Editor's Note: This article by the Norwalk Reflector offers a good overview of the fight we're going to see Tuesday as voter turnout will seemingly make or break the election results. I, for one, remain optimistic that supporters will make sure their votes are counted. For residents of the states in question, even with minimal time left to advocate (even in your own circles), any and all efforts can't hurt–and appear they may be needed.
Side note: Anyone else have an issue with this quote from Kevin Sabet, co-founder of national anti-marijuana group Project SAM: "We can ask the minority rights advocate in Alaska whether they think it is fair that all these marijuana stores are concentrated in minority neighborhoods in Washington and Colorado." What???? I believe the residents of Colorado and Washington, as well as the dispensary owners, would beg to differ on this comment–the locations of dispensaries are absolutely not all in minority neighborhoods.
With pot sold openly to any adult who wants it in Colorado and Washington state, marijuana advocates were hoping restrictions in other states would fall like dominoes this election season, opening the way for a push in Congress to change federal drug laws.
They were not anticipating a multimillion-dollar wager against them by a casino mogul. Or a spike in voter anxiety amid bureaucratic stumbles in regulating the nascent recreational pot market. Or an unfortunate cellphone video from a rowdy frat bar called Boots N Buckles.
Now, legalization measures are teetering in Florida, Oregon and Alaska, states where supporters were confident of victory only a few months ago. It’s all enough to seriously harsh the mellow of pro-pot advocates.
