail sales of cannabis. The report would need to be completed by Nov. 1, 2013.
"I do think this is a policy whose day will come," State Sen. David Zuckerman stated, according to NORML. "Whether it's one year from now or four years from now, I don't know. But I don't think it's something that's 10 years out. I think the tide is shifting."
Massachusetts
Massachusetts already made it legal to use marijuana for medical purposes with a ballot initiative in 2012, but now there's a push to extend that to all recreational uses for those over age 21.
According to NORML, the bill would "regulate the commercial cultivation, processing, and retail of marijuana to adults over the age of 21." The preamble of the bill also acknowledges that fighting pot has become a losing battle:
... 100 years of criminalization in the Commonwealth has failed to stop the production, distribution and use of marijuana, and that sustained enforcement efforts cannot reasonably be expected to accomplish that goal.
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