Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 2010
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Donald G. Pellinen
Contact:  http://www.mercurynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Donald G. Pellinen

SEVERAL REASONS TO SUPPORT PROP. 19

Recent polls show only a narrow lead for Proposition 19, the 
initiative that would legalize personal use and possession of modest 
amounts of marijuana for people over 21. I am not a marijuana user, 
but this puzzles me, since there are a host of reasons for supporting it.

The legal sale and use of marijuana will: 1) generate California tax 
revenue instead of revenue for foreign drug organizations; 2) shift 
production and distribution from unscrupulous criminals to 
law-abiding businesses; 3) limit sales to minors because, like 
alcohol, sales can be monitored and rules enforced; 4) reduce crime 
because business disputes can be addressed with courts, not guns; 5) 
increase the product safety of a widely used substance that is 
currently unregulated; and 6) alleviate prison overcrowding and 
redirect law enforcement resources to dangerous crimes.

Donald G. Pellinen

Livermore
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