As the New Year rang in hour by hour across the country, states from east to west welcomed new laws for medicinal and recreational drug use, following the will of voters in November (a majority of them at least). Most of the new laws deal with marijuana use, but Oregon, where recreational marijuana use was legalized in 2014, also went so far as to decriminalize possession of small amounts of controlled substances, such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
This change, in Oregon, does come with conditions, when it takes effect in February.
The newest states to decriminalize marijuana use are indeed following a trend, after Colorado and Washington became the first to legalize recreational use in 2012, and began reaping massive revenue for it. Of course, this isn’t the first time marijuana laws have followed such a sweeping trend in our country. It is, however, the first time state or local governments have been so happy to benefit financially from marijuana money.
This article from Ohio State University breaks down the history of marijuana law in the United States, including how it was criminalized in the first place, how it gradually became more acceptable, and who it affected the most in the meantime.
While some welcome the new laws with open arms, others may look at them with a bit of resentment, and not only the laws’ opponents.
-Maude
January 3, 2021
What do you think? We would like to hear from you, but you won’t find the typical Comments section here. If you have given the issue some thought or have an experience to share, please enter it here, or send your response to Maude@mauvereport.com. We would like to share viewpoints from all sides. You can read what other readers had to say below.
Commentary
“I live in Washington State, which has the Best Weed You Can Get Anywhere. I have lived in Colorado, been to Oregon, Cali, and all over. No weed is more potent. Now I don’t see any problem with weed, and by the way I am not a user, but my wife and many people I know are. Now on the flip side there is a city here called Seattle where coke, meth, and heroin have been decriminalized to the amount of 7 grams and let me tell you it has ravaged the city. Homelessness, crime, and poverty run rampant here. Car theft, petty theft, and assault are common practice everywhere here. People are not safe going to the grocery store or anywhere really. You have to always be ready to (get down so to speak) and it’s really a shame because the local legislation is the cause. The drug pandemic is real and it’s ugly but lawmakers are feeding the problem and not the cure.” Joshua Hays, Washington, January 3, 2021