Quote Originally Posted by Throbert McGee View Post
Ah, I thought the votes were still being counted for that measure -- I'd only heard confirmations for MD and ME.
Well, the final count for WA isn't over - however at this point the projections show that it won't be defeated. Everyone is reporting it as a win for gay rights.

Daily Kos: Marriage Equality called for Washington State
"With 60 percent of the vote counted, R74 already has the support of 65% of King County and is performing well in key Eastern Washington counties. Simply put, it’s now impossible for opponents to overcome the 52-48% spread for R74."

Wow, I hadn't even heard about that one. Apparently Colorado did, too. But I would expect major resistance from the Federal gov't, which has historically been hostile even to "medically prescribed marijuana" laws passed by states. And the governor of Colorado reportedly commented, "Don't open the potato chips yet..."
Absolutely we can expect opposition. However, with Obama in his second term and without re-election worries, we may find him more supportive of legalization than in times past.

The other thing to consider is how alcohol prohibition was finally defeated. I believe there were 26 states with various alcohol laws of their own passed before the federal government finally relented and prohibition ended.

At this point, there are 18 or 19 states with cannabis legalized either medically or fully or decriminalized. Cannabis has already been available to medical users in Washington State, although there has been extensive push-back from the feds, with dispensaries being shut down left and right. Collective farming is technically allowed under the provisions of the medical laws, and has been going on legally for some time now in King and Spokane counties (there was one remaining collective in Spokane until a month ago, when he closed down voluntarily because he has purchased a license to sell under the new law, which will treat cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol).

Sure, we can expect more federal push-back, but the latest university studies contradict outdated federal studies and reveal that cannabis is not harmful and is in fact beneficial and can aid in the cure of multiple illnesses. If the people continue to push for their rights in the individual states, eventually the federal government will have to relent as it did in the case of alcohol prohibition almost a century ago.

The cannabis legalization initiative passed even in conservative Spokane county, where I live, so I am encouraged that legalization has bipartisan support!