Online Poll: Should Wyoming Legalize Marijuana?

It's 4/20, a day that has become an unofficial marijuana holiday.

That stems (no pun intended) from the widely recognized use of ''420"  as code for marijuana consumption. So it seems appropriate to ask whether it's time for Wyoming to join the growing list of states with legal weed. Right now, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana use, including Wyoming's neighbors in Montana and Colorado.

It's technically still illegal under federal law, but in practice, the feds have done nothing to overrule state laws allowing cannabis for recreational and medical usage. There are also several efforts underway to change federal pot laws.

In Wyoming, a bill to legalize weed sponsored by Rep. Jared Olsen [R-Laramie County] won committee approval in the Wyoming House a couple of years ago. But it died when legislative leaders declined to bring it to the floor of the House in time to meet a deadline for a vote.

Arguments Against Legalization

By now, most people are familiar with the arguments pro and con. Opponents say pot is a gateway drug that leads to the use of harder drugs and they express concerns over the specter of stoned drivers. Some opponents of legal weed argue that the supposed benefits of legalization are overshadowed by what they say is an increase in crime and emergency room visits in areas where it is legalized. Many opponents also say that despite arguments to the contrary cannabis is dangerous, not the harmless plant that cannabis supporters claim. They point to studies linking it to schizophrenia as one example. Opponents also worry that legalizing weed will encourage it to be used by minors.

Arguments For Legalization

Supporters of legalization dispute all of that, saying there is no evidence that cannabis use leads to the use of harder drugs like meth and fentanyl. They say that legalizing weed for medical use gives those suffering from pain an alternative to the well-known dangers of opioids in terms of painkiller addiction. They point to the increased tax revenues generated by cannabis in states such as Colorado and say that right now Wyoming money is being spent in places like Colorado. Supporters also argue that spending time and money to prosecute people for a plant that is (in their view) essentially harmless is wasteful and pointless.

So what do you think? Take our poll and give us your opinion!