Posted on 10/09/2009 11:37:41 PM PDT by Rotten Stinking Moderate
SAN FRANCISCO – Marijuana advocates are gathering signatures to get as many as three pot-legalization measures on the ballot in 2010 in California, setting up what could be a groundbreaking clash with the federal government over U.S. drug policy.
At least one poll shows voters would support lifting the pot prohibition, which would make the state of more than 38 million the first in the nation to legalize marijuana.
Such action would also send the state into a headlong conflict with the U.S. government while raising questions about how federal law enforcement could enforce its drug laws in the face of a massive government-sanctioned pot industry.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Hogue used to have a morning show in Sacramento and he can, from time to time, provide thoughtful commentary on our freak show of a legislative process. And, unlike a thousand or so local businesses in the Sacramento area, he knows how to correctly spell "Capitol". I have a special contempt for those who cannot.
The first topic raised by Hogue during his show was new initiative that would legalize marijuana in the California. If the proponents can gather the necessary signatures, the initiative should be on the ballot next year.
This initiative would legalize up to one ounce of marijuana ONLY in local areas that choose to legalize, tax, and regulate the use in their communities. There are other specifics, but this should suffice for now.
As a pragmatic libertarian type, I was expecting to hear the same reactionary anti-drug rhetoric that is typical whenever this topic is raised.
Proponent: "Pot is no more dangerous than alcohol. You never see a stoned guy beating his wife... blah, blah, blah."
Opponent: "Pot is a gateway drug, do we really want to send this message to our children... blah, blah, blah."
I was surprised to hear a series of calls from listeners - all conservatives - that were supportive of the initiative in broad terms. Meaning, they were supportive of the concept.
I was encouraged by the discussion not because I like to smoke pot - those days are behind me and I don't have time to be baked with a mentally challenging career, an 11 month old, and a baby on the way. Besides... I have a huge lawn. It would NEVER get mowed if I were stoned and then I would be THAT NEIGHBOR (you know who you are).
I was encouraged because it was the first time in a long time that I heard Republicans take a thoughtful approach to an issue that could easily be approached with the same old tired logic.
This is what I heard:
1. Why not let the state legalize pot and tax it? It would help address the budget deficit and keep taxes low for the rest of us.
2. We have clearly lost the war on prohibition, why not redirect those law enforcement funds to more pressing issues like monitoring sex offenders and enforcing laws that protect people and property?
3. Pot is supposedly a $14 billion industry in California alone. If we are anti-crime why would we continue to support a policy that directs $14 billion to drug cartels and gangs and helps to fund violent criminal enterprise?
4. Isn't this an issue of personal freedom and don't we invite the government further into our lives when we support this type of policy?
5. We have overcrowded prisons in California, we would save a considerable amount of money through legalization and we could avoid having to let other criminals out of jail (as is being proposed in CA).
Even if you stack up all of the concerns with the legalization of marijuana, these arguments clearly prevail.
I was encouraged to hear callers from a very conservative audience, one of them was even devout LDS, addressing this issue in such an enlightened manner.
It's time to get past the tired old arguments that have trapped us in prohibition. Lets all get over it... let people smoke pot if they want. Why do you even care?
-- Rotten Stinking Moderate
I’d support this. What better way to show that the GOP actually believes in small government that isn’t intrusive than by supporting a proposal that restricts government power?
Hey, Cali is going down in flames, might as well get high and enjoy the ride.
Yeah, man.
Legalize it to assert states’ rights and individual rights, but tax it? Come on man, only a Democrat would think of that.
if it gets all the CA liberals morons back home to Ca - sure
And Virginia can grow it for them! hey, they already grow tobacco, which the Dems see as “bad”, so replace them plants with the hemp, sell it to California and profit off their fickle and hypocritical sensibilities...
Personally I don’t care. Although I think it’s the most negligible issue out there.
"But, if we legalize it, what do we do for fun and money?!"
But another reason to legalize it is that kids now are smoking pot that has been grown with harsh Mexican insecticides and herbicides. Smoking these chemicals right into the bloodstream is hazardous to say the least. If it's legal we could at least have safe organic marijuana.
We could do pretty well with that pot tax in CA. My favorite reason!
Just remind me to stay off the 405 on weekend evenings...
Because it makes it legal for LE to steal/tax the public for "enforcement" funds, and also enables them to steal from the criminals they created!
It's freakin win win buddy! Until the criminals they create get too large, too well armed,and too violent for them to want to deal with.
So our "choice" is to accept the status quo until ms13 starts beheading cops. Then they will consider ending this unconstitutional prohibition.
And they would all be to stoned to remember to vote. This may not be a bad thing!
It’s only illegal because of nanny-state liberals (who were also behind Prohibition BTW), Bible thumpers, and the timber industry who would lose alot of money if hemp was used instead of timber and fibers in the papermaking industry. Pot has never done much for me, and I’ve given it plenty of opportunities. But then again, I’ve never enjoyed whiskey much either. And whiskey is far more dangerous than pot. Vice laws and vice cops are beyond reprehensible.
I see you’re a newby who just signed up today, so I’ll assume you’re a pot advocate who is lobbying us? Fine with me, and I liked your story (made up or not?), and I hope you can work to get some signatures for this initiative.
I apologize if you are not a pot-troll, but someone who actually wants to be active on FR. If so, welcome.
In case you are for real, then have you thought about becoming a signature collector for this idea? I had more to say, but have lost track of time and memory, and things seem to be moving slow. . .well, maybe just one more bowl.
p.s. Have you seen the Youtube video Weed Card by a cute duo named Garfunkel and Oates? A pretty good song and presentation.
Yeah, man what? Is that your way of being dismissive because you don’t have a valid argument against the initiative?
Just checking.
Taxing it would simply cause it to be treated the same as any other good in California. It would have a sales tax applied.
For the record, conservatives should support the sales tax in California because it is the alternative to higher property taxes (we have low property tax). A sales tax is one of the only regressive taxes in CA... its the only way we get the 50% of people who don’t pay CA income taxes to carry their share of the burden (since that same 50% enjoys the vast majority of the state funded services).
NO - we don’t want them back. Can we send them to NY or Jersey or something? We have enough!
This product cries out for a Value Added Tax! Just kidding.
The WOSD (War on Some Drugs), and its oppressive child "asset forfeiture", is primarily the result of marijuana prohibition. Had enforcement been contained to more dangerous "delusion-o-gen" drugs like PCP and probably meth, which are far less popular, the WOSD wouldn't ever have reached its current proportions, with its concomitant expansion of routine government abuse of citizens.
"Legalize it."
I was being a bit snarky in my original reply, but seriously, we should not be offering up any additional taxes until we see a complete restructuring of the California State Gov’t.
We are in this precarious financial condition because of the state employee unions,cretinous liberal legislators, and the failure of the Federal Government to enforce the sovereignty of our borders.
It’s like withholding booze from an alcoholic, you only enable them if you give them more.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.