Californians quitting pills, coke with cannabis
Bay Area residents are enrolling in twelve-step-like classes that use cannabis to quit heroin, pills, cigarettes, alcohol, and other addictive substances, defying decades of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous tradition.
Fate of legal, Cali chron in hands of soccer moms, AARP
The November 2010 election in California will feature at least one notable ballot initiative: a proposal to tax and regulate personal use of cannabis. Oakland organization Tax and Regulate Cannabis 2010 reports turning in over 700,000 signatures from California voters, all but qualifying the them for the statewide ballot. Remember to register to vote, kiddies. Seriously, calendar it. [TRC]
Hearings: Cash, Violence, DUIs, & Mexicans to follow legalization in California
That’s the word from anti-legalization advocates in Sacramento yesterday, where a legalization bill came up for debate. The juiciest parts of The Chronicle’s story:
... The State Board of Equalization estimated that excise, sales and income taxes combined would bring in $1 billion to $1.4 billion … and an official with the state attorney general’s office said there was a real possibility that legalization would empower Mexican cartels and drug trafficking operations in the state. ...
Because there’s nothing more empowering than having your entire illicit business taken away. [Chronicle]
Legalizing it at the country club [CalCann2010]
California cannabis law reformers CalCann2010 hit the country club farmer’s market crowd this weekend, scufflin’ with cops and gathering signatures for their long-shot ballot initiative. It’s less efficient than paying $3 million to pro petitioners, but more colorful. From the CalCann2010 email blast:
... When three armed Sheriff’s officers showed up I again stood my ground and after a bit they agreed I was right except that the ironing board had to go. ...
Full diary after the jump.
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?
