Public support for California’s 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 — is up significantly, according to the latest statewide Field Poll, released on Sunday.
According to the Poll, 49 percent of respondents say that they would vote ‘yes’ on 19 ‘if the election were being held today.’ 42 percent say that they would vote ‘no.’
Self-identified Democrats, men, and non-partisan voters were most likely to back the measure.
The latest Field Poll numbers mark a significant improvement from the firm’s previous poll, conducted in July, which reported only 44 percent of respondents voting ‘yes’ and 48 percent voting ‘no.’
Two additional polls released last week also emphasize voter support for Prop. 19. A September 22 Public Policy Polling firm survey of 630 likely California voters found 47 percent of likely voters backed 19, versus 38 percent against. The most recent Survey USA poll of 569 California adults reported similar support, with 47 percent of respondents saying that they were ‘certain’ to back the measure, versus 43 percent opposed.
PollTracker.com, a website that posts aggregates results of all of the polls conducted on this issue to date shows Prop. 19 leading by 47 percent to 40 percent.
Speaking of Prop. 19, Dave Borden, Executive Director of StoptheDrugWar.org, recently posted an excellent commentary on the Huffington Post rebutting the myth that passage of Prop. 19 would somehow undermine medical marijuana in California. NORML has addressed this minority (and fallacious) opinion numerous times on this site and on the Audio Stash blog, but Dave really hits it out of the park here.
Prop 19 Would Help — Not Hurt — Medical Marijuana Patients
[Excerpt: Read the full text HERE.]
via Huffington PostAre they misinformed or deliberately lying? I don’t know anymore.
A group of medical marijuana dispensaries organized as the California Cannabis Association has come out against Prop 19, California’s “Tax and Regulate Cannabis” initiative to legalize marijuana.
The coalition claims that Prop 19’s provisions giving local jurisdictions the power to regulate cannabis sales, including the right to choose whether to allow commercial or other outlets, would enable them to prohibit the sale of medical marijuana to patients, something that under California they currently can’t do.
… The claim is completely false.… Fortunately, only some medical marijuana people are so shortsighted as to oppose this historic and important measure. Harborside Health Center in Oakland, and the Berkeley Patients Group are among the top quality groups lending their support to Prop 19. But it’s still worth asking, why are some other medical marijuana providers opposing it?
… I say enough is enough. Whether they are doing it deliberately, or out of deliberate ignorance, they should stop spreading misinformation about Prop 19. Shame on the California Cannabis Association. And YES on PROP 19!
I also have added my two cents to this ongoing debate. In particular, I’ve addressed the allegation expressed by the so-called ‘Stoners against Prop. 19‘ (and repeated by others) that argues, “Simply put, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Initiative does not reflect most people’s ideas of what legalization would be.” Perhaps that may be true for a minority of reformers. But the conflict doesn’t lie with Prop. 19; it lies with some people’s ‘idea of what legalization should be.’
Coming to Terms With Taxation, Regulation, and California’s Prop. 19
[Excerpt: Read the full text HERE.]
via HighTimes.comThis November, California voters will decide on Proposition 19, which seeks to enact the most far-reaching marijuana law reforms anywhere in the United States. The immediate effect of Prop. 19, if passed, would be to provide legal protection to the individual marijuana consumer – that is the estimated 3.3 million Californians who are presently using marijuana for non-medical purposes.
Yet as is apparent by the criticism voiced by some, there’s a minority of folks who wish to define cannabis legalization unconventionally. They would prefer that legalization be characterized as the absence of any regulation whatsoever. It’s ironic because, in truth, it is the present criminal prohibition of cannabis that is an unregulated free for all. Conventional legalization is just the opposite.
It is counter-intuitive for some critics of Prop. 19 to advocate that marijuana be treated in a ‘legal’ manner, but then at the same time demand that it not be subject to regulation. Bottom line: all legal commodities are regulated in some manner and their retail production or sale is subject to taxation.
For example, cell phones are legal to possess and use in California, but if an individual uses his or her cell phone while driving they are subject to legal sanctions and intervention by law enforcement.
Possessing domesticated pets is legal in California and elsewhere, yet certain apartments and home rentals forbid tenants from having pets on the premises. Certain localities have even barred adults from possessing certain pets (e.g., pit bulls) all together.
