British Columbia’s multibillion-dollar marijuana industry could take a “significant” blow now that two U.S. states – including its closest neighbour to the south – have voted to legalize marijuana.
Canadian pot smokers and their supporters on Wednesday applauded the US states of Washington and Colorado for legalizing marijuana, and called for a similar change in Canada.
While Barack Obama and Mitt Romney make most of the U.S. headlines, a referendum in Washington state may have a more profound effect on British Columbians.
Colorado voters made history Tuesday night, passing a constitutional amendment to legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana and becoming the first state in the US to break with marijuana prohibition. Hours later, voters in Washington state followed suit, passing a legalization initiative there, but a similar effort in Oregon came up short.
Voters in Washington State will be heading to the polls next week to vote on an initiative that could legalize the sale of marijuana—a move that many are pushing for in British Columbia.
CANNABIS CULTURE - Watch Election Night 2012 LIVE on Pot TV – starting at 4PM Pacific on November 6, 2012 – for coverage of the historic votes on recreational and medical marijuana legalization ballot initiatives in states across the USA.
The president of Uruguay, José Mujica, has announced plans to legalise the production and sale of marijuana under a state monopoly, triggering a lively controversy in Montevideo.