Congress, Marijuana, Beer, And Other Election Results

The presidency was not the only important election last night.

Republicans kept control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We no longer will have a divided government. Which means that the Republican administration could, conceivably, get something done. (Although gridlock is not always a bad thing.)

Marco Rubio and Rand Paul were among those who were re-elected to the Senate. Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada didn’t run and will no longer be in the House, though another Democrat replaced him. In Wisconsin, former Democratic senator Russ Feingold lost to incumbent Republican Ron Johnson, which was a surprise. For details on these and other races, read this.

A majority of states have now legalized medical marijuana. California and Massachusetts have legalized recreational marijuana. (The difference is not necessarily all that great. I was in California recently and saw one of the green shops in which you can see a doctor who will write you a prescription for $20, then sell you the weed.) Arizona, Nevada, and Maine voted on legalization measures, but the results are not yet in. (Please report once that happens.)

And Oklahoma finally changed its law that only low-alcohol (3.2%) beer may be sold refrigerated and in grocery stores. You currently have to go to liquor stores to buy regular-strength beer, and it has to be sold warm. Along with other strange rules. But voters have changed that.