For the time being, your city can ban marijuana shops, just as it can ban other things that annoy its citizens and give its regulators palpitations. It can even ban things state law specifically accommodates and licenses, as long as it's not a head-to-head conflict or the Legislature didn't say shut up and take it. City-by-city NIMBYism gets a pass. Whether a ban is good or bad, beneficial or harmful, are separate questions. For now, they are local questions, between local voters and their municipal representatives, unless the Legislature or courts decide otherwise. [continues 565 words]
For the time being, your city can ban marijuana shops, just as it can ban other things that annoy its citizens and give its regulators palpitations. It can even ban things state law specifically accommodates and licenses, as long as it's not a head-to-head conflict or the Legislature didn't say shut up and take it. City-by-city NIMBYism gets a pass. Whether a ban is good or bad, beneficial or harmful, are separate questions. For now, they are local questions, between local voters and their municipal representatives, unless the Legislature or courts decide otherwise. [continues 567 words]
The answer is no. When Initiative 502 goes into effect Dec. 6 it will not be legal to smoke marijuana in the park. You won't be able to light a joint in a bar or a restaurant or outside the school. You won't be allowed to smoke and drive or drive while smoking marijuana. The law will change. What was once illegal will not be, but real-world societal norms that govern and restrict marijuana use won't be so much different. [continues 591 words]
If marijuana is legalized in this state, it will be the result of our compassion. The image of a suffering terminally ill cancer patient gaining some fleeting comfort by using marijuana is powerful enough to persuade many, even those who are firmly antidrug. That compassion for the sick and dying is what backers of Initiative 685 hope to tap. The measure on the Nov. 4 ballot will legalize the medical use of marijuana. The terminally ill, those suffering through pain and nausea in chemotherapy, will be able to turn to marijuana if their doctors approve. Polls show most people would agree this is good. The trouble is, that is not all the initiative will do. [continues 653 words]
