Amidst the fervor of the race for president, voters quietly weighed in on two state initiatives (although they’re getting more press now that national elections have quieted down).

In Washington, voters considered I-502, the so-called “marijuana reform” initiative. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state for years; this initiative would complete legalization of the drug. The state would be allowed to tax and sell it, and anyone over the age of 21 could buy it. If passed, marijuana theoretically would be no more difficult to buy than alcohol.

In the months leading up to the election, opponents bought ads in newspapers and on television that warned of catastrophic societal impacts if the law were passed. The voters of Washington apparently didn’t believe it, and on Nov. 6, they approved the law by a wide margin. Colorado voters passed a similar law on election night.

Some national pundits are saying this movement by Colorado and Washington could slowly transform marijuana laws across the entire country. Fire chiefs around the country should be prepared if a movement begins in their state.


Read the entire story in FIRE CHIEF, our sister publication.