http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62O08U20100325

(Reuters) - A California voter initiative that would legalize possession and sale of marijuana has qualified for the November ballot, state election officials said on Wednesday, in what supporters called a "watershed moment" for their cause.

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.

"This is a watershed moment in the decades-long struggle to end marijuana prohibition in this country," said Stephen Gutwillig, California director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which has spearheaded the ballot initiative.

"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," he said.

California Secretary of State Debra Bowen said in a written statement that her office had certified the measure for the November 2 general election ballot after backers submitted the required number of signatures on petitions.

Bowen said that proponents, who needed 433,971 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, had submitted 694,248 that were verified through a random sampling.

POLLS SHOW MANY SUPPORT MEASURE

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.

In October, Gallup found 44 percent of Americans favored legalization.

Activists have suggested that taxing marijuana sales could help bail out the cash-strapped state, but plenty of Californians still oppose marijuana.

"With legalization of recreational marijuana use, impaired driving, fatalities, injuries and crashes will go up, and we don't want to see that," California Mothers Against Drunk Driving spokesman Silas Miers said.

The measure's qualification for the ballot was "the first step toward its defeat," said John Lovell, a lobbyist who represents a number of law enforcement groups.

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.

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.

While sales would not be legalized outright, cities and counties could pass laws permitting commercial distribution subject to local regulations and taxes. Retail sales would still be limited to an ounce for adults 21 and older.

Similar to prostitution, the attitude is probably one of, "it's unstoppable, so why not make some money out of it".
It would currently be far easier to control a ban on alcohol than cannibus, however, the alcohol genie escaped from the bottle decades ago, and although alcohol has so far proven to be far more harmful than the use of cannibus, there is no realistic hope of recorking the alcoholbottle, nor stopping people from growing cannibis.

This seems to me to be a throwing up of the hands in surrender. Cannibis can be grown easily and undetectable with modern low power methods. The cost for policing it would far outweigh any resultant profits for capitialism.

That being said, this has absolutely nothing to do with any scientific or socialogical studies. It's all money driven.
The common studies which show cannibis to be detrimental to ones health hardly ever include pre-existing health problems and the amount of positive or negative effect that cannibis use accrues.
The net result may actually be benificial for a left winged socialist, or even to a moderate right winger.
The danger that I see is that it might be benificial to the extreme right to use it as a control mechanism as the North Vietnamese once did.i

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That being said, this has absolutely nothing to do with any scientific or socialogical studies. It's all money driven.

So it has nothing to do with 1% of the US adult population being in jail?


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The danger that I see is that it might be benificial to the extreme right to use it as a control mechanism as the North Vietnamese once did.

You mean like "I order you to sit on that couch and do nothing"?

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You mean like "I order you to sit on that couch and do nothing"?

I am pretty sure that unless they provided tasty snacks (munchies) with it, then that would contravene the US constitution as being cruel and unusual punishment. ;D

I do have doubts about it getting up, even in California, when the fundamentalist lot start campaigning against it, then it makes it so much harder to get anything over the line, as they do make up a pretty large block of voters.

Still, while it is out there for debate, then at least people can get the message of separating the Pot users from traditional drug traffickers, which can only be a good thing, because when enough people finally accept that, then legalisation becomes the only sensible choice left.

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You mean like "I order you to sit on that couch and do nothing"?

;D Yeah something like that.
You don't see too many bad-ass gun-totin' crack-heads on pot do you?

But I agree that it probably won't get across the line unless other states are seriously considering a similar legislation, otherwise California may become an Amsterdam-like mecca.

Let them eat da grass  :D

freediver wrote on Mar 29^th, 2010 at 10:44pm:

Passage of the measure, by no means certain...

I think they meant "definately uncertain," or to be more honest, "completely unpassable."

As if Arnie's going to legalize pot. As if any US state legislature would. It's a nice fantasy, but sadly...

It'll never happen.

Nice Dreams, Cheech & Chong.

It's great to live in a democracy - where voters can stand up and be counted, where the will of the people matters, and where majority opinion counts for more than well connected, cashed-up groups like, for example, the pharmaceutical lobby.

I hate to say it, but this "voter initiative" is no more than a -

Hallucination.

Are you aware of how the 'proposition' system works in the US?

Funny thing is, so many of the idiot potheads who supplement their incomes by selling cannabis advocating legalization are just going to get screwed over by their own demands. Keeping pot illegal artifically drives up prices which means $$$$$$$$$$. Way to f*ck over your livelihoods, idiots.

It's amazing how many idealistic pot-sellers there are out there who want it legalized. I'm amazed by it quite frankly. There have been times where I've considered selling it; I would never smoke it (waste of time and potheads are degenerates with an insufferable sub-culture) of course, but I could bank bigtime if it was kept illegal!

It is illegal, go for it Imp, I am sure you would make a heck of a dealer.
"Come buy pot off me ya degenerate scumbags, I hate you, but I love money."

The simple fact of the matter is that the arguments for keeping it illegal, are outweighed by the arguments for not doing so.

One aspect they would need to seriously look at would be the tests for intoxication whilst driving, because current testing in that area is inadequate, and driving stoned on pot is just as bad as driving drunk.
Well probably not quite as bad, but still bad enough to warrant keeping intoxicated drivers off the roads.

Maybe they could have a video game test, if you can get ten frogs into their ponds, you are safe to drive. :)
So there would be certain issues which would need to be addressed, but by and large, straight out decriminilisation is the way to go.

