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Activists Think Time is Right To Legalize Pot
Marijuana advocates circulate petitions despite apparent backlash
12-11-07|Press Democrat|By Glenda Anderson

Lake County marijuana advocates are circulating petitions to create a statewide ballot initiative to legalize marijuana, despite an apparent public backlash against the abuses associated with growing it for medicinal uses.

The proposed initiative, which won state approval for circulation late last week, would prohibit marijuana's use for anyone under the age of 21 unless it was for medical reasons.

It also would bar anyone from being subjected to state criminal or civil penalties for the possession, cultivation, transportation, distribution or recreational use of marijuana.

Use of marijuana, however, would remain in conflict with federal laws prohibiting its use.

While outright legalization of pot has been tried before, proponents of the California Cannabis Hemp and Health Initiative of 2008 are optimistic.

"We're going to pass it. I guarantee it," said Eddy Lepp, a co-author of the initiative. He is known to pot activists worldwide for his advocacy, which resulted in his arrest for growing 32,500 marijuana plants in plain sight along a Lake County highway in August 2004. The case is pending.

The petition needs 433,971 signatures by registered voters -- representing 5 percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election -- to make it on the ballot.

Clearlake Oaks resident Jack Herer, the initiative's primary author, has been trying unsuccessfully to qualify similar measures for ballots in California, Oregon, Alaska and Washington since the early 1970s.

He said people will vote for it if he can convince them of its benefits, which he claims include adding several years to the average life span.

Herer and Lepp also worked successfully on California's Proposition 215, the 1996 voter-approved law that legalized marijuana for medicinal use.

But even marijuana proponents question whether a measure legalizing marijuana for all uses could pass today.

"I don't see majority support for legalization of marijuana at this time," said Dale Gieringer, the Northern California coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML.

NORML is not supporting the initiative, he said.

Mendocino County Supervisor Mike Delbar noted the backlash against marijuana cultivation makes support for total legalization unlikely.

"I seriously doubt whether Proposition 215 could pass today given what voters know versus what they think they voted for originally," he said.

"A lot of people couldn't argue with making available marijuana as a medicine for those who are gravely ill. What they didn't expect was the rampant exploitation of the law that we're living with now."

Proposition 215 has led to a proliferation of backyard marijuana gardens where law enforcement officials say pot is grown not for medical use but commercial sale.

They said pot enterprises attract crime, such as last week's Santa Rosa home-invasion robbery that resulted in the shooting death of a 20-year-old man and the arrests of several others for possession of more than 300 pounds of processed marijuana.

Pot gardens also attract complaints about pungent, skunklike odors.

Cities and counties throughout California are struggling with ordinances aimed at controlling marijuana cultivation and associated problems.

Ukiah officials Wednesday made it a misdemeanor to violate its ordinance against growing pot outdoors, and Mendocino County supervisors next week will consider limiting the number of plants grown per parcel.

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Victor_vicious

I have been anticipating some more news of this proposal. Does anyone have a copy of the initative? There has to be a reason why The National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws wouldn't support this proposal. I would like to know what it is. Please, some one that has the initiative post it pm it to me. I saw some objections to the Massachusettes proposal.
We have to be able to sit down with each other and stop ego's?? from getting in the way. There has to be a reasonable way to propose legalization. VV

hash pancakes

I haven't seen a copy of this either, once we do we'll probably see why Norml isn't backing it. I think we need to iron out the kinks in Prop 215 & SB420 before there can be any effective legalization laws, ones that actually might pass. It's like any prescription drug in the sense of being sold over-the-counter after a period of time, once it's safety is proven. Or a smaller dosage is available to the public without a Rx. Medical Mj is getting alot of mixed viewpoints as far as the media is concerned, there's other influences to consider here. It's already bad enough, the damages done in our parks & wilderness areas. I'm concerned that it could only encourage more of this if it becomes a free-for-all, which is already happening. I am glad that somebody is atleast trying to put some kind of proposal together.

disheartenedwamerica

If someone can find the proposal can you please post the link here, I think everyone with any interest at all in this type of legislation would like to see it.

Buzzby

I suspect that NORML would prefer that the limited resources of their organization not be wasted on the support of an issue that has little chance of passing. Racking up failures is not good for the movement. "They couldn't pass legalization, even in California. Why should we waste our time working for it in [name a state]."

Illegal pot enterprises attract crime. This has nothing to do with marijuana, it has everything to do with prohibition. Illegal enterprises are perfect targets for criminals because the victims have no recourse to law enforcement to protect them or to apprehend the thugs who attack them.

If people could pick up an oz at 7/11 at a reasonable price, they'd be far less inclined to growing in their backyards.

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Lothar121

As Buzzby said, they don't want to support a too broadly worded initiative. I believe a read a draft of this a few months ago and I wouldn't be surprised if the wording is the same. It is too far reaching to include cultivation all at once imo. Now is not the right time to push for legalization in California, but I wish them luck.

Oh yeah, there is nothing worth objecting to with the Massachusetts initiative. Everyone should get behind it if you support lessening pot penalties.

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Lit_Match

Here's the link to view the proposal in text.

Sign the Petition to Let Marijuana Producers and Distributors Pay Taxes

Viper420

I say "Go for it". What could it hurt? If not now, then when? Try it and see. If the public doesn't like that bill, find out what made it unattractive to the voter and tweak it to suit the voter.

Shammond

Carrie Leigh’s NUDE Magazine’s investigative article examines all aspects, politics, studies and the questionable history regarding the legalization behind medical marijuana. I just read this one of a kind investigative article online and learned more than I ever learned, about the politics behind the law. For those who really want to know the truth take the time read the article, here’s the link. www.carrieleigh.com/articles.

[Mod note : Cross-posting violates posting guidelines, turbo-posting infraction issued]

Madamayo

Because everyone knows then the government would actually have to go somewhere in the legalization process.


Wait, doesn't that involve legalizing marijuana? You know they don't want to. If marijuana actually were legal, there would be safe places that you could buy it, called stores. Due to the legalization, price would drop dramatically, considering anything black-market is greatly overpriced. You also wouldn't have people being exposed to other, more dangerous drugs, situations, and people. But once again, that involves legalizing marijuana, and god knows, the government is TOTALLY against that.

Thanks, have a nice day.

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