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There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

thehill.com

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Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#71

Post by nostromo »

crazygringo wrote: post #41
dcolkitt wrote: post #7

I think it would make a fascinating poli sci case study about why almost all cannabis legalization came from popular referendum instead of legislation. What is it about cannabis that makes it so much more amenable to direct democracy compared to representative democracy. Polls show that overwhelming majorities in most states support legalization. Yet elected representative have been extremely reticent to move policy…

I think it's pretty simple -- politicians think it's going to happen, but don't want to be personally linked to it because it can hurt their popularity with certain segments of voters they rely on. Nobody wants to claim credit for it. So they put it up for referendum instead, so it happens but it doesn't harm anyone's careers. It's not at all any kind of vindication of direct democracy. Rather, because it's broadly p…

Most legislators now are pretty awful at their jobs.

Changes to law are coming from the courts, ballot initiatives, executive orders, and the bureaucracy, not from legislative bodies like they're supposed to. Legislators 'dunk' on Twitter all day and very little legislating actually happens.

It's an easy out for them -- they rarely go on record for supporting or opposing things now -- and can blame presidents, bureaucrats, and the courts for anything that turns out to be unpopular.

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#72

Post by Etheryte »

nashashmi wrote: post #49

Some people voted yes despite never consuming because it was persecuting a certain race of individuals. That’s not how laws should be formed in this country.

Out of sincere curiosity, how did you come about this knowledge of what reasons people voted for or against this?

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#73

Post by FpUser »

dcolkitt wrote: post #7

I think it would make a fascinating poli sci case study about why almost all cannabis legalization came from popular referendum instead of legislation. What is it about cannabis that makes it so much more amenable to direct democracy compared to representative democracy. Polls show that overwhelming majorities in most states support legalization. Yet elected representative have been extremely reticent to move policy…

One has to be careful with what the majority supports. I think if we always follow a majority we'd still be burning witches at the stake. I am not against people smoking joint though. Their choice.

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#75

Post by bigbubba »

option wrote: post #33

I am in favor of legalizing and regulating marijuana. But I’d also like to see tax dollars from it to be used on educating public on its danger, much like we do for tobacco. A personal story - when I was a teenager, a friend of mine smoked weed, thought that he can fly and jumped from the roof of 9 story building. He was 15. Just a warning that this is not all just fun and games.

You'd probably faint if you heard a tenth of the stupid shit people do after drinking alcohol. And yes, it includes people jumping off buildings.

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#77

Post by sowbug »

rStar wrote: post #39
option wrote: post #33

I am in favor of legalizing and regulating marijuana. But I’d also like to see tax dollars from it to be used on educating public on its danger, much like we do for tobacco. A personal story - when I was a teenager, a friend of mine smoked weed, thought that he can fly and jumped from the roof of 9 story building. He was 15. Just a warning that this is not all just fun and games.

a personal opinion -> your friend had other problems.

Yeah, cause and effect might be reversed in parts of this story.

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#78

Post by Shivetya »

softwaredoug wrote: post #48

It’s heartening to know there are some issues that don’t become political footballs.

well to a point they have, the politicians kicked the can down the field and the people got it on the ballot. the politicians really don't want a connection regardless of their personal views.

there are quite a few hot button issues that could be solved by referendum but I tend to think we only need those when we face a legislature that is not listening

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#79

Post by pengaru »

dcolkitt wrote: post #7

I think it would make a fascinating poli sci case study about why almost all cannabis legalization came from popular referendum instead of legislation. What is it about cannabis that makes it so much more amenable to direct democracy compared to representative democracy. Polls show that overwhelming majorities in most states support legalization. Yet elected representative have been extremely reticent to move policy…

representatives represent corporate interests

individuals represent their own interests

Re: There was a clear winner on election night: Marijuana

#80

Post by dQw4w9WgXcQ »

dheera wrote: post #6

I really wish there were also laws about not doing it in public spaces. I don't care if people do it in their own spaces, but when the smell wafts out onto the sidewalk, it makes me nauseous.

Agree. It used to be fun to visit Seattle Pike's Place Market and take in the ambience of the nearby waters, fresh seafood, coffee, and other baked goods. Now on any average day you can't walk a few hundred feet without the overwhelming stench of a frat-house weed den.
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