Yep that’s right folks. California is once again leading the way when it comes to trailblazing politics in the United States. They were the first state to vote on gay marriage an it was left up to the voters to decide the fate of that an now a California voter initiative that would legalize possession and sale of marijuana has qualified for the November ballot, state election officials said on Wednesday. Passage of the measure, by no means certain, would make California the first U.S. state to legalize marijuana. Backers believe the state could be at the vanguard of a national movement toward decriminalizing the drug.
“Banning marijuana outright has been a disaster, fueling a massive, increasingly brutal underground economy, wasting billions in scarce law enforcement resources and making criminals out of countless law-abiding citizens,” said Stephen Gutwillig, California director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Apparently the state government requires 433,971 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot but the initiative collected 694,248 signatures. WOW!!!! This initiaive really hit home with the voters.
Legalizing marijuana appears to have broad support in the state, with some 56 percent of Californians surveyed in an April, 2009 Field Poll saying they favored making it legal for social use and taxing the sales proceeds.
NOW THE CONS:
Critics also say the social costs of a free-smoking state far outweigh the money it would bring in. They say that the already enormous societal damage from alcohol and tobacco use would only increase if people were allowed to legally sell and smoke pot. So in effect what they are saying is its okay for society to be damaged by alcohol an tobacco cause its socially acceptable but its not ok for marijuana cause of the stigma attached to it. Talk about Hypocrisy.
Under the initiative, simple possession of an ounce (28.5 grams) or less of marijuana, currently a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $100 fine, would be legal for anyone at least 21. It also would be lawful to grow limited amounts in one’s own home for personal use. Yeee!
Popularity: 21%