Link to article

Of course, this was a political move (fiscal), but it's a good step in the right direction. Now all the other states need to hurry the fuck up.

Always good to see another step in the right direction.

Weird, I figured CA would have already had something like this since we already do in MA. Good news.

Now, can they make the big jump on the ballot initiative this Nov? Will this decriminalization effect that vote negatively at all?

Nothing more than a try to stop Prop 19. It might even work...

How do you figure?

WS

Well, Schwarzenegger is against Prop 19, so its logical, that he trys to stop it by making a babystep into the right direction so undecided people can say "Well, i think decriminalization is fine...now that we have it, we won't need to go all the way"

I live in LA & if that was the case no one would care about full legalization anyway
Cops here are not going to hassle you for weed unless you have a bushel of it, or your driving 200mph tossing flaming babies out the windows.

It does happen of course, but most people in CA that get busted for weed, were caught doing something much more illegal and/or dangerous & happened to have weed with them at the time...so they get busted on that too.
If your sitting, smoking at a starbucks & a cop happens to show up & your blowing smoke in his face...you might get hassled a bit.

(actually watched that happen one day, the smoker was just being a dick! The cop went over & said "hey can you put that out, there are kids here", didn't even ask to see his card!! The dude was like "man I got my rights" & blew smoke in the cops face. So he got arrested & it looked like he had some bags of powder with him too... that is the current mind set of most cops here. At least in LA. )

No to mention having a medicinal card pretty much gives you the same rights as legalizing would, there are differences, and you have to go get a script from a doc, but that took $75 & all of about 10 minutes....
I am legal to have up to 3 ounces & grow up to (i think) 6 plants already now & I'm still planning on voting in Nov!!
And so are most people I know!


If anything, this will help to convince the people who were on the "pot-is-the-devil-cause-its-against-the-law" side that it really isn't going to cause rapists to break into their home once weed is legalized.


WS

Exactly, WSaged.

Obliguhl, I don't think the governor privately disagrees with the outright legalization for it; there are videos online of him partaking. Maybe he is against Prop 19 because of the big business aspect of it? I've heard from legalization advocates that the bill is horrible (but there is the other half saying it is a step in the right direction, so who cares?). I don't live there so I haven't really delved into Prop 19 and I'm unsure of what to think of the bill.

Maybe you are right. I'm not into politics, i just want this bullshit to end.

Or he thinks that in the wake of this, steroïds could also become legal.

hahahahaha




True.

Agree with WS. In LA as well and that's pretty much all true (except with the script, you can have 6 flowering plants AND 6 in vegetation - 12 total).

One point:

Guys, Prop 19 should NOT be supported because it only makes matters more complicated. No one seems to address one MAJOR concern:

Okay, now the State of California can legally tax the product. How, exactly, does one report this on the FEDERAL level (where it is still illegal)?

HELLO

Given the passage of Prop 19, a law abiding seller of marijuana would be LEGALLY required to pay state taxes. ALSO, required to report the income on a federal level. HOWEVER, how can they report federal taxes when they are essentially admitting (on a federal level) a serious crime.

Ehhhhh, I just see more headaches.

The ONE possible silver lining: the passage of Prop 19 COULD force the issue to the high court and eventually the Supreme Court (if they choose to hear arguments).

--
K

you can't be serious...you're missing out on the larger picture

Which is?

To slowly try to end the War on Drugs EVERYWHERE by Legalizing not by Decriminalizing.

The effects of prop 19 go beyond just California. They even go beyond USA.

Agreed, I understand the larger ramifications. This does not, however, negate the fact that Prop 19 will only complicate matters (which was my only point).

As I pointed out, the passage of Prop 19 would likely force recognition of the subject by the higher court. That, in and of itself, is good and progress in the right direction.

That said, my point was that Prop 19 was not well-written and will only complicate the issue. I am 100% in favor of the decriminalization/legalization of ALL drugs. We should, tho, at least attempt to write it well.

--
K

i had read a statistic recently about the issue with federal vs. state laws.
apparently only 1% of arrests for Cannabis are federal and 99% are state.
so even if there are complications with federal laws, it should still be light years less harmful.

this sugests that most arrests are either of users or small dealers. I mean, i don't see the FBI or DEA hunting for potheads or streetdealers like they don't have anything more important to do.
This also sugests that only a very few big maffia-type criminals are being arrested, in relation to the streetdealers and potheads.

You would almost start thinking that organised crime has some fingers in the governments big pie....