Pubdate: Sun, 01 May 2016
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248
Author: Phil Willon

STATE GOP SAYS NO TO POT

A proposal to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in 
California isn't getting much love from state Republicans.

An influential California Republican Party committee on Saturday 
voted to oppose a proposed statewide ballot measure, known as the 
Adult Use Act, which would allow those 21 and older to possess and 
use up to an ounce of pot.

A proponent of the marijuana measure had urged the committee to 
remain neutral, but members instead voted to oppose. The full state 
GOP membership, meeting in Burlingame for their spring convention, 
will vote Sunday on whether to support that measure and others 
expected to be on the November ballot.

Nate Bradley, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry 
Assn., told the committee that the initiative would tightly regulate 
the use, sale and production of the state's billiondollar marijuana 
industry, taking it off the black market and out of the shadows.

"What we're trying to do is control a product that's here now," 
Bradley said. "This is about fixing a broken policy."

Republican state Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber adamantly opposed the 
measure, telling the committee that marijuana was an "entry-level" 
drug that leads to addiction.

"We must not turn this plague loose on our children and the people of 
California," Nielsen told Bradley.

The senator also took a shot at one of the main proponents of the 
Adult Use Act, Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom has announced 
a 2018 bid for governor.

"Let's not give Gavin Newsom another plank," Nielsen said.

The measure would impose a 15% tax on retail sales of cannabis and 
require the state to regulate the cultivation, distribution and sale 
of recreational marijuana. Supporters include former Facebook 
President Sean Parker, one of the initiative's leading financial backers.

The measure is expected to be on the November general election 
ballot, though proponents are still gathering the necessary 
qualifying signatures.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom