Oregon and Alaska vote to legalise recreational marijuana use

Oregon and Alaska have become the latest US states to legalise recreational marijuana in ballots hailed by supporters as evidence a national change of policy is under way.

Voters in both states approved laws that will permit residents over 21 to grow their own marijuana and establish a legal retail trade.

Anthony Johnson, the chief sponsor of Oregon's Measure 91, compared the victory for the legal sale and use of cannabis to the recent end of the state's ban on gay marriage, saying voters had struck a blow for freedom and equality. "We have ended a painful, discriminatory, harmful policy," he said.

In Oregon, with 75 per cent of the ballot counted, support for Measure 91 had a decisive lead with 54 per cent of votes. In Alaska, the pro-legalisation campaign led with 52 per cent of the vote in the 97 per cent of precincts reporting.

There were victories for more liberal marijuana laws elsewhere too. In Washington DC, voters approved possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use – although that move could be blocked by the US Congress, which holds significant legislative authority over the city.

The Pacific island of Guam became the first US territory to legalise medical marijuana, but a vote in Florida fell just short of the 60 per cent threshold that was required for it to pass.

The results in Oregon and Alaska, following Washington state and Colorado two years ago, were cheered as evidence of a gathering movement to challenge federal laws banning the drug. – (Guardian service)