[Reflection 3: Going Green —On the (Impending) Legalization of Marijuana]

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states in the Union to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. In landmark votes, the peoples of those states not only overturned a decades-long prohibition on Cannabis, they also set the stage for a "states' rights" battle with the Federal government. Additionally, they joined nearly two dozen states with legalized medicinal marijuana mechanisms already in place. Indeed, the mainstreaming of marijuana in American culture has surprised both advocates and opponents of legalization. And while legalization on a national level is far from a sure thing, we are closer to it than at any other point in our history. But what are the implications of legalized marijuana? What does American life look like when recreational pot use is made legal?  What would we gain and what would we lose as a society? And what lessons should we learn from alcohol and tobacco? Finally, how would legalization affect you?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Colorado Monthly Marijuana Sales Eclipse $100 Million Mark" (Denver Post)
• "Marijuana Legalization in Vermont 2016: Latest on Pot Debate and State of Legal Weed" (Policy.Mic)
• "Commentary: Marijuana Legalization—It's Time, Congress" (Roll Call)
• "Legally Blind: Why I'm Against Legalizing Marijuana" (Huffington Post)
• "Eleven States Least Likely to Legalize Marijuana" (USA Today)
• "The Next Eight States that Could Legalize Weed Within the Year" (Alternet)

Requirements:

• MLA Style
• 1.5 pages in length
• Works cited page

Due: Wed 3.2