Alaska Is Next In Line For Legalized Recreational Marijuana

Although it was Washington that first legalized recreational marijuana, it was probably Colorado who proved it was possible for anyone to do it. Who's next?

When I first went to Alaska for my brother's wedding in the mid 70's, marijuana there was still legal. In fact, Alaska was the only state it was legal in. Over the course of time, the law was changed many times until it was just outright illegal like all the other states.

Alaska has a long and storied marijuana history starting with the state's Supreme Court ruling in 1975 than said 'banning home use and possession of small amounts of pot violated the state constitution's right to privacy' but they didn't outline what was legal to be kept at home until 1982 when it was defined as 'less than 4 ounces' and then changed to 1 ounce. In 2006, it was 'recriminalized.' Organizers have said if passed this August, the initiative would bring the state back in line with the 1975 Supreme Court decision.

I honestly believe that many states now will put recreational marijuana on their ballots after seeing it pass so easily in Colorado's last election. I also find it ironic that Alaska and California haven't passed these laws before Colorado and Washington.

So the voters have begun speaking in Alaska by providing way more than enough signatures to get it on the ballot for election this August. If it doesn't pass in Alaska, I will be shocked.

Here are the states pushing hard right now to legalize marijuana all together and have it regulated just like alcohol: