IRS recognition of gays another sign of change

Advocates of gay marriage got an encouraging word from the Internal Revenue Service (a rare event, right there) with last week’s decision to allow married gay couples to file federal taxes jointly, regardless of whether their home state recognizes same-sex marriage.

Hear the wedding bells? There are surely going to be more marriages between now and the end of the tax year by couples who have not yet claimed the federal benefit.

One cynical view is that Hawaii now has added incentive for a special session on legalizing same-sex marriage. An island setting would be more romantic than most for their nuptials, these couples might say; good for tourism, Hawaii wedding businesses might say.

Of course, prospects that state government could move that quickly, even with the incentive, are no slam-dunk — another cynical view.

Got pakalolo?

Call it parental permission: The federal Justice Department says that states can allow people to imbibe marijuana for recreational use, which Washington state and Colorado voters approved in last year’s elections.

The decision is expected to be followed by other states considering legalization of pot’s recreational use, beginning with Alaska.

Hawaii and numerous other states now allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

Will we be among states planning a vote to allow broader use of pakalolo?