Pubdate: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA) Copyright: 2010 The Fresno Bee Contact: http://www.fresnobee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/161 Note: Does not publish letters from outside their circulation area. Author: Peter Hecht Cited: Proposition 19 http://yeson19.com/ Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/find?272 (Proposition 19) BALLOT WATCH: PROPOSITION 19 Should California Legalize Marijuana Beyond Current Medical Use to Permit All Adults 21 and Over to Use and Possess Pot? Fourteen years ago, when California voters passed Proposition 215 the "Compassionate Use Act," legalizing marijuana for medical use, they opened the door to a thriving marijuana economy in the Golden State. California cities brim with dispensaries serving marijuana users who have physicians' recommendations to treat their ailments with pot. Proposition 19 would permit marijuana for recreational use and likely significantly expand the legal marijuana market in a state whose annual marijuana crop legal and illicit is valued at nearly $14 billion. California would become the first state in the nation to legalize pot, though it would still be at odds with federal law. What It Would Do Authorize adults age 21 and over to possess, share or transport up to 1 ounce of marijuana. Allow them to cultivate marijuana in a 5-by-5-foot growing space - or 25 square feet - per private residence or parcel. Allow local governments to tax and regulate commercial marijuana activities, including cultivation, processing, distribution and sales. Allow local governments to authorize higher possession limits than the 1-ounce standard. Leave intact state laws imposing penalties of up to seven years in prison for adults 18 and over who furnish marijuana to minors under 14. Impose penalties of up to six months in county jail and $1,000 fines for adults 21 and over who furnish marijuana to people over 18 but under 21. What It Would Cost - Proponents tout a much-publicized estimate by the state Board of Equalization last year that said legalizing pot could generate as much as $1.4 billion for the cash-strapped state. But that was based in part on a $50-per-ounce marijuana tax proposed in legislation. No such tax is specified in Proposition 19. In a recent study, the RAND Corp. concluded that legalizing marijuana could generate revenues either far higher or far lower than the BOE estimate. Researchers said tax revenues could swing upward if legalization leads to a surge of Amsterdam-style pot tourism. RAND also estimated that the price of marijuana could plummet by more than 80 percent with legalization. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office said state and local governments "could eventually collect hundreds of millions of dollars annually in additional revenues." Money Watch - Oakland marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, who runs the Oaksterdam University marijuana trade school, contributed $1.3 million to the ballot measure. Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook, donated $50,000. George Zimmer, founder of the Men's Wearhouse clothiers, donated $30,000. Phillip D. Harvey, president of Adam & Eve, a North Carolina mail order and retail firm for sexual products and adult films, gave $100,000 to an independent committee backing the initiative. Opponents have raised about $100,000 against Proposition 19, led by the California Police Chiefs Association ($30,000), the California Narcotics Officers Association ($20,500) and the California Beer and Beverage Distributors ($10,000) Supporters - Large unions such as the Service Employees International Union State Council and United Food & Commercial Workers Union - Oaksterdam University marijuana trade school - California NAACP What They Say - Revenues raised by legalization could mitigate cuts to state and local services including law enforcement, health care and education. Legalization would reduce crime, weaken criminal drug cartels and implement a regulatory framework to prevent access to marijuana by minors. It would retain employers' existing rights to fire or discipline employees or address pot consumption that impairs job performance. OPPONENTS - Law enforcement groups, including the California Police Chiefs Association and the California Narcotics Officers Association Major officeholders and candidates, including gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - The California Chamber of Commerce WHAT THEY SAY - It won't reduce crime but will result in more impaired drivers on roads. It contains anti-discrimination language that could prevent employers from enforcing rules against marijuana without clear evidence of impairment. It could lead private industries and public agencies to lose federal funding for failing to meet "drug-free workplace" standards. LINKS YES: http://yeson19.com NO: http://noonproposition19.com Sources: Secretary of state, Legislative Analyst's Office - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake