Alaska Becomes Latest State to Legalize Marijuana Use.

Alaska becomes latest state to legalize marijuana use

Marijuana smokers now have a new place to put on their bucket lists: Alaska, which on Tuesday became the third state to officially OK marijuana use.

Following Colorado's lead, voters passed the Alaska Marijuana Legalization ballot measure in November. Legalization became official on Tuesday, which means that now "the use of marijuana (is) legal for persons 21 years of age or older."

There are limits to this law, as there are in similar ones in other states. People still can't legally have more than 1 ounce of marijuana on them. Nor can they harvest more than 4 ounces in their home. And consuming marijuana in public and driving while high are no-nos.

Then there's the fact that the law isn't fully implemented yet. The regulatory structure allowing for entrepreneurs to set up shops like those found in Colorado is still in the works, so right now no one can legally make a living selling the drug.

Not to mention that, under federal law, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 narcotic. That makes its use a federal crime.

Is weed legal in your state?

Still, as in many states, there seems to be movement in Washington on that front. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told CNN in October he is "cautiously optimistic" on the subject of marijuana legalization. Holder said the Justice Department is focused on marijuana distribution to minors, interstate trafficking and drug violence, not incarcerating "low level people who are simply there for possessory offenses."

In the absence -- some might say in defiance -- of any sweeping federal change on marijuana, some states have taken the initiative.

Twenty-three states still prohibit cannabis outright. But the rest of them have either legalized medical marijuana or decriminalized marijuana possession.

Colorado became the first to go one step further in legalizing pot, followed by Washington state. And now there's one more in Alaska.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Something, something freedom. Yeah!

It should be decriminalized, in the least.

I'd hope they'd legalize it, I don't know how else you'd live in Alaska.

Washington DC just did too yesterday... yay!!!

This looks a-ok in my book.

While America slowly is loosening the chains on Marijuana, personally I'd also love it if more states in America dropped strict gun ownership rights, where you can own a gun without having to go through a hard process, like getting a license and all that.

I think this will be the more interesting fight.

You'd guess Alaska would be the first one to legalize pretty much everything.

Wouldn't matter. Guns are easy as hell to make. I could cobble one together for less than $20 and a trip to Home Depot. Ammo is even easier. All such a law would be doing is make it more difficult for people who follow the law to arm themselves against those who don't.

You don't, you just wait to die or move

How does CNN know it's always been my life-long goal to visit every place that legalizes weed?