Legal Pot Initiative Clear for Signature-Gathering in CA.
There are now four pushes to legalize possession and growth of non-medicinal cannabis in California. Three at the ballot box and one in the legislature. The first and most idealistic initiative out of the gate, the California Cannabis Initiative, spearheaded by three defense attorneys in NorCal, has just got its Official Title and Summary from the State Attorney General, and it reads as follows:
1374. (09-0022) Changes California Law to Legalize, Regulate, and Tax Marijuana. Initiative Statute.
Repeals state laws that make it a crime for people 21 years old or older to use, possess, sell, cultivate, or transport marijuana or industrial hemp, except laws that make it a crime to drive while impaired or to contribute to the delinquency of a minor.
Expunges state convictions based on the repealed marijuana-related laws.
Requires state and local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of marijuana.
Requires taxes to be spent on education, healthcare, environmental programs, public works, and state parks.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Savings in the several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments on the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Unknown but potentially major new excise, income, and sales tax revenues related to the production and sale of marijuana products. (09-0022.)
Now, CalCann2010 has to get upwards of 450,000 signatures in 150 days with an all-volunteer effort. And keep in mind, historically, fewer than 10 percent of all initiatives gather enough signatures to reach the ballot. And only eight percent of those on the ballot pass.
This week, the East Bay Express should run an analysis of the three competing ballot measures and state bill. So keep us bookmarked, eh?
