So much odd shit about this article. That stood out to me, and his quote there also makes it sounds like he really does have an addiction. How about this though: Felony marijuana possession? But he was also released? So is this really a news story?
This is a case of both sides being ridiculously dumb. Beasley for having weed in public, in his damn car. Phoenix for having crushing weed laws and for being stupidly hot.
Oregon was the first state to decriminalize marijuana, in 1973. (I'm sure everyone knows that though.) As far as outright legal? Not going to happen. Even treating it on the same level as alcohol, if that's what was meant, is a long-shot still. I'd like to see that happen, with a very stiff tax attached. For one thing, it's so insanely inexpensive to grow, the difference between the negligable production costs and "what the market will bear" is a huge revenue opportunity. The fly in the ointment though, is why would anyone pay much for it when they could grow their own without fear of prosecution? Unless corporations, pharmaceutical companies, and the government find a way to control the supply and the reap the profits, it's going to be hard to 'uncriminalize' weed.
Not all that long, now that WA and CO have both done it. Within 10-15 years it'll be legalized nationally. Another 2-4 years and Oregon will join it's more progressive neighbor to the north, now that they've blazed the trail (oh, the irony).