One positive may be a drop in violence in nightclubs, by having alcohol free zones, where patrons can smoke, but not drink, and I would confidently assert that violence would all but disappear from such venues.

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It is illegal, go for it Imp, I am sure you would make a heck of a dealer. "Come buy pot off me ya degenerate scumbags, I hate you, but I love money."

Oh come on now. What do you take me for? I'm a lot smoother than that ;D

I've talked to a few small time dealers about this very issue and they are fine with losing the income. They see what they do almost as a kind of public service. Their way of life has put them on the wrong side of the law. They do it to allow themselves and their mates to continue doing what they want to do. Obviously they like the money too, but the threat of going to jail is always hanging over them. Mostly the cops know who they are too (in the small town I am talking about). Probably the cities too. All things considered, they would rather have it legalised.

Obviously this doesn't apply to serious dealers, but they are hardly a majority. Even the small time dealers are a minority of the people who use it.

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(in the small town I am talking about).

Nimbin?

I know somebody who makes a large amount of money selling marijuana to people. I wouldn't call him a big-time dealer (he has a real job as well) but he is very precise about what he does and takes in large amounts of money from his transactions. He seems to be disdainful of potheads, particularly 'pothead culture' in general and doesn't smoke himself but just sees his venture as a business opportunity and nothing else. He tells me that the number one reason why people who sell pot get caught (or found out) is because they basically draw the attention of the authorities like a piece of honey smeared poo does to a swarm of flies. Many potheads are apparently imbeciles; bragging about their merchandise and sales and generally behaving like shady societal refuse. Does the heat tend to fall off you if you do things the right way and act like a respectable and normal member of society, or is getting under the crosshair of the authorities an inevitability?

aikmann4 wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2010 at 10:39pm:

I know somebody who makes a large amount of money selling marijuana to people. I wouldn't call him a big-time dealer (he has a real job as well) but he is very precise about what he does and takes in large amounts of money from his transactions.

Now all he's got to watch is not getting rolled by the boys.

Who would he call in? The cops?

This is weird  :o

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/GATCAATG/ZDES/sbr/weird.jpg

Tallo, you're spinning me out dude.
That'll be enough of that thankyou  ;D

tallowood wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2010 at 10:51pm:

This is weird  :o http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/GATCAATG/ZDES/sbr/weird.jpg

That's very clever photo-shopping Tallow - it looks real.  :D

I thought marijuana was legal in the States for medicinal purposes. We should do the same here for those with terminal illnesses, but legalising it would just create even more problems for our young people and clubs and pubs would exploit it.

The marijuana of yesteryear is different to the stuff being sold today. I read somewhere that the potency is 100 times greater because of the additional chemicals which is creating increasing mental illness.

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I read somewhere that the potency is 100 times greater because of the additional chemicals which is creating increasing mental illness.

You need to review where you get your facts from Mantra, what you posted is plainly untrue, and the fact that some people may believe it, does not alter the fact that it is just a lie.

The deception that whoever originally put forward the 100 times stronger line of BS will be in comparing the old hemp style of plant that was bred for making ropes and stuff in the old days, with current marijuana grown for smoking, which amounts to saying you will get more stoned smoking a joint than a front door mat, which is not really a major revelation.

That being said, they are breeding strains of marijuana to have higher content of differing "naturally" occuring chemicals that are present in marijuana, to produce different types of highs, and yes some strains are significantly stronger than some that were commonly available when you were a lassie, but as someone who was a pretty refined grower in my early days, I can tell you that we could grow very strong dope back then too.

As far as association to mental illness, I believe pot may exacerbate some pre-existing conditions, but I reamain unconvinced that it actually causes these conditions on it's own.

These days we see almost everyone as being able to be diagnosed with a mental condition if that is aim of the particular researcher.

I think one just needs to see how every unwanted behaviour display is attributed to a metal condition blamed on everything from peanut butter to petroleum, to realise that the same warnings given about marijuana could be applied to so very many other products we consume.

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If they want a real war on drugs, then they should start with religions. At least most mind altering drugs are merely a temporary delusion.  :D

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I am sure he was just kidding Tallo.

..Umm, well to an extent I was.


Breaking news: A group of marijuana effected individuals today caused public outrage when they inflicted gory injuries upon themselves in an apparent drug induced episode.
A spokeseperson from the psychiatric foundation was quoted as saying: "This evil drug must be stopped. Many onlookers, especially the children, will have lasting emotional disorders resulting from what they've witnessed today".

...more

Be sure to flick through all of the photos.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glance/1035298/christians-nail-themselves-to-cross

But think of how close to christ they felt.
I did not flick through any of the pictures thanks, I prefer my gore to be of the fake hollywood kind.

This is obviously not the fault of religion, it is just a bunch of wackos being wacky, without the aid of wacky baccy.

They did put on a hell of a show for the crowd though.

All over the world christians will have been going through sadistic rituals to commemorate jesus death, as they perceive and teach it.

I reckon the S&M brothels must do a roaring trade at this time of year, as people take "doin' it for jaysus" just that little bit farther. ;D

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This is obviously not the fault of religion, it is just a bunch of wackos being wacky, without the aid of wacky baccy.

Yeah, that's the point isn't it. They'd be wacky with or without religion, and with or without wacky baccy.
But possibly with the help of some weed, they'd be saying "Hey, how 'bout instead we just show that Gibson movie on a big screen and order in some nachos?"