News

Long Island students schooled on dangers of drug use as part of community search for cultural change

Illegal Grows Way Down, While Legal Operations Create New Concerns Calgary has seen dramatic drop in arrests, charges and search warrants related to illegal marijuana grow-ops since 2009, but legal weed operations are posing a growing challenge for local law enforcement.

D.C. police have written more than 250 tickets for marijuana possession in the roughly six months since the District relaxed its marijuana laws, but the vast majority of citations have simply been ignored, an analysis by The Washington Times has found.

Outlet is 'under noses' of U.S. Authorities Marijuana stores have been sprouting all over Washington State since retail trade in the drug was legalized in a referendum, but the first one has now opened within walking distance of the B.C. border.

Opinions

A year into legal, recreational (or as advocates would have us say, "adult use") pot sales in Colorado - and six months into Washington sales - the sky still hasn't fallen. That's a relatively short period of time on which to base any long-term predictions, but here's one that's nearly certain: Legalization will continue to spread. The smooth (but not without hiccups, unfulfilled expectations and uncertainties) rollout of legal weed means a cascade of states will follow. Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. legalized pot in 2014 (looks like Congress will kill the capitol's buzz, though).

Last Thursday, Hank Green was one of three Youtube celebrities tasked with making President Obama seem accessible to millennials. Green asked Obama about marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington during an interview in the White House.

Sometimes, Montana benefits from waiting and watching other states try new legislation before adopting it ourselves - or opting not to repeat their failures.

An AJC poll recently found that more Georgians than not support legalizing marijuana for recreational use. We're not talking about decriminalization here or pot brownies for cancer patients; we're talking full-on, Colorado-style marijuana dispensaries.

Letters

Re: "Apply due process to forfeiture - Powerful tool has become another government idea gone awry, says David Simpson," Dec. 23, Viewpoints.

GOP FIGHT AGAINST LEGALIZATION It seems our Montana GOP is very focused on stopping any form of legalization of the evil weed. I think I know why, as I have noticed over the years that smoking weed turns Republicans into Democrats. Just a few tokes and Republicans want to cuddle and smooch those wonton wild Democratic ladies. Of course, no truly self-righteous righties would actually marry and have hard-working little capitalists with those less-than-moral babes.

Like it or not, marijuana will be legal. So to all the politicians, public figures and "no" voters, it's time to stop throwing temper tantrums, bullying, stonewalling and preaching "let's wait and see" before implementing a marijuana policy. Since when does Alaska follow the ideas and ideals of the Lower 48? How about "seeing" how "we the people already voted." There is no second-guessing the vote; there is no renegotiation of an election. For those officials voted in by a majority, the minority has to accept their defeat; that's a part of democracy.

Regarding "Consider Maine's program" (Your Views, Jan. 22) by John Chase of Palm Harbor: He's right. The Florida Legislature should pass a bill regarding medical marijuana that treats it just like any other doctor-prescribed opiate. Why amend the Florida Constitution? If a constitutional amendment passes, it would be almost impossible to change if it needs to be tweaked. Whereas with a legislative bill, it could be done easily.

Writing as a retired police detective, I heartily concur with your analysis of the drug war/drug prohibition. The smugglers ship a little extra toward their markets, knowing the authorities will confiscate maybe 20%. They also know when their mules are caught, they are easily replaced by men and women desperate for money. You must know that criminals love drug prohibition, since it guarantees them millions and billions in profits. If Thailand and other Asian countries want to strike fear and dread in the hearts of drug smugglers, join the growing number of voices across the planet that call to legalise/ regulate all drugs. The Mexican drug cartels are already vocal about how cannabis legalisation in Colorado is hurting their profits.

LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS ACT Chris Marr, what have you been smoking? "Regulating medical marijuana" would be comical if it did not come from a member of the Washington State Liquor Control Board, the entity responsible for the muddle known as recreational marijuana ["Medical-marijuana patients deserve a regulated system that is safe and affordable," Opinion, Jan. 19].

A recent letter writer opposed the legalization of marijuana on the grounds that most users of heroin started with marijuana ( "A lot of those doing hard drugs got started with pot," Letters, Monday).