Pubdate: Tue, 15 Dec 2009
Source: Union, The (Grass Valley, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Union
Contact: http://apps.theunion.com/utils/forms/lettertoeditor/
Website: http://www.theunion.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957
Author: Kyle Magin
Cited: The 2010 Tax & Regulate Cannabis Initiative 
http://www.taxcannabis2010.org/
Cited: Californians for Drug Free Youth http://www.cadfy.org/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Richard+Lee

LEGALIZING POT: VOTERS MAY DECIDE

Marijuana Measure Has Enough Signatures for 2010 Ballot in California

Pot could become legal in California if voters approve a measure next 
year allowing people to have small amounts and grow their own.

Voters will get to decide the issue after a pro-legalization group 
said Monday they have gathered enough signatures to put the 
controversial measure on the 2010 ballot.

"It should be legalized. Any adult over 18 in California should be 
able to use marijuana," said John Henry, a Nevada County resident who 
owns the Colfax-based marijuana dispensary Golden State Patient Care 
Collective.

Henry wasn't sure how the vote would affect his business. If the 
measure would allow small cultivators to sell their marijuana, Henry 
said he hoped stores like his would be allowed to sell it, because he 
has taken careful steps to comply with state laws.

Nevada County law enforcement officials could not be reached for 
comment late Monday, but both Sheriff Keith Royal and District 
Attorney Cliff Newell previously have opposed medical marijuana 
dispensaries in Nevada County.

The ballot issue would legalize possession of up to one ounce of 
marijuana for adults 21 and older. Residents could cultivate 
marijuana in gardens up to 25 square feet. City and county 
governments would determine whether to permit and tax marijuana sales 
within their borders.

A Field Poll conducted in April found that 56 percent of California 
residents supported legalizing and taxing marijuana to help bridge 
the state budget deficit.

Election officials across California must still validate and count 
the signatures before the California secretary of state officially 
places the measure on the ballot. Campaign organizers say they will 
submit more than 650,000 signatures of registered voters next month. 
That's far more than the 434,000 signatures needed to make the 
November 2010 ballot, said Richard Lee, an Oakland medical marijuana 
entrepreneur and the initiative's main backer.

"We'll keep our organizers on the street to keep the momentum going 
strong, but today we're declaring an overwhelming victory," Lee said Monday.

Still, pro-legalization advocates are divided over whether the ballot 
measure is being pushed too soon.

Marijuana is illegal under federal law. But some legal scholars have 
argued the federal government could do little to make California 
enforce the federal ban if the drug became legal under state law.

Opponents of the measure contend legalization of marijuana will lead 
to more drug abuse among minors.

"If you increase the availability of a drug, you increase its use in 
youth. If you decrease the perception of harm, you increase its use 
in youth," said John Redman, executive director of Californians for 
Drug Free Youth. "Legalizing marijuana does both."

Supporters point to provisions in the legalization measure that call 
for jail time for anyone who sells or gives marijuana to children. It 
forbids smoking pot in a public place or in front of minors.

- - The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake