Co The First US State to Approve a Proposal to Legalize Marijuana

[bonnie]

07 November 2012 -

AFP - Colorado became the first US state to approve a proposal to legalize marijuana, including for recreational use, with Washington state appearing set to follow suit, according to US media.

The western state, one of three voting on the measure, voted by 52.7 percent in favor to 47.3 percent against, according to the Denver Post, with over 50 percent of votes counted. CNN gave 53 percent for with 47 percent against.

A number of US states have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, but Colorado, Oregon and Washington state all voted Tuesday on legalizing recreational use as well.

In Washington state 55 percent of voters backed the move, with 45 percent against, according to CNN and NBC, citing figures with 50 percent of votes counted.

In Oregon voters appeared set to reject the proposal, with 55 percent against and 45 percent in favor, according to CNN, with 47 percent of votes counted.

[Dr. Shane]

I believe that violates federal law.

[bonnie]

I believe that violates federal law.

Could be but then someone needs to tell CO voters

[bonnie]

Voters in Washington and Colorado legalize recreational marijuana

By Eric Pfeiffer, Yahoo! News

It's been quite the night for marijuana in several ballot measures across the country.

Voters in Washington state and Colorado appear to have voted "yes" on measures that would legalize the sale of pot to adults, without the need for a doctor's prescription. Massachusetts voters have overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana ballot measure. (AP)(The final votes are still being counted.) And earlier Tuesday evening, voters in Massachusetts overwhelmingly approved the measure to allow the use of medical marijuana.

Oregon voters have to decide on a similar measure to those passed in Washington and Colorado, which would allow marijuana use for any individual over the age of 21, but it appears to have been defeated.

Arkansas's medical marijuana initiative also appears to have been defeated.

Montana, which already has a medical marijuana law, is voting on whether or not to restrict patient access in the state.

So far, states that have approved medical marijuana have walked a fine line with federal laws that still prohibit the sale of marijuana under any circumstances. The full legalization of marijuana in these two states is expected to increase that tension between local and federal laws.

In total, six states are considering marijuana initiatives.

"Now that this law has been passed [in Massachusetts], it will finally be legal and safe for myself and many others in the state to procure the medicine," Eric McCoy, 59, told the Boston Globe.

NBC News reports that 17 states and the District of Columbia already have laws allowing for the medical use of marijuana, according to the National Council of Legislatures.