Hard News by Russell Brown

Dumb question: what efforts have been made to put marijuana legalisation to referendum? It seems like the progress on reform in many states in the US came out of binding propositions where voters dictated change rather than waiting for elected leaders to be a bit bold. I never would have thought the US with their war-on-drugs would make it legal before Australasia or Europe, but here we are.

Enjoying the series so far!

I never would have thought the US with their war-on-drugs would make it legal

To be a bit pedantic, my understanding is that the legal situation in the US is a bit more grey than it is green. While things at a state level might be green-lit, as it were, it's still technically illegal at a Federal (National) level. Still, baby steps, and all that.

This is pretty good, too:

This is pretty good, too:

Oh, true! I forgot all about that!

Oh, true! I forgot all about that!

I'm going to do my best to forget again...

Yep, it's both legal and illegal still (a very American situation) though for all intents and purposes, the state law is what counts - unless the Feds adopt a policy of prosecuting in all states which seems unlikely. Anyway, my point was laws like this seem to get changed when people have the opportunity to vote with a binding result. It'll be interesting if it gathers momentum when Canada changes their law next year.

Boo! Tea! call...
The Drugs and Popular Culture episode seems to miss out Posters and Comics - no dayglo leaf poster boutiques, no Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Robert Crumb or Harold Hedd (which all made their way to NZ thru Student or Underground mags and shops - what about Barry Linton's Auckland life comic glimpses in various places and Burton Silver's dope munching hedgehogs in The Listener! - Heck even Spiderman and Green Arrow dropped the Comics Code accreditation badge to present drug stories, all available here...
I know DeQuincey is alluded to but was Burroughs or Emmett Grogan or even Kerouac ... all big sellers here in certain circles.
Not music but comedy! - Cheech and Chong had a big NZ following - I know I went to their Chchch show - I can't remember a thing from it! - that was down to the alcohol though...