Legalization in Alaska, Oregon, and D.C.

 This election week is one for the cannabis history books –
two states, Alaska, and Oregon, and D.C., have approved legalization.

This is huge news for the cannabis activist community and
the whole country. Colorado and Washington are not the only states with full
legalization now, and the face of the industry is looking more legitimate all
the time.

Oregon now allows personal possession for those 21 and up,
as well as the manufacture and sale of cannabis and related products. The state
will treat things similarly to the two already-legal states, regulating sales
with a state-wide system and prohibiting minors from buying.

D.C. will allow up to two ounces per person and six plants,
but they aren’t going to have recreational sales. However, up to an ounce can
be transferred from person to person as long as there is no money involved. The
one snag D.C. might still hit is that the federal government can technically
overrule local laws through Congress, because the area is a district and not a
state.

Alaska legalized similarly to Oregon; those 21 and up can
have one ounce, six plants, and recreational sales will be legal. However, due
to the sparse and isolated nature of much of the state, many will probably opt
to grow instead of making the trek to stores.

It will be a few months until Alaska and Oregon will be up
and running with recreational stores, and it is too soon to tell if public opinion
in these areas truly is reflected by the election results, or if cannabis
culture will be met with resistance. There is also the issue of cannabis being
federally illegal, the neighboring states causing trouble, and a federal
override in D.C. Still, this is more than a small victory for the cannabis
community, and we should be celebrating.