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I think the term "legalization" needs to be qualified. The situation is moving towards extremely limited government-controlled privatization. Citizens can buy recreational pot in an approved store but it's still illegal to grow a single plant in your own back yard.

I'm almost positive someone will be absolutely indignant at my temerity for suggesting the above, but it's worth thinking about what real legalization would look like.

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> Citizens can buy recreational pot in an approved store but it's still illegal to grow a single plant in your own back yard.

One of the primary selling points of legalization was to increase state revenue. This is how the state collects. Personally, I'm not at all bothered by this.

It'll never be like growing tomatoes. It'll probably end up like alcohol. You can't distill at home either. Well, you can, but it's illegal.

It's actually legal to brew alcohol for personal use. No selling, however.

The parent specifically referred to distilling (making spirits) at home, which is in fact illegal in the US without a license. Laws vary in other countries, though this seems pretty common (with the exception of NZ, apparently).

http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml

This is different from brewing beer, cider and winemaking, which are quite differently regulated.

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