VOA慢速英语2014 华盛顿特区和俄勒冈州通过大麻合法化（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2014-11-06 Marijuana Becomes Legal in DC and Oregon

Voters in Washington, D.C. and the northwestern state of Oregon have approved measures to make marijuana legal. The victories for lawful use of the drug were among separate initiatives on ballots throughout the country. 

华盛顿特区和西北部的俄勒冈州选民通过大麻合法化的措施，大麻药物合法化是全国经过投票表决的几个提议之一。

Also Tuesday, voters chose one-third of the Senate and more than half of the nation’s state governors. 

周二，选民们选出三分之一的参议院和该国一半以上的州长。

Initiatives give voters a chance to decide on issues such as whether governments should borrow money to build roads and schools. They may also offer voters a choice about whether a state should amend its laws on same-sex marriages or ending pregnancies.

提议给选民决定一些事务，诸如政府是否应该借钱来修建道路和学校，提议还给选民决定一个州是否应该修改同性恋法或堕胎法的机会。

Oregon’s measure will permit adults to buy and possess marijuana.  Nearby Washington State and Colorado set up similar systems last year.    

俄勒冈州的措施将允许成年人购买和拥有大麻，附近的华盛顿州和科罗拉多州去年都设置了类似的制度。

The initiative in Washington, D.C. -- the United States capital -- lets people age 21 and older possess and grow marijuana. But they cannot buy it. Congress must review the law before it can go into effect.

美国首都华盛顿特区的这一提议允许年龄在21岁以上的成年人拥有并种植大麻，但他们不能购买大麻。国会必须在该法实施之前进行审查。

In the southeastern state of Florida, voters rejected a proposal to make marijuana legal for medical purposes. Medical marijuana is legal in 23 other states.

在东南部的佛罗里达州，选民们否决了一项允许大麻医用合法化的提议，医用大麻已在另外23个州合法化。

The ballot in Washington State Tuesday had two competing questions about gun control. Voters approved one measure that will increase required background checks for gun sales. Background checks are meant to prevent people with criminal records from having guns. They will include those done online and at gun shows. 

周二，华盛顿州的投票涉及与枪控有关的两个相对立的问题，选民们通过了一项要求加强对强制购买进行必备的背景检查的措施，背景检查意味着预防有犯罪记录的人获得枪支，其中包括网上购买和在枪支展销会购买。

Workers in several states will soon have higher wages. Voters in Nebraska and Arkansas voted to raise the least amount of money a person can earn in one hour. Nebraska workers will get $8 per hour.  Arkansas workers will receive $7.50. 

几个州的工人将很快加薪，内布拉斯加州和阿肯色州选民通过了提高工人最低时薪的提议，内布拉斯加州工人的时薪将为8美元，阿肯色州工人时薪将为7.5美元。

Words in This Story

initiative – n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem

ballot – n. a ticket or piece of paper used to vote in an election

borrow – v. to take and use up (something) with the promise to give back something of equal value

background – n. the experiences, knowledge and education in a person’s past

wages – n. an amount of money that a worker is paid based on the number of hours and days that are worked