Water is legal, but it’s a product that is highly regulated by the government. The state taxes private individuals’ water use; it can add components like fluoride to the product without voter consent, and it can even sanction the private individual if their water use is greater than that deemed appropriate by the government (in times of water rationing). Yet, even with these rules and regulations, is there any organized outcry from the public claiming that water, pets, or cell phones ‘aren’t really legal?’
Ditto for the subject of taxation. Gasoline is taxed at the state level, federal level, and there’s also an excise tax that is passed on to the consumer. Same with alcohol. There are a multitude of taxes that are charged to the consumer on his or her phone bill. How about the taxes tacked on to airline travel, which equal nearly 25 percent of the consumer’s total purchase price? The number of specific taxes and regulations sought to be imposed upon marijuana under Prop. 19 are arguably minimal in comparison to the taxes and regulations on many commodities consumers already use every day. In fact, under the proposition, an adult can grow marijuana themselves and avoid any taxes all together.
Is there the possibility that under Prop. 19 some local governments might seek to over-regulate or over-tax certain aspects of the plant’s use or retail distribution? Of course. [Editor’s note: And that is why reformers will continue to need to be involved in the local democratic process after 19 passes.] But ultimately, the question is: what is the preferable policy for adult marijuana use – not the Utopian. Right now the state has the power of a gun to seize an adult’s marijuana – even marijuana that is used in the privacy of one’s home – and to sanction that adult with criminal prosecution and a criminal record if their use is for non-medical purposes. Under Prop. 19, an individual would no longer face these criminal sanctions for their private activities, as long as their private use was limited to possession and cultivation within certain limits. That is legalization. And in NORML’s opinion, that is a net gain – not a net loss.
watch it go legal, and the prices will RISE since its just one state of production, then wont fall when other states are added as the outdoor will be the only non expensive option…no regulation in place for mold etc…its just bad.
We both know why Kellogs will never say we’re winning this war & their profits are dwindling … They don’t know truth . They only know lies & deception.
I saw a Kellogs corn flakes ad just the other
day . Those ads are to make you think they are doing really good & what we are doing by boycotting their products has not effected them .They are trying to decieve you . In reality Kellogs sales are way down and Tony the Tiger has fallen along the wayside with all the other hypocrites and liars & that’s grrrrr -eat because we along with all the other , Michael Phelps of the World are winning this war .
@42 war on liberty,
I can’t help but imagine that same senario. So, if we pass this proposition, this year or in 2012, where does the country go from there? Do we wait for the other states on the fence to catch up with their own legalization bills? If the pace is similar to that of the medical marijuana states’ legalization bills, how long before states like my own a**-backwards state of Kentucky gets with the program?
Is there any plan, after a period of time when cannabis has legal in California, to go after the federal laws to change the schedule of the drug for country-wide reform?
I can’t imagine that the rest of the country will sit back patiently, waiting for reform to come to them, while California hogs all the freedom!
California must be used as an example of intelligent, responsible, benefitial cannabis reform. Once all the superstition wears off and everyone realizes that California isn’t going to sink into the Pacific Ocean because this plant is legal, can we hope for sweeping reform?
I don’t think the people can wait for passive, gradual reform.
All you people saying vote “no” on 19 are crazy. Yeah, it’s not a perfect bill, but so what! It’s a lot better than what we have now. Do all you guys think that if it passes we’ll be stuck with it forever? Things will only get better if it passes.
“ill be voting “NO”…im for medical marijuana, not open market marijuana to all without a first step…the way its worded also leaves the state with insane power…pass.”
Marijuana people that are voting ‘NO’ on Prop 19 “can’t see the forest from the trees.” It’s like these people think marijuana legalization ballots happen all the time and a better one is definitely coming along. What are these people smoking?
I got news for you California snobs (Anti Prop 19 trolls doing a mind F on CA?), a defeat could set reform backwards. (Is this what you crafty gov trolls have in mind anyway?) Think the marijuana tolerant years of the 1970s under President Carter; and then the sudden ‘iron fist’ of the “Just Say No” Reagan years soon after. History tends to repeat itself unless people demand radical change.
Vote “NO” California and nothing new happens; but voting “Yes on Prop 19” and passing it CHANGES EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT! Once people are free to grow and consume cannabis THEN we can argue about the details!
RE: #47
i’m not a sarah palin fan nor am i lecturing the “left.” i’m lecturing the people that go around looking like uneducated asses all day long and pot getting a bad rap for it. “oh my, if i vote yes, my son will turn into a trashy unkept hobo that does nothing but smoke pot…” i could easily take from your comment that you are anti-gun. let me tell you something, that right is all we have when shit hits the fan. that right is all we have when it comes to protecting our country and family. tie yourself to a tree and sing kumbaya and see if that stops the bullets from coming at you. i think you just have a hard time understanding that someone out there believes in the 2nd amendment and pot legalization. all i’m saying is that if your a greasy hippie, clean up before you support. if your a redneck, brush your teeth and don’t wear over-alls with no shirt underneath. if your black, don’t show up with your pants around your ankles, if your gay, leave the glitter at home and don’t skip along waving a rainbow flag. ACT PROFESSIONAL, there is to much at stake to let the undecideds be pushed away by stereotypical attitudes and appearances. there’s no sense in being a thin skinned to the point i’m trying to make. you wouldn’t show up to a job interview looking like a fool, why would you want to look like one supporting something that you love.
The people of CA need to know they are the tip of the sword, like I said, but know the tip is no good without the rest of the blade, We the nation of oppressed state are watch and pushing our own state into change. It is like we are all talking about, the truth! It has been with held from the population for some time. The 70 years of fight has been up hill with many going to prison, some were killed along this path here today, unjustly so. Now each day more doctors around the world are coming out and standing up, remember it was their profession our government first sent to prison for giving to their PTs.
Today we have ammo to fight back, just check out the DVD “What If Cannabis Cures Cancer” and you will see what I mean. What educated defense could they use, their constructive fraud is surfacing into the light of day. Because of NORML, and us, you and me, we have made a difference. Push on CA, there is a Nation of unfairly treated citizens watching, hoping, praying, for your victory. Many States stand ready to push this darkness off us and regain our liberty once again.
Get out and VOTE for our freedom.
Wondering how many of you have seen the latest news on CNN by Bill Piper the Director of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance.
Hopefully this will make the main page in the updates here on Norml later today.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/28/piper.decriminalize.pot/
Let’s do what we can–be active–and help Prop 19 pass in California this November. This is a huge opportunity to send a message to the lawmakers…not just in D.C, but in all 50 states. Leave comments on WhiteHouse on Youtube, frequently visit thehill.com and tell the politicians, visit news sites too. Don’t go silent and think legalization will just happen on its own. This isn’t going to change unless we’re active!
FREE THE WEED——>Let cannabis bring us together
Hey dtrt you seem to cover all the bases.Ever see the photo of Kent State. Students with long hair and dirty clothes.They stood up without guns in thier hands.Just a wild guess, you work for GQ.
If 19 passes it will look a lot like Oakland. $211,000 for a commercial grow license. Big corporations will be taking over and the mom and pop grows will be a thing of the past. This is not the vision I have of legalization. It wasn’t the common person who wrote this proposal. It was written by greedy people and their lawyers.
http://votetaxcannabis2010.blogspot.com/
Just say KNOW to prop 19!
[Paul Armentano responds: How would Prop. 19 make California ‘look a lot like Oakland,’ given that the Oakland licensing measure you oppose passed independent of Prop. 19? Prop. 19 makes lawful private adult possession and UNTAXED personal cultivation. Commercial production would be subject to local regulations, which means that private growers would have the opportunity to enter the democratic process and lobby for local rules that best represent their interests. You seem to believe that ‘mom and pop’ growers, as you call them, would somehow be incapable of doing so. Why? BTW, the website you site has been debunked on numerous occasions by NORML’s Russ Belville and others.]
Mass incarceration of drug offenders has drained state and federal resources, distracted police from dealing with violent crime, and produced a generation of children with one or both parents behind bars instead of at home
Mass incarceration of drug offenders has drained state and federal resources, distracted police from dealing with violent crime, and produced a generation of children with one or both parents behind bars instead of at home .
For you in California….a vote for mass terrorist , Meg Whitman will only contribute to keeping our current unjust laws on Marijuana , pad the pockets of Pharma. & continue the genocide from South America , through California on to the tip of Alaska .
Mass incarceration of drug offenders has drained state and federal resources, distracted police from dealing with violent crime, and produced a generation of children with one or both parents behind bars instead of at home .
A vote for Mass terrorists ,Meg Whitman in California will only continue ( if she wins ) the unjust laws and genocide from South America through California & up to Alaska .
Re: 56 – Maybe it’s best to just be who you are! The logic in this is that there will cease to be a stereotypical marijuana smoker. Maybe people, the prohibitionists in particular, will come to realize that anyone could be a potential marijuana user. Some smart, some stupid, some thin, some fat, some asian, some mexican, some white, and on and on…
ist not going to work you may need the lanlords oernision it aint gonna happen they will say no to you
Re #56,
Well you’ll have to excuse me for misinterpreting your original “intent.” Although you’ve spelled it out in your second post, your original post left a far different impression. Your original post made no mention of rednecks, blacks or gays. Just dirty hippies with anti-Sarah Palin bumper stickers, etc. If you are as objective on political matters and political stereotypes, as you now claim to be, maybe you should explain yourself better next time.
In any case, it’s hard for me believe you’re as neutral as you say you are, given your latest post. You’re the one who brought up guns in the first place.
Then when I respond to your stereotypes about hippies with a term you obviously find offensive–gun-loving, etc–suddenly you’re thin-skinned and outraged. Then you assume “by my comment” that I’m anti-gun. In fact, not only do I know plenty of guys who own guns and smoke pot, I own guns myself. See? Misinterpretation can work both ways.
I have no argument about dressing up and acting professionally in order to get one’s point across. How do you feel about the tea baggers? I’ve seen some pretty clownish behavior and dress-ups in that bunch. Just wondering.
Prop. 19 is NOT legalization.
Legalization would mean that you could grow, possess, and distribute marijuana without restriction. What Prop. 19 does is severely over regulate marijuana.
[Paul Armentano responds: Legalization is not defined as the absence of restrictions. Name me one other legal retail commodity, particularly one that is consumed, that is ‘distributed without restrictions?’ Prop. 19 IS legalization, and the present system in place in California IS criminal prohibition. Which is preferable?]
47 Puffer
I’m not sure- but – I would venture a guess to say that Sarah is down to earth enough to “go for” some sort of legalization – if not total legalization. Without asking her what her position is – quit bashing her for the sake of politics. You know I’m a Tea Bagger – and – you know we will oppose, with passion, any political party that doesnt make sense, or violates our Constitution. We have served the pudding wherein lies the truth.
Hope you’re well and everything is fine with the family. When are you coming back to Cal. It will be legal next month. Why? Because tobacco is buying up land in Northern Cal to grow – and – the teamsters are forming a pot union. As I said before – how are the growers going to transport the stuff to the distributors??? There’s the answer! – teamsters. Think about all the union dues. That ought to make progressives happier than a puppy with two peckers. Pot will be no harder to buy than a pack of cigarettes.
After looking at the website #61 posted
http://votetaxcannabis2010.blogspot.com/
I immediately thought of this:
need to find a way to show people who dont partake that cannabis is a great place to be.i consumed a small amount pretty much every evenin and all it did for me was bring some inner peace an comfort an i believe it does that for a whole mess of people….comfortable and happy in life….what a concept.i havent felt that more then, now that my employer of 33 yrs wants hair from me every six months or so. for the last year ana half…..so i wrote a letter to h.r.hoping to convey a message of reason and consideration….and am waiting patiently for a return that i was promised. and it does suck to know someone who consumes and enjoys feels intimidated because of present laws and wont speak up.so i.e…some of the others who enjoy , right now their is not alot of support about this matter.this is teaching me to step out for whats right….i asked them about possibly changing to a saliva test…that way they can know that im not enhanced on the job….an we get to have a small peice of private life back so i, can focus my thoughts on our personal rights a piece farther up the road. a well placed ad at work. not daily either, i think helps people to maybe become more familar with such an awesome herb.its really not about…your a usless crimminal marked for life bullshit….its about millions of sucessful, interseting,happier people who wish only a small “adjustment” if you will to make the road just a little less bumpy.i haved solved the worlds problems many times over while enjoyin a couple pops off the vaporizer after a bustin day makin money for the man. ……peace to you all..
Re 69
Hey Rebel,
How’re you doing? Great to hear from you.
You know that you and I are on the same page when it comes to MJ. And I’m glad for that.
But my “bashing” of Sarah was a response to someone else’s bashing of hippies & the “left’s agenda.” Nothing personal directed at you, my friend, but as long as there are others bashing the left, including tea baggers, you know I’m gonna have to respond in kind.
Sarah may be down to earth, but that’s got nothing to do with it. I’ll believe she supports MJ legalization the day she says so publicly. I’m sure you know that the vast majority of tea baggers oppose Prop 19. I honestly didn’t know you were a tea bagger–must’ve missed that post–but you are an exception, my friend, an exception.
Anyway, here’s a puff hoping you & your Calif bros and sisters can see this great Prop all the way thru! Best of luck to you. BTW, I’m working on my wife. If we can’t make it to Amsterdam again, by gosh, we WILL make it to the Golden State!
Ya mon! Peter Tosh said “LEAGALIZE IT DONT CRITICIZE IT” and to all you blood klaats that say NO, WTF! here is your chance to change tings, positive, lets move forward with issue… and have some PEACE and LOVE in the world. with the blessed plant. and remenber it is the weed of wisdom! use it… one lov…
77 Longtime Puffer
Well my progressive friend, if you can’t make it to California, I hope you can make it to the Netherlands, I know both are your passion. You should also know that I believe that everyone should fulfill [be able tyo achieve] their passion – without the slightest obstruction – whatever it is. That’s because I’m an Individualist. The reason I’m a teabagger is because I believe in, and will defend, my Constitution with my life. By the way 71% of Republicans, and 41% of Democrats identify with tea baggers. I’d say that those figures amount to a political force if not a political party. What I’m really proud of is that those percentages are all RED-BLOODED AMERICANS, not anti-colonialists {anti-americans]. There I go – getting into politics again. Let us just say that I believe in God and country, and leave it at that. As for Sarah, she will stand on her own two feet, which I hope will support our cause. Has anyone asked her what her position is? Let’s ask: Does anyone know her position on cannabis?
Best wishes Puff,
Rebel
@ #79 Rebel
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008091-503544.html
GENESISTS DEFINE [IS].
The Genesists Faith has universal identity – the Genesist Faith exists.
WHAT IS IT TO EXISTS?
To say something exists is to say that it [is]. To state something’s essence is to say [what it is]. Existance cannot be reduced to essence. To exist [is] simply presence – to be there – “wherever I go – there I am.” That which exists appears, lets itself be encountered. One common denominator exisits between all Genesists – “we are here”, holding to the culture, customs, and traditions of one people. We are a universal family of one people – with an acute sense of distinctiveness – holding to one faith in any monotheistic religion. That faith is in God, and God’s gift of Holy Sacrament.
GENESISTS ARE A BODY OF MASS DISTINCTION.
Genesists are well defined and unmistakable. From sea to shining sea, each and every county in each and every sovereign state of these United States of America is a Genesist colony [3141 colonies], and bears the name of that county. This includes our brethren throughout the world. The Genesist Faith transcends all boundries. We are children of the world, and not so minute in the vast flow of life. It’s a small world after all, and friends find each other.
IT IS THE GENESIST’S OBJECTIVE, INTENT, AND PURPOSE for friends to find each other and stand as one continually, as one unified society, to protect the rights of us all, as individuals, and to act against aggression directed at our Constitutional, God given inalienable religious right of Holy Sacrament. Our strength is in our unity of purpose. To that high concept there can be no end save victory.
The Feds will lay off. Obama has his plate full, what with the Depression, two Wars, multi-trillion dollar deficits and all.
Even if he just looks the other way for the last two years, then there’s no going back ever.
IT’S JUST THIS SIMPLE – WE ARE EITHER PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT – OR – WE’RE NOT!
Competeing/complelling governmental interest is an intrusion of our right to Holly Sacrament, and a burden on our faith/religion. The Constitution is the rock upon which we stand. To violate our pursuit of happiness and humanity is to violate our Constitution. The violators should be brought to stand before the same justice – to exact punishment – that allows them to be unjust. The idea of government telling us what we can or cannot honor as Sacrament is as outrageous as government telling us what religion we can or cannot practice – or – that we can even have religion. The Constitution is God approved and so is our Sacrament. Let’s do separate politics from religion!
Their is only 2 reasons why anyone would not want prop 19 to pass. Their either 1. ignorant of the affects and addiction of pot,or 2. They make their tax free income growing it. There is some people that are against alcohol, pot, and drugs but the majority of the voters are in the category of 1 or 2 above. 99 percent of the people I know that have a medical prescription, do not grow for medical reasons at all. They grow for the money they make off it, Watch my County, Humboldt and you will see a high level of vote NO on 19 coming from this county. Come visit my County, you will see lots of new vehicles, bikes, grocery stores and Casino’s full with unlimited money supply from people that do not work. A vote NO on 19 is supporting the people of Calif who don’t work. They have plenty of money, pay very little taxes, and receive medical cards from the State. Why make only the ones that break the law growing, make all the money. Legalize it, let the cops do a job of going after dangerous criminals, open factory’s and put these people to work making a honest living.