Legal marijuana supporters announced Thursday (January 28) that they've compiled enough signatures to place an initiative to legalize the illegal plant for recreational use on November's ballot.
According to the Los Angeles Times, supporters have gathered around 700,000 signatures, which should guarantee that voters see it on the ballot later this year.
They needed just 433,971 valid signatures to qualify the measure.
"This is a historic first step toward ending cannabis prohibition," Richard Lee, an Oakland marijuana entrepreneur, told the paper. "I've always believed that cannabis should be taxed and regulated and that our current laws aren't working."
The initiative is known as the "Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act." If passed, it would make it legal for anyone 21 and older to possess an ounce of marijuana, and grow plants in an area no larger than 25 square feet for personal use.
But, it would also allow cities and counties to permit marijuana production and sales, and impose taxes on it.
Even if the act passes, it would still be in conflict with federal law. The Obama administration announced last year that it would not prosecute medical marijuana dispensaries that adhere to California's laws, but it has adamantly opposed efforts to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
According to the Times, polls show that nationwide support for legalization is growing. In California, the majority favors it. A Field Poll taken last April found that 56% of voters in the state and 60% in Los Angeles County want to make pot legal and tax it.
they see minorities in cali gettn paid off tha green. that want a peice of that. thats how they did alcohol an lottery. back in the day plenty blacks made good money off policy(lottery). A back man started lottery way b4 dutch schultz & lucky luchi days. Sam Young started lottery
1st good point KirkMuse-if weed was legal–alot of people wld go crazy–there are just so many other laws that wld hav 2be created–
it wldnt be cut & dry!!Remember smoking enough weed does impair your judgement 2some degree & the gov is only gonna plaY dumb UNTIL somebody dies from all of this & thats when they’ll crack dwn on all of this.
@caLi247
There has NEVER in the recorded history of the world, been a reported death related to the effects of marijuana use. I challenge you to prove me wrong but you will find those efforts futile.
Now you know what people have died from? Illegal marijuana sale robberies, territorial wars and sales gone wrong. Those would not be occurring if marijuana was legalized.
@caLi247
You’re thinking the way the government was thinking when alcohol prohibition. There are more deaths from alcohol than marijuana every year, partly because there are ZERO deaths related to marijuana use every year.
Plus, marijuana has positive effects for the human body, and alcohol doesn’t. So I really don’t understand where you’re coming from.
this is rediculous no way should it be legal there is already enough lazy people in the state you guys are kiding me you think cali is going to make money off of it. everyone is already growing it whats going to happend when you dont evan need a medical to grow it.its going to be everywhere!
Legal marijuana supporters announced Thursday (January 28) that they've compiled enough signatures to place an initiative to legalize the illegal plant for recreational use on November's ballot.
