Pot on the Ballot

NORML has a roundup of the marijuana initiatives that will be on state and local ballots tomorrow. The most far-reaching will be considered by voters in Alaska, where possession of up to four ounces in the home for personal use already is protected under the state constitution. The initiative would dramatically expand upon Alaska's relatively tolerant approach, requiring that "persons 21 years or older shall not be prosecuted, be denied any right or privilege, nor be subject to criminal or civil penalties for the possession, cultivation, distribution, or consumption" of hemp or cannabis, whether for medical, recreational, or industrial purposes. The initiative calls for a system of regulation similar to those for alcohol and tobacco.