Pubdate: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 Source: Campus, The (College of the Sequoias, Edu) Contact: http://www.coscampusonline.com/letter-to-the-editor Copyright: 2010 The Campus Website: http://www.coscampusonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5135 Author: Diane Diniz CANNABIS ROLLED UP IN BALLOT Marijuana Is Becoming Part of Our Culture. Hope for marijuana supporters and consumers in California has reached an all time high with the "Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act" initiative on the path for the November ballot. The first step in ending the ban on marijuana, which is getting the required amount of signatures, has almost reached 700,000 and only about 433,000 are needed. Getting on the November ballot will be a milestone for the supporters of marijuana legalization. The "Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act 2010," states that people 21 years and older can possess, grow, share, and transport marijuana for personal use. Smoking in front of minors or possessing it on school grounds, driving while inebriated, or smoking in public are all prohibited under the measure relating to the Health and Safety Codes. Recent surveys reveal that the United States has the strictest laws and ironically the largest amount of marijuana consumers, 5.4 million of those are estimated to smoke 300 times a year, which is almost every day. Although pot is not addictive, a tolerance can be built up and indulgence can be extreme. It has fewer harmful effects than alcohol or cigarettes, which are legalized everywhere, and there's no connection between violent offensive crimes and the usage of pot. Marijuana is becoming part of our culture, if not to be used for a medical condition, then to give pleasure to those who use it. It's becoming more accepted and in some areas, the norm. Reform would be needed to permit the Act to be implemented, such as allowing people, 21 and older, or those with a medical condition, to consume cannabis. Current state laws, the "Compassionate Use Act" of 1996 and Proposition 215 in the Health and Safety Codes, are what allow people with medical conditions that can range from migraines to AIDS, from anemia to glaucoma, the use of marijuana now. A doctor must deem it appropriate and provide a prescription for the patient, as well as all the appropriate licenses to utilize it. Enforcement of state laws relating to public health and safety of children would not be affected by the initiative, but certain aspects of the use of marijuana, such as growing or possessing it, will be relieved of state and local laws. Police could stop wasting their time on arresting "non-violent" marijuana users and the money wasted on keeping these people locked up can be saved or used for a better cause. The release of criminals because of lack of space could be prevented and the back up of court systems due to petty crimes, like marijuana offenses, could be alleviated. The state could save money on the costs to run anti-marijuana programs, which could in turn be re-directed back into police resources to keep real criminals in jail. The Act is meant to benefit Californians as it intends to rid crime by putting marijuana dealers on the streets out of business by "establishing legal, regulated sales outlets," to sell marijuana just like alcohol and cigarettes, which would in turn be taxed creating revenue for the state. It is estimated that over 15 billion dollars of marijuana transactions are made each year illegally. For California cities, that would legalize and tax marijuana a firm legal system would be set up to regulate cultivation and sales, but all regulations would have to follow the Health and Safety Codes. However, if a city does not want to tax marijuana, residents can still use it within the Codes' limits. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake