Anxiously Waiting For 2014 ‘Marijuana Midterm’ Election Day

After the historic 2012 Election, where Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana and anti-marijuana Attorney General candidate Dwight Holton was defeated in Oregon, many states started contemplating their next move. Would they wait until the next Presidential election year (2016), or make an attempt at achieving reform in the very next election (2014). There was a lot of arguing, and some shunning by national marijuana reform leaders, with many people declaring that 2014 was off limits, and that any attempts in 2014 would fail and therefore would affect chances in 2016.

I was not one of those people. I have always felt that as long as people are getting arrested and getting their lives ruined, and there’s an election coming up, we should give it all we got. Is a Presidential election year better than a midterm election year? Of course. But we don’t live in a perfect world, and every year that we wait to make an attempt at reform is another year that people are harmed by marijuana prohibition. I’m thankful that many in the reform community stepped up in 2014, which has shaped up to be one of the biggest years in the history of marijuana reform.

This will be my third election while running this blog (not including special elections of course). In 2010 Jay Smoker and I hung out at my house to watch the sad defeat of California Proposition 19 (would have legalized recreational) and Oregon Measure 74 (would have legalized medical marijuana dispensaries). Then in 2012, we of course saw Colorado and Washington legalize marijuana, which was absolutely one of my favorite memories of all time. We were at an election night party surrounded by other activists, and high fives and hugs were in abundance that night. The only thing that would have made it better would be if other efforts had succeeded, especially my home State of Oregon (Measure 80), but we have another chance at it this year.

The way things are going, this will be my first election since starting this blog that I’ll be alone on election night. I’ve tried to crack into some election night parties, but people don’t respond and I was never invited. I guess I’m just not one of the cool kids ha ha. Oh well, if I have to celebrate at home by myself, it may be for the best, as I don’t want anyone to hear me scream like a school girl when Oregon legalizes marijuana and I no longer have to live in fear. Below are all of the 2014 Election Day issues to watch for, courtesy of Russ Belville: