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Legalization of marijuana ad touted as CA budget fix while FL has harshest laws in USA-Wake up FL
07/09/09 | Examiner.com | Cheryl Avins Smith



The Marijuana Policy Project began running an ad campaign touting the legalization of marijuana as a way to help California dig their way out of their current budget crisis. The 30 second spot features a 58 year old school teacher, Nadene Herndon who points out that taxes could help offset cuts faced by schools, health care and police:

"We have a major problem in California with our budget," said Herndon, 58, a former state analyst who started eating marijuana-infused treats after a series of strokes three years ago left her with shoulder spasms. "We need to explore other alternatives." Source: Sacramento Bee

California is one of 13 states that have legalized medical use of marijuana beginning in 1996. In 2004, California expanded the program to allow patients to cultivate marijuana plants collectively. Over the last six months, the number of dispensaries has grown exponentially. The City of Sacramento alone has 30 such distribution centers. The growth of these pot stores has been attributed to the Obama Administration's promise not to prosecute dispensaries as long as they adhere to state laws.

Seems like pretty exciting times for advocates of ending marijuana prohibition. Not if you live in Florida. Sadly, Florida's legislature did not see fit to include any marijuana policy reform on their recent legislative agenda.

"Although President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have both stated that the federal government will no longer expend resources interfering with state medical marijuana laws, Florida legislators have yet to catch on to what modern scientific research, the public, and at least 13 other states already know — sick and dying patients do not belong behind bars for using medicine that has been recommended by a doctor. Please contact your legislators today and ask them to introduce medical marijuana legislation next session." Source: MMP.org

Not only does Florida possess the harshest marijuana laws in the nation, but at a time when most of the nation is coming to the conclusion that perhaps its time to ease off the penalties with regard to marijuana, Florida upped the ante:

" On June 17, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed into law HB173/SB390, which carelessly lumps real drug dealers and small time offenders into the same category by creating the ridiculous judicial presumption that as few as 25 marijuana plants — one-fourth the amount the federal government considers a trafficking threshold — makes one a "drug trafficker." Florida already had the dubious honor of having the nation's harshest marijuana possession laws — less than 20 grams can land you in jail for a year and cost you $1,000. Even worse, possession of more than 20 grams is a felony. This new law puts Florida even further ahead of the draconian pack as the Sunshine State can now claim a trafficking standard 4 times as tough as the federal government's!" Source: MMP.org

Whether or not the push for outright legalization of marijuana in California is successful is anyone's guess. however between the success of the medical marijuana program and the current budgetary disaster, it certainly seems like the stage is set. In May, Governor Schwarzenegger stated that "it's time for California to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use". That's a pretty strong statement for a Republican Governor to make and those in favor of legalization are pulling out all the stops to continue the momentum that is building.

The timing of the Marijuana Policy Project's ad couldn't be better. Other states facing similar revenue shortfalls should watch carefully to see if California decides to pull the trigger on this much debated issue. If they do, they would become the first state brave enough to stop the hypocrisy that continues to exist with regard to prohibition in this country.

Economically, statistics are so one sided in pointing out the cost benefit analysis regarding legalization that 500 of our country's top economists were moved to sign an open letter to the President in support of legalization of marijuana:

"We, the undersigned, call your attention to the attached report by Professor Jeffrey A. Miron, The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. The report shows that marijuana legalization -- replacing prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation -- would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like most consumer goods. If, however, marijuana were taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually." Source: About.com

The Marijuana Policy Project takes a very pragmatic approach in their arguments for legalization of marijuana:

1.Prohibition does not work.

2.They would rather see a regulated industry with standards and guidelines rather than leaving it up to drug dealers and cartels as it is today.

3. With 40% of all arrests in this country related to marijuana, (over 870,000 users and growers) the police have much more important things to do.1.Prohibition does not work.


As for Florida, a local group called People United For Medical Marijuana (PUFMM) is currently circulating a petition to place a medical marijuana question on the 2010 statewide ballot. PUFFM will need to collect 676,881 valid signatures to present the question to voters.(If you are interested in signing the petition, you can click on their link above) We can only hope that enough people can convince our legislators that people who are sick and in pain shouldn't be penalized for using a substance that eases that pain. It's the last thing they should have to worry about.

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Vicki

Once again, confirming how screwed up this state really is, and always has been as long as I have ever known. They do everything backwards ass here, I swear to God.

Charlie Crist is an idiot too. He seems to be using Florida as a stepping stone to the Senate, and he's screwing up a lot of stuff on his way there. For example, lowering property taxes to the point that schools and local governments are now suffering due to lack of funds. Now, there is a proposal to raise property taxes back up. Why don't they just say they are fixing Crist's screw up. That is just one example.


If you live in Florida, please sign this petition and help it be known that we think these laws are unfair.

Exactly. Why should I be punished for using Cannabis, responsibly, as medicine? Frankly, I'm sick of worrying about it.

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LeThZe

I didn't think our drug laws were that harsh. Like in Georgia 1 gram is felony and in Florida you can have up to 20g and it's a misdemeanor. There's even the story where the guy got 12 years in prison for having .oo5g on him. I think that was in Kentucky.

cj117

Would I be wrong in assuming that these harsh laws in Florida are due to the ratio of rich retired old white people to minorities?

Furthermore, shouldn't all these old retired people be smoking weed? =P

Vicki

Well, I fall into neither of those categories, and neither does Charlie Crist.

Buzzby

In Georgia, possession of less than an ounce is a misdemeanor carrying no fine and probation for the first offense.

In Kentucky, less than 8 ounces is a misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $500 fine.

I get no hits on Google for '("12 years" OR "twelve years") ".005 grams" marijuana' that relate to a sentence for a marijuana crime

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BudSmoker92

Laws in Florida blow. It sucks having laws like that hovering over you. Ill be spreading the word around about the petition for sure. I live in Jacksonville and there are a ton of smokers here that would sign that in a heartbeat.

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Restricted

Ehh.. Florida isn't as bad as this article claims. Been living here all my life, been smoking weed around 12 or 13 years and I have never been arrested. In fact, I have gotten pulled over once with about 14 grams and I had just got done smoking in the car and the officer just took the weed and let me go.

Yeah we have alot of older conservatives that make the laws here, but Florida is known to be a party state. I have smoked in public at many a beach, concert, park ect and never had a problem.

My next door neighbor is an Orlando Police Officer and he said he could give 2 fucks about weed. He said hes much more worried about coke and drunk drivers.

Plus I have noticed that other states in the south (Mainly Tennessee and Georgia) were way more sketchy when it comes to weed the multiple times I have been.

Just my opinion atleast...

Vicki

Well, some people may be "public" about their cannabis use here in Florida, but I am not. I know that having over 20 grams is a felony, and they have mandatory sentences in Florida.

Florida - NORML


Mandatory minimum sentence: When someone is convicted of an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence, the judge must sentence the defendant to the mandatory minimum sentence or to a higher sentence. The judge has no power to sentence the defendant to less time than the mandatory minimum. A prisoner serving an MMS for a federal offense and for most state offenses will not be eligible for parole. Even peaceful marijuana smokers sentenced to "life MMS" must serve a life sentence with no chance of parole.

Passage

I believe that was actually in the UAE.

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