[Ammi]

Colorado and Washington have become the first US states to legalise the possession and sale of cannabis for recreational use.

The ruling is in defiance of federal law, setting the stage for a possible showdown with the Obama administration.

But another ballot measure to remove criminal penalties for personal possession and cultivation of recreational cannabis was defeated in Oregon, where significantly less money and campaign organisation was devoted to the cause.

Supporters of a Colorado constitutional amendment legalising cannabis were the first to declare victory, and opponents conceded defeat, after returns showed the measure garnering nearly 53 per cent of the vote versus 47 per cent against.

"Colorado will no longer have laws that steer people toward using alcohol, and adults will be free to use marijuana instead if that is what they prefer. And we will be better off as a society because of it," said Mason Tvert, co-director of the Colorado pro-legalisation campaign.

The Drug Policy Alliance, a national advocacy group that backed the initiatives, said the outcome in Washington and Colorado reflected growing national support for liberalised cannabis laws, citing a Gallup poll last year that found 50 per cent of Americans favoured making it legal, against 46 per cent who were opposed.

The outcomes in Colorado and Washington, which already have laws on the books legalising cannabis for medical purposes, put both states in further conflict with the federal government, which classifies cannabis as an illegal narcotic

The US Department of Justice reacted to the measure's passage in Colorado by saying its enforcement policies remain unchanged. "We are reviewing the ballot initiative and have no additional comment at this time."

Separately, medical cannabis measures were on the ballot in three other states, including Massachusetts, where CNN reported that voters approved an initiative to allow cannabis for medicinal reasons.

Supporters there issued a statement declaring victory for what they described as "the safest medical marijuana law in the country".

Oregon voters rejected a measure to legalise recreational use of cannabis. In Massachusetts voters approved use of medical cannabis, while Arkansas voters rejected it.

In Montana, voters were leaning toward affirming a 2011 law that would scale back a 2004 initiative legalising medical marijuana.

California, whose voters rejected a measure to legalise recreational use in 2010, was the first state to allow medical use in 1996. It is already permitted in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

A measure that would have made Arkansas the first state in the South to legalise cannabis for medical purposes appeared headed for defeat by 51 per cent to 49 per cent with about 80 per cent of the vote tallied.

Under the measures in Colorado and Washington, personal possession of up to an ounce (28.5g) of cannabis would be legal for anyone at least 21 years of age. They also will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed outlets in a system modeled after a regime many states have in place for alcohol sales.

Oregon's initiative would have legalised state-licensed sales, as well as possession and cultivation of unlimited amounts of cannabis for personal recreational use.

The Colorado measure will limit cultivation to six plants per person, but "grow-your-own" cannabis would be still be banned altogether in Washington state

[Mystic Mock]

Well i've never seen that much of a problem with Cannabis anyway so I think these two states have made the right decision.

[Ninastar]

Just stupid

[Lee.]

I ain't ever getting into a drugs debate in here again... last time I ended going off on one, calked somebody bad names and had to ban myself for about a year.

But yeah well done Colorado etc

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Lee.

I ain't ever getting into a drugs debate in here again... last time I ended going off on one, calked somebody bad names and had to ban myself for about a year.

But yeah well done Colorado etc

LOL..I don't remember that Lee...when was it...?

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

LOL..I don't remember that Lee...when was it...?

Hahahahaha... ages ago, 2009

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Lee.

Hahahahaha... ages ago, 2009

..Ahaa..that was the year I joined..I missed all the fun...

..I can't imagine you 'going off on one' Lee...

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..Ahaa..that was the year I joined..I missed all the fun...

..I can't imagine you 'going off on one' Lee...

Oh I can go off on one!

At the time I had a few good reasons to be anti drugs, and sadly after the events of this year, I have even more reason to be

[Vanessa]

i don't agree with it, but good luck to them. A brave decision.

[Marcus.]

never going there then

[Ramsay]

Finally, about time!
Hopefully the rest of America will see the advantage of having it legal and then UK/Ireland will follow suit

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Karl

Finally, about time!
Hopefully the rest of America will see the advantage of having it legal and then UK/Ireland will follow suit

This.

[Saph]

It wont do anymore harm than smoking or alcohol so..

[Vanessa]

But from the lighter drugs you can go to the heavier ones. I've seen it happen.

[iRyan]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

But from the lighter drugs you can go to the heavier ones. I've seen it happen.

Yes this can happen, but the majority of the time it doesn't. I know tons of people who are regular marijuana users but wouldn't dare touch any hard drugs.

I think it's great Marijuana is legal in 2 states now, I actually didn't expect it to happen so soon. I think people are finally beginning to realize the facts: marijuana is far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.

[Mystic Mock]

Im sorry for your loss Lee.

[Kizzy]

I'm with you lee, I'm very anti drugs.
known 2 very good friends develop acute psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia after years of using cannabis.
Coincidence?...
Can't google any stats on here, but i'm guessing there is some strong evidence to support a correlation.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by kizzy

I'm with you lee, I'm very anti drugs.
known 2 very good friends develop acute psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia after years of using cannabis.
Coincidence?...
Can't google any stats on here, but i'm guessing there is some strong evidence to support a correlation.

there's a very high correlation...

(no pun intended)

It's just made me think that there's going to be tons more roads accidents now. Drink driving is bad enough but this will definitely add to it

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by kizzy

I'm with you lee, I'm very anti drugs.
known 2 very good friends develop acute psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia after years of using cannabis.
Coincidence?...
Can't google any stats on here, but i'm guessing there is some strong evidence to support a correlation.

I agree from personal experience. It's true.

[Shaun]

People who smoke pot would smoke it with or without the state's permission - all this does is regulate it, make government money out of it and stop wasting police time on chasing it up. Good news

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Shaun

People who smoke pot would smoke it with or without the state's permission - all this does is regulate it, make government money out of it and stop wasting police time on chasing it up. Good news

This...very true.
I do believe pot can have some medicinal benefits too.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by anniek76

This...very true.
I do believe pot can have some medicinal benefits too.

Theres no denying that some strains do benefit those with muscle/ joint problems.
Others are said to lead to the advancement of any underlying psychological conditions.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by kizzy

Theres no denying that some strains do benefit those with muscle/ joint problems.
Others are said to lead to the advancement of any underlying psychological conditions.

Few vices come with no health risks, Marijuana's risks are probably among the least damning. If you're worried about the health angle then you are better off going after smoking and drinking since they will kill far more people then Marijuana ever will.

[SharkAttack]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Few vices come with no health risks, Marijuana's risks are probably among the least damning. If you're worried about the health angle then you are better off going after smoking and drinking since they will kill far more people then Marijuana ever will.

Still have those carcinogens that you're smoking in a cig. It's a cleaner cig, really, with added benefits.

As an ex-smoker, I'd suggest brownie form, and in moderation(whatever that is).

<moves back to Seattle>

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Few vices come with no health risks, Marijuana's risks are probably among the least damning. If you're worried about the health angle then you are better off going after smoking and drinking since they will kill far more people then Marijuana ever will.

..I tend to agree with this..for the most part marijuana is renowned for having more of a positive effect...of course there are exceptions to this and there are cases of acute paranoia etc..but I feel that those cases are due to the individual's existing anxieties and not because of the marijuana itself..it may enhance them, but it's down to the 'user' to realise that it isn't for them....as in the case of all other things, not everything is right for everbobody....but that doesn't mean to say that the overall effect of something isn't more positive than negative or that marijuana should be seen as a 'cause' for a flaw which is underlying in the individual and not the substance itself....