I have something to say to all you pot heads in the Golden State!

[county worker]

There will be a proposition to legalize marijuana on the ballot for next November's election in CA. You have 11 month's to convince people to vote in favor of it. The measure got the needed signatures in less than 2 months. Right now the majority of Californians feel that pot should be legalized but I feel this will be a tough sell since the war on drugs is such a popular and profitable thing to keep around.

If the proposition passes, anyone 21 and over can grow 25 sq ft of pot for personal use. It will be produced, sold and taxed also.

So put down that joint, get up off the floor and go convince people to vote yes to legalize pot in CA.

[jtrockville]

1. Legalize it. Time to recognize it.

[Auggie]

2. The beer and distilled spirits industry will fight this with all their millions

[90-percent]

5. beer and distilled spirits industries

will fight it? wow! they will be looking awfully stupid if they actually do that. I can't wait!

PS - all you Californians, while you're at it, fix up that gay marriage issue, please!

-90% jimmy

[Auggie]

11. What's with the sarcasm?

Their perception is legalized pot will cut into their business significantly, much like Las Vegas consider Native American gaming does the same to theirs.

[90-percent]

25. Not being sarcastic

I just wonder what possible reasons that "big alcohol" could use against pot legalization?

Alcohol is poisonous and insidious and destroys a certain percentage of lives if used properly.

From a scientific point of view. it is alcohol that should be banned and pot that should be legalized!

-90% Jimmy

not being sarcastic

[Auggie]

28. It sounded sarcastic -- apologies

Agree -- alcohol is dangerous stuff. Legalization will make pot so much easier and accessible that I can see a lot of people lighting up after a hard day of work rather than reaching for a beer or glass of wine. Not that millions already do -- just those who before had issues or problems sourcing weed.

I do expect the spirits industry to wage full battle and I expect them to operate under the guise and with the support of morality/religious groups (like the Mormons) who believe they have a right govern everybody else's behavior.

[alfredo]

13. A good beer like San Diego's Stone Pale Ale goes good with bud.

[tridim]

14. I'm very interested in this fight. It will expose all of the corporate prohibitionists.

Not just the alcohol industry.

[Cleita]

3. If it passes, I will grow it for a cash crop.

I wonder if you will have to get a special grower's permit.

[tridim]

17. That's what they're discussing in Colorado

They want growers to be treated exactly like micro-brewers, complete with licenses, inspections and fees.

IMO it's a good idea because it will shut out the riff-raff.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Why should only the potheads work for this proposition?

Us non-smokers can work too!

I sure hope it passes!

It will bring much-needed income for the state, and it will keep non-violent scofflaws out of jail!

:smoke:

[asdjrocky]

6. You go Peggy.

Let's really make California green!

[county worker]

7. Well like the anti prop 8 fight, we all have a stake in this passing.

I fought against prop 8 and I will fight for the legalization of pot. I don't use drugs anymore but I feel that it is the right thing to do.

[asdjrocky]

8. Happy days might indeed be here again!

[proud patriot]

9. My "yes we cannabis" sticker just arrived

put it on my car

[leeroysphitz]

15. You may want to avoid driving through Ohio with that sticker on your car!

:P Having said that I'll also say I hope the citizens of California pass this if only to make the rest of the country jealous.

[proud patriot]

22. that sticker would be the least of my worries

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<a href="http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee216/ppatriot2003/?action=view¤t=family076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[libertypirate]

10. I'm on it! n/t

[Fumesucker]

12. People are strange..

I have this funny feeling that the worst thing for a legal cannabis initiative would be to have a bunch of stoners running around campaigning for it.

There is a huge negative connotation to stoners and getting stoned, I see it even here on DU constantly.

"I want some of what you're smoking" is an insult..

If the Dirty Fucking Hippies are *for* something, all "real Murkins" are automatically against it, I've seen this time and time again.

I'm not positive I'm right but I think there's a good case to be made for my viewpoint.

[tridim]

19. There is nothing wrong with stoners..

The vast majority are not "dirty fucking hippies", they're your co-workers, your friends and your family. Most people will be VERY surprised at who comes out of the closet if/when legalization occurs.

The last poll I saw says over 50% of Americans want prohibition to end.

[Fumesucker]

23. Like I said, people are strange..

And I didn't say that there's anything wrong with stoners, rather I said that is the general perception of them by non stoners.

"I want some of what you're smoking" is an insult implying you said something really stupid, I see it all the time on DU.

In fact I greatly prefer cannabis to alcohol myself.

[county worker]

24. How do you feel about legalization. You didn't say and I didn't want to assume anything.

One of the reasons for legalization is that like any drug, pot can become a problem for certain people. It was for me that's why I stopped. But the vast majority of people who use pot are about the same as those who use alcohol.

There are drunks and stoners. The drunks can get help without fear of prosecution. Stoners don't seek help because of the chance that they will be arrested. If pot were legal more people would seek help for their problem so there would be less stoners.

As it is the prohibition does not keep people from have problems with drugs, it just keeps them from seeking professional help for their problem.

[Fumesucker]

27. If I wasn't for legalization I would just keep my mouth shut..

I've been fighting this battle since way before it was cool to do so, at least twenty years now.

I really thought this was going to happen when Jimmy Carter was POTUS, I'm not making that mistake again.

[Gregorian]

16. I'd be a lot more excited were this 1972.

Other than seeing another civil right abuse end, it's not an issue for me personally.

All of those years of being afraid, spending money on High Times magazines, getting busted, hating American society for allowing it without saying a thing. Oh the memories.

It really does look like Pinochet Time is just about as slow as societies operate. Thirty years.

I can say this, we're the ones who had the fun.

[NightWatcher]

18. does it matter if the state legalizes it, wont the Feds refuse to acknowledge and prosecture anywhoo

I'm working on brewing my own beer, when/if this passes nationwide, I hope to grow my own as well.

[tridim]

20. The Feds aren't prosecuting state-legal operations any longer.

That descision, IMO was the catalyst for everything good that's happening in the MMJ states today.

[NightWatcher]

21. I say the month after tax profits are posted from the 1st state to tax it...

it becomes legal in 45 more states.

[tridim]

26. Yep, money talks.

And boy is the tax revenue going to flow in CA if they get this done. It could easily save the state.

Legalization also means HEMP production, which will likely become the second largest cash crop in CA behind high THC Cannabis.

[truedelphi]

29. I was watching the Money Channel one hour special on marijuana

And I thought it would be depressing.

But the highlight for me was when the Talking Head started ragging at the top DEA official in Northern California saying, "we can see that you go out there and bust some growers, but you don't seem to be working at it very intently."

And the DEA top guy said, "Hey if this was a program that the people in this area wanted we would be out there 24/7. But you cannot expect me to care about arresting people for something the majority of folks no longer see as a crime!"