CALIFORNIA: Assembly committee OKs bill to legalize marijuana

[Zomby Woof]

A proposal to legalize and tax marijuana in California was approved by a key committee of the Assembly this morning, over the dire warnings of police chiefs and prosecutors.

The Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve AB 390 by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who said the bill would provide tax revenue to the state and regulation of the drug. The new law includes a requirement that users be at least 21 years old.

The measure next goes to the Health Committee, but proponents worried it would not be acted on by that panel by Friday's deadline, which would require the proposal to be reintroduced to be heard this year by the full Assembly.

"The way it exists now is harming our youth,'' Ammiano said. "Drug dealers do not ask for ID. We need to regulate something that has gone chaotic, has resulted in carnage. I understand it's not everybody's cup of tea.''

More:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/01/assembly-committee-oks-bill-to-legalize-marijuana.html


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Of course, there is the predictable wailing and gnashing of teeth, including the tired canard that marijuana is a 'gateway' drug, and ignoring the toll that the perfectly legal drug alcohol exacts. We already have medical marijuana here, so this is a welcome progression, and another blow to the phony, hypocritical, and expensive "war on drugs".

[derby378]

1. Wonder if AG Holder is going to move against this?

I hope he doesn't.

[Zomby Woof]

2. This is an area where we should grab the "states' rights" mantle

The wingnuts have always claimed that arena as their own, but really, the 10th amendment deserves as much of our support as any other part of the Bill of Rights. I donate to the ACLU for many reasons.