2009: The Year In Review – NORML's Top 10 Events That Shaped Marijuana Policy

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has posted it's top 10 events of 2009 that have helped the progression of reform. Here is a list of the ten events:

1. Obama Administration: Don't Focus On Medical Marijuana Prosecutions
2. Public Support For Legalizing Pot Hits All-Time High
3. Lifetime Marijuana Use Associated With Reduced Cancer Risk
4. AMA Calls For Review Of Marijuana's Prohibitive Status
5. California: Lawmakers Hold Historic Hearing On Marijuana Legalization
6. Maine Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Measure; Dispensaries Coming To Washington, DC In 2010
7. Oakland: Voters Approve First-In-The-Nation Medical Marijuana Business Tax
8. Rasmussen Poll: Majority Of Americans Say Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol
9. Many Teens See Medical Cannabis As Alternative Treatment Option
10. Oregon NORML Opens 'Cannabis Café,' Media Frenzy Follows

I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring. With the Obama administration halting its prosecution of those using medical marijuana in states where it is legal, I think we will see a few more states be added to that list. Even more exciting, California will most likely have a bill to legalize pot on the November ballot. Here is an excerpt from the article telling about this:


The initiative would allow cities and counties to adopt laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and to impose taxes on marijuana production and sales.  It would make it legal for anyone who is at least 21 to possess an ounce of marijuana and grow plants in an area of no more than 25 square feet for personal use.


Of course, this would be winning only half the battle. Even if California does legalize pot, the feds still have laws against it. The federal government needs to remove its laws concerning the personal use of marijuana and leave it up to the states to decide how they want to treat it. Ohio has already decriminalized the personal possession of up to 100 grams of pot. In Ohio, if you are caught with no more than that 100 grams, you will at worst pay a fine (much like traffic violation) and maybe have a couple months of probation. Unless you are selling it, or unless you are cultivating more than 100 grams, you really have no chance of going to jail for possession only.


The sad thing is that in most states, if you are busted for simple possession, you will have tougher consequences than in Ohio. As soon as there is a bill in Ohio to legalize the personal possession and cultivation for personal use, you had better count on seeing me raising support for it.


Here is the question of the day: Do you feel like the federal government should decide what happens to adult Americans who responsibly use marijuana recreationally? Or should the states get to decide on what their own laws will be without federal interference?