A NEW KIND OF GREEN PARTY

Green is truly what's in. The recent passage of Proposition 203 in
Arizona, and the near passage of Proposition 19 in California, have
made an interesting blip on the radar and signify an unexpected
acceptance of the ganja. Although Proposition 203 only allows
marijuana to be used legally for medicinal purposes, it is still a
clear sign of the acceptance of marijuana in the broader culture, and
as some hope or fear, it is a step toward eventual legal recreational
use.

This was the tidal wave that many Californians were hoping to ride
when they first passed California Proposition 215, and then recently
attempted to pass Proposition 19. Although Proposition 19 was
unsuccessful in legalizing marijuana for recreational use, it still
managed to gain significant support that has encouraged many of its
proponents to make the push again in the next election cycle. One
thing's for certain: Green is certainly trendy.

The growth in the acceptance of marijuana usage is certainly creating
enough of a buzz to make the push to legalize the drug entirely. There
are now roughly 15 states that favor the usage of the drug for medical
purposes, and activists in California have even expressed an interest
in making the recreation legalization movement into other surrounding
states. So basically, "The potheads are coming, the potheads are coming!"

With that, it will be quite interesting to see the pushes for and
against the usage of the drug. Will all the stereotypical marijuana
smokers come out in full-fledged hippie gear, endlessly espousing that
marijuana is not a drug? Look, we get it, you like weed; stop hitting
us over the head with your thoughts, which should be re-categorized as
ideas you came up with while high (high-deas?). On the opposite side,
will hard-pressed anti-weed people come out in full force to stop
those wretched, smelly, green peace/piece hippies? The possibilities
just scream a re-enactment of the hippie peace movements of the
Vietnam era. Although, it needs to be said that a shouting match
between some teenagers who just want to have a good time, and some
anti-drug folks, shouldn't even be in the same league as the Vietnam
protests.

To paraphrase the words of comedian Daniel Tosh, can we just legalize
weed so that potheads don't have anything to talk about? Although the
idea of having to work with someone who is taking smoking breaks with
their bong does seem pretty annoying, this may work out after all.
Legalizing marijuana and, dare I say, nationalizing the industry could
have some seriously positive benefits for the economy. Plus, it will
give us all something new to fight about in the political realm. Once
it's legalized, Democrats can talk about making it a government-run
mass production and not allowing it to be grown large-scale
residentially, then Republicans can start chanting keep your hands off
our grass. It makes for new senseless debate, because honestly, the
abortion, Iraq and Afghanistan issues are getting pretty tired.
Democrats might even want to make a serious push for getting marijuana
propositions on the ballot in 2012; it will certainly turn out that
lacking youth ! demographic. On the flip side, marijuana could be an
issue that stirs up such a response that it could turn out even
crazier tea party candidates.

The tea partiers can be mad as hell and the potheads can be high as
heaven. Bring it on, 2012.