State may be first to fully legalize drug if option gets on 2012 ballot
An attempt to legalize marijuana in Colorado may make its way to the 2012 ballot.
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COLORADO -- Do you think marijuana should be legalized in Colorado?
You may have the chance to decide.
A State Elections Title Board reviewed eight possible ballot measures Wednesday from advocates of marijuana legalization, bringing the measure one step closer to being on the 2012 ballot.
Advocates of the Colorado Alliance For Marijuana Reform drafted the ballot measures for the board. If there are no legal challenges, advocates can begin collecting signatures to petition putting the measure on the state ballot in November of next year.
Supporters said they will wait a week to see if the board has challenges to any of the drafted measures, then pick a measure to start promoting for the ballot in 2012.
The groups appear likely to ask voters whether marijuana should be permitted for adults over the age of 21 even if they don't have a medical condition which qualifies them for that currently.
One of the main arguments advocates use is tax revenue gained from legalization. According to CNN, every state would benefit financially from legalization, and Colorado would gain an estimated $17.6 million in tax revenue.
Advocates are also upset with Colorado's current medical marijuana law, which voters passed in 2000, because they said it allows the government to monitor patients too closely. Ironically, the Colorado Board of Health held a hearing on rules that would require caregivers of current patients to be more active in their day-to-day lives.
Another group in favor of marijuana legalization is the Colorado Marijuana Legalization Campaign. They have two models of legalization, one which involves free regulation, similar to alcohol, and one that involves government tracking.
An attempt to legalize marijuana was met with strong resistance on the 2006 ballot, as nearly 60 percent of Colorado voters said no.
Do you think marijuana should be legal? Would you vote for it if the measure were approved for the 2012 ballot? Share your thoughts in our comment section below.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
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