Ballot Initiative Would Legalize Marijuana in California

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An initiative to legalize marijuana in California has qualified for the November ballot after supporters gathered enough signatures by the Wednesday night deadline.

If voters approve it, the new law would allow Californians 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for personal use. Adults would also be able to grow up to 25 square feet of pot per residence or parcel.

Cities and counties would be allowed to pass ordinances that would allow them to tax the cultivation, transportation and sale of marijuana.

It would the be the first law of its kind in the country.

Pot advocates gathered more than the 433,971 signatures needed for the measure -- known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 -- to make the ballot, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Opponents of the initiative, including prosecutors and police, say legalization would lead to higher crime rates. In 2008, voters defeated an attempt to relax the state's drug laws.

Supporters say state-run studies have found that taxes on marijuana could raise as much as $1.4 billion in annual revenue.

Polls show that a majority of California voters support legalization. A Field Poll last year found that 56 percent of state voters want to legalize and tax pot as a way to help solve the state's fiscal crisis.

California voters approved marijuana for medical use in 1996.

Filed Under: Ballot Measures

Tagged: california, Daily Guidance, DailyGuidance, marijuana

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companyharley

I have always been against POT users in general and I have never used drugs in my life but I now have come to terms with the idea of making pot legal It really wouldn't hurt anyone its not already hurting and it would really give California a massive jump over other states economically and it could help more people prevent from losing there homes by creating more state jobs. I am seeing all of my friends suffer terribly due to the fact there is no economy at the bottom (small businesses) My values have shifted from concerning myself with other persons and there activities and values to My own survival and I believe I am not the only one.
I feel the same way about gambling now, There are Indian casinos everywhere! wouldn't it be nice if a registered and regulated store, sport bar etc could have say 2 or three slots etc it might save his business and spread the gambling money spent in a casino to more small businesses in California in turn help more families.
I am aware there are many problems that will stem from all these ideas, but that's where heavy regulations come into play on equipment and licensees there again causing more jobs to arise like special equipment added at the manufacturing level to allow the state to monitor the statistics and intake of the machines at a state facility and creating more jobs for different purposes, I am fairly sure POT and gambling will some day be legal here in California anyway, but it could save our economy if done much sooner.
Are personal and individual life values more important than our own survival? that's a really big sacrifice for Californians.
What are Your thoughts on all of these topics?
Thanks

August 17 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply