Pubdate: Tue, 28 Sep 2010
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Authors: Dick Ackerman and Sandy Hutchens
Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19)

PROP. 19: WE SHOULD SAY NO TO LEGAL MARIJUANA

Proposition 19 is entitled "The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis 
Act of 2010." In truth, it does none of these. Let us show you just 
how flawed and misleading the ballot initiative is.

Among the unintended consequences of Prop. 19, employees will be able 
to show up to work under the influence of marijuana while being 
within their legal rights.

That's right, truck drivers, fork lift operators, school bus drivers, 
doctors, nurses, teachers and essentially anyone else will be able to 
smoke marijuana before coming to work and will not face any 
disciplinary action by their employer.

Similarly, the rights of employers will be downsized as they will no 
longer be able to conduct employee drug tests and even if they know 
an employee is under the influence they can only take action if they 
are able to prove impairment. This subjects employers to more 
lawsuits as they will inevitably fail to provide a safe work environment.

It's also a costly problem for places of business. According to the 
California Chamber of Commerce, not only will business owners have to 
accommodate marijuana users by providing smoke breaks and designated 
smoking areas strictly for marijuana use, but they will also have to 
pay more in insurance fees to make up for the increased danger in the 
workplace and will also be required to pay for marijuana-related accidents.

Moreover, the research shows that by failing to comply with the 
Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, businesses across the 
California will lose millions of dollars in federal funding, as well 
as federal research grants for state colleges and universities.

Our law enforcement officers will also inherit an albatross if Prop. 
19 passes. The way the initiative is written, local governments 
throughout the state will have the responsibility of passing a 
framework for taxing marijuana sales, meaning each of the 58 counties 
and 478 cities in California very well could have a different set of 
laws for people to follow creating a patchwork of ordinances and 
confusion for those trying to enforce them.

Furthermore, while provisions in the ballot measure prohibit drivers 
from smoking while driving, nothing prevents people from smoking just 
before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. There is also no 
language that explains what constitutes being "under the influence" 
of marijuana and unlike alcohol, there are no conclusive tests that 
can be conducted to detect the level of marijuana in one's system. 
Just like with workplace issues, law enforcement officers will be 
responsible for proving a driver was impaired after an incident occurs.

Finally, regardless of the outcome in November, United States Federal 
Law views marijuana as an illegal substance, therefore overruling any 
state law in place.

The federal government has already made it clear that legalization of 
any drug is not on its agenda. President Obama's 2010 National Drug 
Strategy states that "We have many proven methods for reducing the 
demand for drugs. Keeping drugs illegal reduces their availability 
and lessens willingness to use them. That is why this Aadministration 
firmly opposes the legalization of marijuana or any other illicit 
drug. Legalizing drugs would increase accessibility and encourage 
promotion and acceptance of use."

Our state cannot afford to face the tribulations surrounding 
Proposition 19. The initiative has too many loopholes and takes 
legalization too far. All facts aside, California would be the only 
state to legalize marijuana, but if we simply look to other parts of 
the world where marijuana was decriminalized, such as the 
Netherlands, it's easy to see how public safety was damaged and 
clearly this is not what we want for our state.

Voters should not risk the well-being of our state. Vote "no" on 
Proposition 19.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake