Pubdate: Tue, 28 Sep 2010
Source: Arcata Eye (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Arcata Eye
Contact:  http://www.arcataeye.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1210
Author: Daniel Mintz, Eye Correspondent
Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19)

COUNTY REPS OPPOSE PROP 19

HUMBOLDT - The November ballot measure that will allow counties to 
regulate marijuana and gain tax revenue from its sale is opposed by 
the state association that represents counties.

At the Sept. 14 Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Mark 
Lovelace reported that the board of the California State Association 
of Counties (CSAC) voted to oppose Proposition 19, the Regulate, 
Control and Tax Cannabis Act, the previous week.

Lovelace explained that a majority of CSAC board members believe 
Prop. 19 falls short on defining regulation. "The board took a 
position to oppose mostly due to the uncertainty as to what it will 
really mean," he said.

That action follows a similar one by the board of the California 
League of Cities last July.

Although in the minority of county representatives that voted to 
support Prop. 19, Lovelace said he also sees problems with it. "I can 
certainly understand why a lot of the supervisors would have taken 
that position because effectively, what this does is, it says let's 
legalize it first and we'll figure out how to regulate it later."

Proposition 19 allows anyone 21 years old or older to possess up to 
an ounce of cannabis and cultivate it for personal use in a 
25-square-foot area. It also conditionally allows its commercial sale.

The measure does not describe a specific regulatory process for 
commercial activity. Instead, it allows cities and counties to adopt 
ordinances that would set forth the rules for cultivation, 
distribution and taxable retail sales. It would remain illegal to buy 
it and sell it in cities and counties that choose not to regulate it.

Leaving the rule-making up to local governments has been a target of 
Prop 19 criticism. "There is no regulatory framework - that provides 
a tremendous amount of uncertainty and discomfort for a lot of 
folks," said Lovelace.

He added that "it's just impossible to know, it's entirely conjecture 
as to how it will be implemented.

But Lovelace said he nonetheless supports Prop 19 because "it creates 
the opportunity to get at those issues."

He also said the CSAC board agrees that "the current situation isn't 
working, prohibition didn't work, things have to change and what 
needs to happen is that it needs to be legalized concurrently with a 
full regulatory framework."

That can only happen "if the legislature takes this up themselves," 
Lovelace continued.

Prop 19 would allow the state legislature to define regulations for 
commercial production of marijuana whether cities and counties do it 
or not. Lovelace said the CSAC board voted to recommend that the 
legislature deal with regulation.

Though not mentioned by Lovelace in his report, another aspect of 
uncertainty is the effect of federal law. Proposition 19's taxation 
provision requires licensed marijuana distributors to pay all taxes, 
including federal taxes, but it's unclear how that can be done for 
sales of a substance that the feds say is in the same category as 
cocaine and heroin.

A state Legislative Analyst Office summary of Prop 19 states that 
federal prosecution would interfere with the measure's goals. "Thus, 
the revenue and expenditure impacts of this measure are subject to 
significant uncertainty," according to the LAO summary.

But it also states that if a commercial marijuana industry is 
successfully established, state and local governments could 
"eventually collect hundreds of millions of dollars annually" in 
additional revenues.

Also of note, the measure does not change the penalties for providing 
marijuana to minors. But it sets forth an amendment to current law, 
stating that anyone 21 years old or older who furnishes marijuana to 
18- to 20-year-olds could be jailed for up to six months or fined up to $1,000. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake