Legal weed

Republicans no doubt woke up Wednesday morning incredibly disappointed by last night’s election results. Democratic governor Andy Beshear won re-election in Kentucky, the GOP lost control of the Virginia House of Delegates, and Ohio voters opted to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. Political consultants and commentators quickly lashed out at the party’s perceived failure: Republicans either talked too much or not enough about abortion and the GOP will never win again with Trump at the top of the ticket or Trump is vital to its success, depending on who you ask.Abortion obviously mattered Tuesday night; the Ohio referendum results made that clear.

When Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2014, expectations were as high as its users. For decades activists, investors and lobbyists assured Americans that the legalization of marijuana would displace the black market, generate an influx of tax revenue to finance schools and hospitals, halt senseless arrests and improve racial equity, all without attracting the attention of kids. In the run-up to legalization in Colorado, officials projected a $70 million jump in tax revenue from the hundreds of marijuana and THC products in newly minted dispensaries and licensed shops and budgeted accordingly. They learned quickly that the expectations didn’t live up to the reality, bringing in around $44 million in its first full year in operation.