Alcohol Lobby Now Openly Spending Against CA's Legal Pot Initiative in Alliance with Police

[kpete]

Alcohol Lobby Now Openly Spending Against CA's Legal Pot Initiative in Alliance with Police Industrial Complex
Big Alcohol's decision to squash marijuana law reform to protect its bottom line is simply politics as usual.
September 17, 2010 |



It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows, but there are arguably few stranger than the emerging alliance between two of California's most powerful political players: the police-industrial complex and Big Alcohol. Campaign finance reports from the Golden State disclose that the California Beer and Beverage Distributors -- a trade organization that represents over 100 beer distributors statewide -- is one of the primary backers of the lobby group Public Safety First, sponsors of the No on Prop. 19 campaign.

According to the California Secretary of State's office, the beer lobby donated $10,000 to Public Safety First on September 7, 2010. The donation came just days before PSF issued an online mailing alleging that the passage of Prop. 19 -- which would legalize the private adult use and cultivation of limited amounts of cannabis, and allow local governments the option of regulating its commercial production and retail distribution -- would inevitably lead to stoned school bus drivers and crossing guards, and will cause California public schools to "lose as much as $9.4 billion in federal funding." (Needless to say, passage of the measure would do none of these things.)

more:
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/148213/alcohol_lobby_now_openly_spending_against_ca%27s_legal_pot_initiative_in_alliance_with_police_industrial_complex/

[ensho]

1. kick

nt

[alittlelark]

2. Looking out for their best interests.

[EFerrari]

3. But, are LEOs monolithic in their position? Some have been coming out

in favor of legalization -- that ex-chief of San Jose, for example?

[Fumesucker]

4. Only once their pensions are assured..

Before that they all seem to love the Law Enforcement Officers Job Protection and Wage Enhancement Act.

[EFerrari]

7. Well, that makes sense, Fumesucker. n/t

[GReedDiamond]

5. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition...

...http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php

Read their Statement to the California Voters, and the list of signatories:

http://leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid=65

[EFerrari]

6. Thanks for the links. n/t

[Tutankhamun]

8. What a crock!

How funny that the alcohol industry worries about intoxicated drivers and crossing guards. They are the ones pushing alcohol, the number one cause of intoxication related deaths and accidents.

Every time an alcoholic switches to marijuana, the likelihood of intoxication related fatalities diminishes. A stoned driver is far safer than a drunk driver. (No, I'm not saying I advocate driving while stoned; I'm saying a marijuana user is typically far less impaired than a drunk person.)

Of course, marijuana users also don't die early of alcohol-related diseases such as liver disease, heart attack, and atherosclerosis. They also don't become abusive and violent like alcoholics are known to do, injuring and even sometimes killing those around them.

If big alcohol were really worried about safety it would lobby against itself.

[DCKit]

9. We knew this was coming. It's been discussed here for forever. n/t

[gdd87]

10. Profits! Thats all they want!

Vote no on expanding the war on drugs!http://www.petition2congress.com/2/3558/vote-no-on-hr-5231/

It be really helpful if you guys would sign and share it!
Thanks!