One of the major issues in the States in which almost all libertarians disagree with most conservatives and a fair number of “liberals” (progressives or Regressives) is prohibition of cannabis (marijuana). Advocates of legalization had high hopes for 2024. Those were dashed.

Not just in the elections, but in other government actions as well.

Ballotpedia discusses the results of the election here.

Five ballot issues regarding marijuana were on the ballot in various states: legalization of recreational marijuana was defeated in Florida, North and South Dakota, but in Nebraska two ballot measures will allow and regulate medical marijuana. (Both Dakotas and Florida have legalized medical use; South Dakota had previously approved recreational use in a popular vote which was overturned in court.)

But at the same time, governments – even those outside the 12 States in which it is still a crime – have demonstrated that their war on pot is far from over. Instead of prohibition, a regime of incredible regulations and high taxes has been initiated in States hailed for their “liberal” policies. Such as Colorado, California, and New Mexico.

A perfect example of that government craziness was revealed this election week in New Mexico. Fifty State Thugs – oops! Troopers – and other “law enforcement” goons descended on a licensed grower in the northwestern town of Waterflow (near Farmington and the Navajo Nation). There they “dismantled” (Newspaper headline) 170,000 pounds (80+ tons) of cannabis plants. Declared illegal after the State canceled the firm’s growing licenses in September.

Their crimes? The company was accused of not posting its licenses on site, failing to obtain water rights for cultivation, not having cameras that could monitor certain areas of its operation, and violating “sanitation and health” requirements. No idea yet what those sanitation and health requirements might be: perhaps workers weren’t wearing masks and didn’t wash their hands after visiting the portapotty? Destroying millions of dollars of valuable plants, especially since there is no information that these accusation of “crimes” (violations of permt conditions) were ever adjudicated in a court.

In both California and Colorado, “legal” pot is generally more expensive than “illegal” MJ, thanks to crazy-high taxes and the cost of regulatory compliance by producers. And of course, local governments and “law enforcement” have even greater incentives to go after the unlicensed operations: tax money and more piling up of charges. No doubt this is true in others of the 24 States which no longer prohibit growing or possessing cannabis.

Which may be one of several reasons that the ballot efforts failed in the Dakotas and Florida: voters have seen the negative efforts and how claims of less government enforcement and expense to taxpayers have been proved false.

Other reasons? In Colorado, there is supposedly more and more evidence of the negative impact of recreational use on worker and highway safety, impact on the health of young people, and similar problems. Again, voters note this, and see the problems with cannabis purchased in Colorado and brought into their own States. And no doubt the general shift of the electorate to a more conservative stance has an impact.

But some causes of the defeat, at least in the Dakotas, was poorly written initiatives (draft laws) which opened the door for more regulations and more involvement of law enforcement and political impacts. It would have been fine to possess the stuff in South Dakota, but apparently still illegal to grow, process, or sell the stuff. And complicating the issue in SD was another bizarre (and suspicious) initiative. That ballot issue (which also failed) would have removed State sales tax from “consumables” except “alcoholic beverages and prepared food” – which many took to mean that tobacco and marijuana and any medicines would also be exempt. Triggering a huge hole in the South Dakota State government’s revenue (estimated as high as $600 million-plus). Many widely believed it was a backdoor effort to force South Dakota to initiate an income tax.

Whatever the reason, the propaganda on both sides of the issues was omnipresent and insanely expensive. The only winners on this ballot issue (at least in SD) was the media, courtesy of ad revenue!

As we often do, please tell us if you can find anything in the US Constitution or any State Constitution that gives the power to regulate what people consume to government in any way. We really want to know.

Disclaimer: The publishers and staff of The Price of Liberty do not advocate for people to produce, sell, or consume tobacco, alcohol, or drugs of any type for anything but medical reasons (and aren’t too het up about even that use!). And of course, do not use them. (Well, in the interests of complete candor, we do tend to drink a lot of caffeine – but only in tea and sodas, as we’ve never developed a taste for coffee. But most of us do not respond to caffeine in the normal manner. No doubt because most of us are ADHD or ADD!) But we believe that adults have the God-given right to decide for themselves what to eat, drink, or smoke, provided they take responsibility for their actions.