Throughout the United States, there is a massive push to enforce the legalization of marijuana. While some lawmakers continue to fight these bills, the cause has gained support like never before. In fact, Boston lawmakers are keen on passing the laws, but they wish to have a say so in the statutes themselves. This is certainly a much different attitude from that in the past. Although they’re faced with a little opposition, it is most certain the laws will pass and the once illegal drug will become legal, but it doesn’t stop there. Maine activists are also making the push and urging lawmakers to legalize marijuana.
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
The Marijuana Policy Project has worked diligently to target states across the United States, in hopes of forcing the lawmakers to make the move towards legalization. Accord to the Alaska Dispatch News, the national group has worked hand in hand, with activists, in order to fund and support their actions. In the state of Maine, the group has found support from The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, which is an offshoot of the D.C. based Marijuana Policy Project. The group is certainly making an impact and has already successfully set a plan in place to submit their initiative Tuesday.
Their Initiative
The group has already put up quite the fight, as they’ve developed a strong initiative, which makes plenty of sense in the eyes of Maine residents. They hope to be able to allow those over the age of twenty-one to possess an ounce of marijuana, without breaking state laws. The group also hopes to make it legal for anyone over the legal age to grow six pot plants in their home, at one time. Of course, they also hope their initiative will help to regulate and control retail sales and the cultivation of Marijuana.
The Process
In order for the group to succeed, they’ll first need to submit their initiative to the Maine Secretary of State, which is supposed to happen on Tuesday. After this, the Secretary of State will need to personally approve the bill. If they do, the group will need to work furiously to collect 61,123 signatures from legitimate residents of Maine. If they manage to pull off the feat, they’ll be able to their initiative on the 2016 ballot. From there, the activists will need to lobby local residents, in hopes of convincing them to the vote of the bill. While it remains to be seen, it is certain many will find plenty to like about the ideal and would like to see it pass.
The Future
Although the future is unknown, it is certain that groups, such as the Marijuana Policy Project, will continue to push for changes in drug laws across the country. States, including Alaska, Arizona, California and Colorado, has already started to transition to a new liberal mindset, which will likely be followed by others. With the determination of such groups, it would not be a surprise to see each individual state in America to offer some type of law legalizing the possession of marijuana. Of course, this may still be a long time coming.