Well, the midterms have come and gone and with them control of the House of Representatives for the Democrats. This election was billed as a landmark referendum repudiating the Democratic policies of the last two years, but last Tuesday was remarkable for another reason as well.
That’s right, I’m talking about California’s most recent socially liberal referendum which asked voters to consider the legalization of small amounts of marijuana (up to an ounce) for personal consumption and up to 25 square feet plots of land for growing marijuana, only for those over 21 years of age. The ballot initiative failed by 46 to 54%, but not because California voters were against legalization. A large part of the issue was a provision of the proposed law intended to protect marijuana users from discrimination, which opponents claimed would allow people to go to work stoned. While the implications of this particular law are unclear, it’s obvious that the law failed because of its specifics, not its revolutionary legalization of the ganja herb.
This conclusion is supported by a poll done by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, who gathered data shortly after the election. According to their findings, 49% of California voters believe marijuana should be legalized, compared to 41% opposed. A majority believes that “laws against marijuana do more harm than good.”
Thus, much hope remains for those interested in seeing this popular drug legalized. The question is, what should we do next? The California initiative was remarkable because it showed America that legalization of marijuana is politically possible, and has strong support in the electorate. Such initiatives, though they may fail in the near-term, do wonders for changing the minds of on-the-fence voters who might consider specific legalization proposals. Marijuana advocates should strive to keep the public debate alive and rational, and pressure local and state lawmakers to consider piecemeal reforms to decrease penalties and restrictions on personal marijuana use. A societal shift is imminent, if only we won’t use this near-victory as an excuse for disappointment and inaction but instead see it as portending a future where government restriction on legitimate lifestyle choices is a thing of the past.
