Washington, Colorado, and Weed

This really is a new country we're living in. Reuters:

Under the recreational marijuana measures in Colorado and Washington, personal possession of up to an ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana would be legal for anyone at least 21 years of age. They also will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed stores in a system modeled after a regime many states have in place for alcohol sales.

Can you imagine? "Hon, I'm nipping down to the Safeway. Might stop at the weed store. Want a little 5-0?"

My friends and I used to call Hawaiian 5-0, for obvious reasons. That was 30 years ago, when I was something of an enthusiast. I have no idea whether anyone still says that, although the Googles suggest that some people do.

Anyway. This is kind of mind-boggling. I admit I find it kind of weird and vaguely not quite on the up and up. But on policy grounds, it's an excellent development. Chip chip chip away at this insane war on drugs. I'm sure that doing so now has bipartisan support. The only potheads I know are Republicans.

Many complications arise here. After all, there's still federal law. But it would awesome if in 10 years we're no longer spending federal dollars prosecuting people over pot. Relatedly, I see that California also softened that horrible three-strikes law. We really may be emerging from the darkness.