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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Next month's election and recreational marijuana

Just 10 years ago, Americans opposed legalized marijuana by about two to one. Now those numbers have been reversed according to Gallup and the Pew Research Center . Medical marijuana has already been approved in almost half the country, and recreational use is legal in Washington State, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia.

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By Warren Olney • Oct 25, 2016 • 1 min read

Just 10 years ago, Americans opposed legalized marijuana by about two to one. Now those numbers have been reversed according to Gallup and the Pew Research Center. Medical marijuana has already been approved in almost half the country, and recreational use is legal in Washington State, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. It's on next month's ballots in Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Arizona and — most importantly -- California. The biggest state in the nation with the world's sixth largest economy could be the tipping point for ending federal prohibition and discriminatory enforcement. But even many who want that are raising red flags. Ballot measures lack rules on cost or potency, leading medical and psychological experts to warn about "cannabis abuse disorder." Small farmers say it's all about Big Dope — just like Big Tobacco — a multi-billion-dollar industry that encourages abuse. We hear more about pros and cons.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    KCRW Staff

    KCRW Staff

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    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Sáša Woodruff

    Producer, 'To the Point'

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    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

    NewsNationalPolitics
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