How close are we to actual Legalization of Marijuana...?

[FirstLight]

I have heard that CA has enough sigs to get it on the ballot.

What are the chnces that it could actually PASS? It seems like a no-brainer, but CA can really come out very conservative sometimes too...Look at the whole Prop 8 debacle.

Just wondering if anyone knows what things look like on that front, is there much resistance yet ...or is the MSM basically ignoring the movement because it's just a 'bunch of hippies'....?

What's really interesting is the financial angle and how taxation of a commodity in the face of a state in virtual bankruptcy may bethe thing that actually pushes this through!


thoughts?

[Vincardog]

1. How close are we to actual Legalization of Marijuana...? Not close enough.

We should legalize it and release all non violent drug offenders now.

[daleanime]

6. True enough...

don't know how anyone could think we can afford to keep them in jail anyway.

[dmallind]

2. Budget woes make it more likely than before, but still a long shot IMO

Based on only subjective feel rather than data on this issue, the big problem I see is that voters especially in off years trend older than the population, and support for legalization is less likely to be strong in the older groups. The other issue is that the outraged-morality-mouthpieces have more money and an easier marketing job than the rational defenders. emotion tends to trump intellect with low-info voters, who sadly remain in the majority.

[tridim]

3. I believe CA is voting tomorrow for opt-in legalization.

Not sure if it will take, but CA will be the first state to legalize.

Followed soon by CO and the rest of the blue western states.

Here in Colorado our state senate is currently trying to restrict and over-regulate (IMO) the MMJ industry, and failing nearly every time. MMJ is 100% legal and constitutional, something the politicians just don't seem to understand.

[tridim]

7. Article: "California Ready for Historic Vote on Marijuana Regulation"

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-california-ready-for-historic-vote-on-marijuana-regulation-r-1262709974

On Tuesday, January 12, members of the California Assembly will hold a historic vote on statewide marijuana policy. Members of the Public Safety Committee will decide on Assembly Bill 390, the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, which seeks to regulate and control the production, distribution, and personal use of marijuana for adults age 21 and older.

Tuesday’s vote will mark the first time since 1913, when California became one of the first states in the nation to enact cannabis prohibition, that lawmakers have reassessed this failed policy.

If a majority of the Public Safety Committee votes ‘yes’ on AB 390, the bill will immediately face a separate vote in the California State Assembly Committee on Health. (I have been tentatively invited to testify before this committee; you can read my prepared testimony here.) In short, members of both committees will likely be voting on this historic measure next week. That is why we need your support in contacting the members of these legislative committees today!

To date, over 8,000 of you have contacted your California Assemblymembers via NORML’s Capwiz ‘Take Action’ Center. This is a tremendous outpouring of public support, but we need to ramp up our advocacy before next week’s vote.

-snip-

[FirstLight]

13. DONE!

I wrote my assembly woman...let's get this PASSED, dammitt!

I'm just soooo tired of having to "look" for herb...it would be soooo much better if one could just go to the corner store...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I believe it will be on the ballot.

I suspect it might not pass, but you never know. I'd like to see it passed.

Time will tell...

:shrug:

[Tippy]

5. WHAT ? Leagalize Maraijuana....

It's getting closer to happening...I would guess probably two years at least...

[Wapsie B]

8. I can't believe agencies like the DEA wouldn't put up a great deal of opposition

to legalizing ditch weed. Lots of money, property has been seized because of asset forfeiture laws and drug arrests. If we make this drug legal all that goes away along with that revenue stream for law enforcement.

[dysfunctional press]

9. it's been 'just over that next hill' for most of my adult lfe.

:hippie:

[tridim]

12. Did you really believe they would legalize in the 80's, 90's or 00's?

I never did.

The efforts today are different. Propaganda still exists, but for the first time in my adult life most of the citizenry and a significan portion of the authority don't buy it.

We're really on the verge this time.

[Oregone]

10. Surging at a high water mark. Decades later, we will look back at that mark and wonder wtf happened

[ixion]

11. not. close. enough.

IMO

[here_is_to_hope]

14. Its already legal

...in my house.

[Flaneur]

15. It will be on the ballot in CA this year, on the ballot in NV in 2012

In California, polls show majority support, but just barely. That makes initiative pros uncomfortable; they like to see at least 60% in favor.

As noted above, a hearing tomorrow on the California legalization bill. Also, a hearing Wednesday in Olympia on a pair of bills, one decrim and one legalization. It's also before the legislature in Massachusetts, and will be in New Hampshire.

Best bet, the California initiative.