Pubdate: Tue, 01 Nov 2016
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: Ken Cable

LAST CHANCE TO PREVENT POT SCOURGE

There are only a few days left before voters' last chance to stop
California's spiraling plunge into the marijuana morass now plaguing
several states by voting no on Prop. 64. Supporters point out that
responsible people can use marijuana without ill effect while ignoring
it's the irresponsible that pose the threat. Further, they argue that
marijuana DUIs are not as prevalent as alcohol users. I'm struggling
to see the difference in that one.

Proponents argue that tax revenue reaching more than a billion
dollars, along with savings to the justice system of tens of millions,
will be a boon to California. This ignores the fact that so many
regulations being created will create new enforcement issues that will
need to be addressed. A further argument is that this financial
windfall will "fund youth prevention programs, marijuana research,
better drugged driving tests, environmental remediation and grants to
impacted communities." The irony is that Prop. 64 will exacerbate
these needs.

We are facing Prop. 64 because legislators at city, county and state
levels who were elected to their positions to decide these issues
failed to perform, thus sending them to the voters to decide. Then,
when the bottom drops out (and it will) they may correctly point to
the people for approving it. It's now up to the responsible citizens
of California to do these legislators' work. Help them out; vote no on
Prop. 64.

Ken Cable

Canyon Lake
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MAP posted-by: Matt