The new year will be the year the nation really starts to experiment with marijuana . It wo n't be the year legalization sweeps the country ; it will be a year of wait and see . Indeed , 2014 will see the legalization movement gain greater political strength while facing the possibility of setbacks if the implementation of new laws fails . It will also be a year of momentum-building . Advocacy groups will build on their recent ballot successes and work hard assisting implementation of new laws in Colorado and Washington . It may not be a flashy year ; it may not be a headline-grabbing year , but it will be a critical year for the future of legalization advocacy . In 2013 , Washington and Colorado built the administrative infrastructure to ready their states for the legal sale of marijuana after successful 2012 ballot initiatives . Those initiatives were among the biggest victories to date for the legalization movement . Of course , those successes did n't come about by accident . They were largely because legalization advocates -- over the course of many years -- transformed the movement into a mature , organized set of interest groups . These well-funded , expertly staffed groups showed themselves to be a political force with statewide ballot initiatives and increasingly in elections . Demonstrating the increasing acceptance of marijuana , the founder of a medical marijuana store , a respected businessman , was voted mayor of Sebastopol , California , last month . Opinion : Finally , a nation legalizes pot . Statewide victories were complemented by local-level initiatives . Successes in places like Portland , Maine , and Lansing , Michigan , will probably generate greater energy in other cities , like Washington , that are considering legalization . Building on this trend , groups will continue to develop as a politically savvy and powerful interest . In the world of lobbying , nothing breeds success ( or raises funds ) like prior success , and the past 14 months mean the movement will grow in numbers and financial capacity . On a grass-roots level , organizations like NORML and the Marijuana Policy Project will continue to show people that support for legalization is no longer taboo . Instead , it is a serious issue that deals with public health , regulation , taxation and budgeting . These groups have done well to frame the issue not as a dorm-room debate but as a public policy problem . Those efforts pull supporters out of the shadows ; they will continue in 2014 . In 2014 , marijuana advocacy organizations will also continue to do something unheard of in today 's American politics : unite Americans . This is one of the most remarkable , rarely discussed aspects of the movement . They do n't just bring together like-minded Americans . They often bring together groups who normally bitterly oppose each other . Liberals join hands with libertarians . Wealthy white voters who see marijuana laws as outdated join with non-white voters who see the enforcement of marijuana laws as discriminatory . Children of the 1960s join with their grandchildren who wo n't retire until even as late as the 2060s . On many issues , these groups have different views , but on legalization , many people find common ground . All those who think it should be legal to inhale may be the ones who breathe fresh air into American politics . They will produce policy solutions in a system that consistently fails to do anything of note . The gains for supporters of legalization will be on display in 2014 . But something else will happen behind the scenes this year that will be absolutely critical for the movement . Advocates are planning statewide efforts , similar to those in Colorado and Washington . Organizations in places like Oregon and Massachusetts , among other states , are considering legalization ballot initiatives in the coming years . However , elected officials and voters may well take a wait-and-see approach . Colorado 's and Washington 's experiences will affect voters in future legalization efforts . If those states have a positive experience with legalization -- dispelling opponents ' concerns about addiction , traffic safety and crime -- - and it adds to their budgets , others will be more open to legalization . Advocacy groups will face a flourishing political landscape . If , however , the experiences in those states are negative -- implementation goes awry , programs become cost-inefficient or public health concerns arise -- the movement will stumble . Advocates are not leaving that outcome to chance . In a show of how serious they are about legalization-as-public-policy , they are actively assisting states in implementation . If the movement will continue to succeed , it must be actively committed to making implementation work and work well . If the experience of the Affordable Care Act in 2013 has shown us anything , it is that implementation matters . Botched rollouts , unforeseen bumps in the road and other challenges hurt advocates and embolden opponents . In this way , 2014 is the start of experimentation with marijuana . It might not be a flashy year for the movement or the opposition . But 10 years from now , legalization advocates may look back at this year and note that it was make or break for the movement , making 2014 one of the most crucial years for marijuana policy .
the year is 2014 the nation starts to experiment with legal marijuana , John Hudak says . He writes that other states will watch what happens in Washington , Colorado closely . NORML : Organized advocacy groups took debate out of dorm room to policy makers . He says groups will help states with implementation , crucial for success .