Summary: Special guest Steve Sarich, Executive Director, Cannabis Action Coalition will join us today. July 1, 2015 first day to legally use marijuana legally without a prescription in my home state of Oregon. The people used the ballot box to change the law. In a 69% voter turnout, legalization won 56.11% to 43.89%. In votes, that is 847,865 to 663,346. On the other hand, national figures like Chris Christie are all but declaring war on citizen sourced law that allows the use of marijuana. Governor Christie is not alone. Those with national and international concerns are quietly trying to deal with international treaty violations that would be easily solved if marijuana was no longer a Schedule I prohibited substance under federal law (although US Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department will allow Washington and Colorado to proceed unhindered). But the public rehtoric is about crime waves and declining moral values, claims that appear steadfast even in the face of the positive outcomes for legalization leaders Colorado and Washington (you on the east coast call it Washington State - we in the northwest call the nation’s capitol DC): tax income, reduced crime, even homicides and sexual assaults. So while we in Oregon see the clock is ticking down to THE BIG DAY, it appears that members of the anti legalization team are plotting to make this as difficult a transition of law as possible. We will ask Steve Sarich to give us the 411 on 420 on today's Lunch with Louden. Follow Lunch with Louden and Join the Coffee Party Movement on Facebook.
