Pubdate: Sun, 09 Dec 2012
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Santa Cruz Sentinel
Contact: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/submitletters
Website: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/394

LEGAL POT DOESN'T END PROBLEMS

If we didn't know better, we'd think the biggest topic of 2012 had 
gone up in smoke.

Just consider the headlines in the Sentinel last week:

"Indoor pot bust called county's largest."

"Local CHP warns about smoking and driving."

And then there was the latest crime report item regarding an armed 
robbery of a local medical marijuana dispensary, pointing out once 
again the legal morass medical marijuana has become in California.

And, perhaps most significantly, this from the state of Washington:

"The Dope Dilemma: For Washington state, pot is legal to possess, but 
now what?"

Indeed. But it's an unavoidable question after voters in Washington 
and Colorado made history last month by legalizing the possession of 
up to an ounce of marijuana. Then, after one year, it will become 
legal in both states for state-licensed sellers to grow and sell 
small amounts of marijuana.

Although California voters approved the use of medical marijuana back 
in 1998, legalizing pot lost on the state ballot in 2010. But in 
Washington and Colorado, both legalization measures had the support 
of numerous leaders, who argued that continued criminalization of 
possession was a huge waste of state resources -- not to mention the 
failed national and global drug wars.

And, we almost forgot, sales are also expected to provide a potent 
jolt to tax revenues.

Washington smokers lit up first, with photos Thursday of people 
lighting up at well-known public spots such as the Space Needle. 
Colorado's legalization is set to start Jan. 5.

Both states are treating, and restricting, marijuana use like 
alcohol. In Washington, people lighting up in public places face 
fines, much as someone drinking in public would face. Backers say pot 
will be sold using a "liquor store model" that would require 
independent businesses to pay a licensing fee before gaining certification.

But here's the catch. Even as advocates and state officials in 
Washington and Colorado plan for this new world of legalized 
marijuana, they have no idea how the federal government will proceed. 
That's because the sale and cultivation of marijuana continues to be 
a federal crime.

Based on what's gone in the chaotic world of medical marijuana, it's 
hard to predict. The federal government has made some high profile 
arrests of sellers and even patients, but overall has mostly allowed 
medical marijuana businesses to operate in California, Washington, 
Colorado, Washington and 15 other states and the District of 
Columbia. At the same time, most of these states, including 
municipalities in California and in Santa Cruz County, have been 
wrestling with how to regulate medical pot dispensaries and how to 
deal with abuses and criminal actions that have plagued the movement.

Perhaps the biggest unknown facing Washington and Colorado officials 
is whether the feds will allow state regulated stores selling small 
amounts of marijuana to set up. The federal government says its drug 
laws overrule any state legalization measures.

Then there's the question of widespread use and availability. A 
national poll last week showed that 58 percent of Americans supported 
legalizing recreational use of marijuana.

The increasing acceptance might explain why, according to a December 
2011 government report, one of every 15 high school students smokes 
marijuana on a near daily basis, an alarming figure even as the use 
of alcohol, cigarettes and harder drugs among teenagers has been declining.

Research shows many of these teen users believe habitual use of the 
drug carries little risk, physically or psychologically. The widening 
acceptance of medical marijuana and the tacit tolerance of individual 
use in communities such as Santa Cruz may be creating a false belief 
that there are no consequences to living life stoned.

Ah, but there are, just as with the pervasive abuse of alcohol. The 
local Highway Patrol has recently been warning that driving while 
under the influence of marijuana is becoming a major problem on Santa 
Cruz County roads, contributing to five of six fatal crashes 
involving impaired drivers.

Legalizing marijuana may seem like it puts the torch to repression 
and unnecessary criminalization -- but, then again, where there's 
smoke, can usually be found fire.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom