Marijuana won big

weed_0.jpg

Not everything on election night was right-wing and reactionary.
Pot legalization is now mainstream.

A bevy of state ballot measures passed this week reveal it's only a matter of time before legalized marijuana use is the law of the land in the U.S. Investors are already finding ways to buy into it.

Four states voted on Tuesday to legalize recreational pot use, while four others approved marijuana for medicinal purposes. That brings the number of Americans living in states where recreational marijuana is legal up to 20 percent of the U.S. population. That percentage rises to 58 percent and 66 percent of the U.S. population when counting states where medical marijuana is legal and where states have decriminalized the drug, respectively.

pot.jpg

Federal legalization of recreational marijuana use is probably not around the corner. But that's almost beside the point. States are following their own course, and will likely be even more emboldened once states-rights advocates move into the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.

It also doesn't hurt that President-elect Donald Trump has touted his support of medical marijuana -- although his constantly shifting views on just about everything, along with Vice President-elect Mike Pence's opposition to marijuana, cloud that stance. Perhaps that's why a Bloomberg Intelligence index of 32 public companies involved in cannabis-related products fell 7 percent on Tuesday.

Still, despite that drop -- which was concentrated in three pharma companies -- the index is up 181 percent year-to-date.

Capture_5.PNG
For a breakdown on what the new laws mean, look here.

In states where medical marijuana laws have been on the books for some years, the number of patients on prescription painkillers has dropped considerably when compared to states with marijuana prohibition laws still in place.

Share
up
0 users have voted.

Comments

Pricknick's picture

Those long haired, lazy hippies are growing their hair again too.
While many in this nation were looking for beds to hide under Tuesday night, I was giggling into my vaporizer.
Legalization not incarceration.

up
0 users have voted.

Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

legal recreational in the north-east and legal medical in the south.

It's no longer a regional thing.

up
0 users have voted.
Bisbonian's picture

but this years Prop. 205, for recreational, crashed and burned.

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Socialprogressive's picture

CA failed in the past, but we got it right this year.

up
0 users have voted.

When I offer to wash your back in the shower, all you have to say is yes or no.
Not all this "who are you, and how did you get in here?" nonsense.

Bisbonian's picture

Can't (and really never have done) any other drugs, because I am a pilot. Can't even take antihistamines if I am flying...everything affects you more at altitude. But I understand lots of other people need it, for a variety of reasons, and I understand the many negative effects of making it illegal; and besides, it's just stupid to ban it.

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

thanatokephaloides's picture

...... is that you don't have to smoke it any more! We now have actually effective edibles now, on top of effective vaporization systems.

The old ways of consuming cannabis are rapidly becoming obsolete!

Smile

up
0 users have voted.

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

NCTim's picture

Augmented.

I like to carry a single walking around doobie. It is a great way to meet people and easily ditched.

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

will have some good edibles and reasonable prices.

up
0 users have voted.

Beware the bullshit factories.

NCTim's picture

Hey, Derek with a Les Paul ^

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

skod's picture

that will realize one heck of a tax windfall, just like Colorado did. That's one thing we got at least half right...

up
0 users have voted.

It also imposes much lower taxes on pot than on cigarettes.

I mean, our kind smoke pot. Who still smokes cigarettes? The deplorables? Chortle.

up
0 users have voted.
Big Al's picture

with green instead of blue and light gray instead of red.
Hmm, I wonder if there is a correlation?

up
0 users have voted.
NCTim's picture

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

If Giuliani becomes AG.

up
0 users have voted.

Democrats, we tried to warn you. How is that guilt and shame working out?

Hillbilly Dem's picture

Because Christie said he would go after marijuana in the states where it's legal. It seems as if states' rights are ok for matter of guns and racism. Recreational and harmless substances? They don't get no stinking states' rights.

up
0 users have voted.

"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey

NCTim's picture

Going after cannabis is a loser, just like demonizing LGBT.

You can not convince me that Christie has never partaken, nor binged on junk food.

I wish I could find the picture of Rudy donning the Hells Angels vest. It needs to be widely distributed to remind 81 of their hatred for RG. Just sayin'.

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

They would lose a lot of seats in Congress, in the many states that have medical marijuana.

up
0 users have voted.

Beware the bullshit factories.

Because I don't see the rust belt states having legalized recreational marijuana.

up
0 users have voted.

Democrats, we tried to warn you. How is that guilt and shame working out?

And if Arkansas can have medical pot, anyone can

up
0 users have voted.
NCTim's picture

I spent the first 40 years in western PA, with a couple years in mid-Ohio. Working class cannabis use is very pervasive.

I would be more wary of states where the mythical sky being says it is not OK. Then again, CO went legal in spite of the scourge of Colorado Springs.

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

Citizen Of Earth's picture

thing to worry about.

As soon as essays about what is trending on DKos die down. Let it go people. Hahahha.

up
0 users have voted.

Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.

are tired of dealing with the murderous drug cartels just so that yuppies can have their fixes.

up
0 users have voted.

Mary Bennett

NCTim's picture

Most cannabis is cultivated domestically Cannabis is too bulky to distribute efficiently and has a lower profit margin than other contraband. Drug cartels are more into meth, coke and human trafficking.

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

no f@cking' yuppy, pal! And I'm tired of straight arrow dickheads telling me My habit is bad as they light up a cancer stick, or pour another double before they hit the road.
FUCK THAT SHIT! Pushback Will be swift as I can make it and no prisoners will be taken. Go pop(or snort) your latest big pharma Bullshit and leave us heads alone. That's ALL we've asked for 40fucking years, for fucks sake.

NO FUCKING PEACE ON THIS ONE EITHER!

up
0 users have voted.

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

NCTim's picture

Tall, ripped and ornery.

up
0 users have voted.

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

The weeds grow everywhere, even along the railroad tracks (reminds me of my hobo days). Ain't no schedule 1 dangerous drug. Alcohol and tobacco are killing more people than pot could ever do. Pirate party gave a good shake down on the drug scene in 'murica. It's profiting the prison lobby. May be one of the keys to starting the "New Party". A platform pushing to stop the drug war. Many would stand up for that!

up
0 users have voted.
Bisbonian's picture

up
0 users have voted.

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X