Alaska Voters will have an opportunity to nullify federal marijuana prohibition

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana in Alaska gathered over 45,000 signatures to place a measure on the August 19, 2014 ballot to legalize marijuana in the state and nullify the federal prohibition.

As reported by NORMAL, “If approved by voters, the measure would legalize the adult possession of up to one ounce of cannabis as well as the cultivation of up to six-plants (three flowering) for personal consumption. The measure would also allow for the establishment of licensed, commercial cannabis production and retail sales of marijuana and marijuana-infused products to those over the age of 21. Commercial production and retail sales of cannabis would be subject to taxation, but no taxes would be imposed upon those who choose to engage in non-commercial activities (e.g., growing small quantities of marijuana for personal use and/or engaging in not-for-profit transfers of limited quantities of cannabis.) Public consumption of cannabis would be subject to a civil fine.”

The Alaskan Division of Elections has verified 31,593 signatures so far, qualifying the measure for a public vote.

If voters pass the measure, it will effectively nullify the federal prohibition on weed. Across the country, states have taken the regulation of marijuana into their own hands, right where it belongs. Twenty-one states have legalized cannabis for medical use, and Washington and Colorado have legalized marijuana completely.

The Constitution delegates no power to the federal government to prohibit marijuana in the states. This power remains with the state governments and the people. Doubt that? Then ask yourself why it required a constitutional amendment to prohibit alcohol. There is no fundamental difference. Alaska has it right. Let the people decide if they want legalized marijuana. And if they do, the heck with the feds.

“The rapidly growing and wildly successful state-level movement to legalize marijuana, either completely, or for medical use, proves that states can successfully nullify unconstitutional federal acts. The feds can claim the authority to prohibit pot all they want, but it clearly has done nothing to deter states from moving forward with plans to allow it, pushed by the will of the people,” Tenth Amendment Center executive director Michael Boldin said.

The message? When enough people say NO to unconstitutional federal “laws” – and enough states back them up, there’s not much the feds can do about it.