Pubdate: Wed, 29 Jun 2016
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/0n4cG7L1
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Jim Miller

CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION MEASURE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

Election Officials Qualified the Initiative Based on a Random Sample 
of 606,520 Signatures Submitted in May

Supporters Say Legalization Will Improve Upon an "Ineffective System 
of Prohibition"

Law Enforcement Opponents Have Been Heavily Outraised So Far

Californians' November ballot will include an initiative to legalize 
the recreational use of marijuana, with the coming campaign likely to 
reverberate nationwide given the state's size and implications for 
similar efforts elsewhere.

A random sample of more than 606,000 signatures turned in by 
supporters last month cleared the required threshold, according to an 
updated tally posted Tuesday by the Secretary of State's Office.

"Today marks a fresh start for California, as we prepare to replace 
the costly, harmful and ineffective system of prohibition with a 
safe, legal and responsible adult-use marijuana system that gets it 
right and completely pays for itself," Jason Kinney, a spokesman for 
California's Adult Use of Marijuana Act, said in a statement.

The fall measure comes six years after the narrow defeat of 
Proposition 19, another pot legalization initiative. Unlike that 
effort, the latest initiative has the support of multiple groups and 
officials, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, with major financial 
backing from billionaire entrepreneur Sean Parker.

Various law enforcement groups oppose legalization but have been 
heavily outraised so far.

Tuesday's qualifications bring to 12 the number of measures set to go 
before voters this fall, with election officials continuing to check 
signatures turned in by supporters of another six proposed 
initiatives. Thursday is the qualification deadline.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom