Legality of pot...

It does open up a whole new can of legal worms.  The good news is that lawmakers love writing laws, so I'm sure this will give them lots of new laws to write for several years into the future.

Usually it takes one tragic incident, such as "stoned driver runs red light and kills a mother and her two children" and then the floodgates open.

The interesting part about the Federal side is that as you mentioned it is still illegal, but the Feds are simply choosing not to prosecute the crimes.  What this means is if you are picked up for something else and they don't have enough to make it stick they can "choose" to prosecute you if they want.  Also, a new administration could decide to start enforcing the law down the road.

Personally I'm not a fan of legalizing pot, but LB has convinced me to at least open my mind to the idea.  I also am a fan of states rights, so if a state chooses to allow it, then I am ok with that as well. 

In Colorado (not sure what Washington is doing), it's illegal to use pot "openly or publicly".  So you can't smoke it in a car at all.  They're also not allowing it in restaurants, bars, any public buildings, or your front lawn.  Basically, it's illegal pretty much everywhere but inside your own house.  

It can be transported in your car, but it's illegal to have it in an open container.  And you get a DUI if you're caught with driving with a certain amount in your system.  I assume if you get pulled over and the officer suspects your high, you get hauled in to the hospital for a blood test.

I'm a big fan of what Colorado is doing, and I don't even smoke it.  They're freeing up their prisons and got themselves a new tax revenue. 

Stop the money war.......er........I mean drug war.

We don't seize drugs, we seize money.....believe it.

If you (collective you) didn't know this was going on then you haven't been paying attention (something law enforcement agencies enjoy).  All of those AR-15's that you see in police cars?  Drug money.  Helicopters?  Drug money. Drones?  Drug money.  Need a new roof on your police department?  Drug money. Want some mobile firing ranges?  Drug money. The seizure and forfeiture laws were written so that the money HAS to go to Police departments.  That's why there are so many "drug task forces".  Hell, Homeland Security funds some of the largest drug task forces.......because it pays off REALLY well.

It probably started with the best of intentions, but over time it has become bastardized to the point that nobody cares about how much dope is seized, only how much money.  The war on drugs is all about money......don't ever think otherwise.

It will probably be handled the same way it was before it was illegal.  The only reason it was banned in the first place is because DuPont's synthetic fibers couldn't begin to compete with it so they lobbied that it was a horrible drug that needed to be banned for the benefit of society... and so they could get all the contracts for military clothing and canvas which they wouldn't have gotten if it wasn't banned.  If the ban ever gets nationally turned over the biggest impact will be in the textile industry not recreational drug use.

... and gee.... why do we have so many illegal immigrants?

Right... because cotton is a very small cottage industry. 

If it benefitted DuPont...fine... but that is not why it and all the drugs are illegal.

There are not any more problems regulating drug sales and use that there are alcohol sales and use. It will all get worked out.

The Feds have already said they are not interested with operations that comply with State laws if that state allows it. They WILL bust those that are trafficking drugs to black market sales and across state line.... interestingly enough, the same thing they do for alcohol.  

For all of you guys that just LOVE the idea of taxing someone else's legal recreation.... why are you not volunteering yours if the country/state/local government needs so much money? How about we just have one big recreation tax? We could raise a fortune.

Taxes should be collected to pay for the regulation of the industry, and the cost of it to society. If you feel differently, then feel free to push for legislation to tax yours.

There don't even have to be any drugs. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/08/12/130812fa_fact_stillman

It's a war dammit!!!  You can't always see the enemy. 

I just wanna roll a fatty with Michael Phelps and get some swimming tips.

I'm guessing there's not alot of poeple claiming income from an illegal enterprise.

But it is legal in Colorado.