Marijuana has blazed it's way onto the ballot once again this year, and this time it may succeed.
According to the state Legislative Analyst’s office, marijuana legalization could solve a lot of the problems Californian’s face today: strict regulation of recreational plants and an abundance of tax money for the counties.
Prop 64 will be known as the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (“the Adult Use of Marijuana Act”). If approved by voters Nov. 8, adults 21-plus in California will be able to purchase and cultivate small amounts of marijuana.
Butte County residents are highly opinionated on the matter.
“I don’t know why we haven’t legalized this shit yet," said Eric Price, a marijuana farmer who lives in Orland. Price has been growing canabis for years and takes pride in his greenery.
“I don’t care if they limit a few of my plants, that’s not the point," he said. "The point is that we’ve been worrying about this too much for too long. Marijuana is medication, even if it’s also being used recreationally.”
Prop 215 was the first proposed legalization to appear on the ballot in California in 1996. It legalized marijuana that was prescribed by physician for medical reasons. Voters approved it 55.58 percent to 44.42 percent.
Today the plant is currently legal for medical reasons but illegal to use recreationally. Because people are easily able to buy the drug on the black market, untaxed and unregulated, the state is missing out on millions of tax dollars that it could be collecting.
If legalization is successful this year, state government plans to use these millions of dollars to cover the costs of administering the new law and follow through with necessary training to execute the legislation.
Schools would be able to use tax dollars to ensure that students are getting updated resources to educate them on the affects of drug abuse. The act would: • proihibit any marijuana businesses to be located within 600 feet of schools and other areas where children congregate.
• establish mandatory and strict packaging and labeling requirements for marijuana and marijuana products. • mandate that marijuana and marijuana products cannot be advertised or marketed to children.
McCall Smith, 22, a recent graduate of Chico State, said she plans to continue her teaching career in Chico and is an advocate of the Adult of Use of Marijuana Act.
“As a smoker, pot smoker, and a teacher of young children, I understand the concern of kids wanting to smoke at a young age. That’s why we need these programs,” she said.
Smith thinks that high school programs need to accept that teenagers are going to have an urge to smoke weed if it’s illegal or not. She believes that a strong reformation in the drug education system will be needed if marijuana becomes legal in the state.
California will have restricted designated areas where no marijuana use will be allowed near K-12 schools. Minors who commit unlawful marijuana related crimes will be required to go through a drug reform class and do community service.
Is the grass always greener on the other side?
On the opposing side of Prop 64, some organizations believe that it will ruin medical marijuana patients' rights.
The anti-legalization group The Weedly Times believe that it is going to be much harder to get a doctor’s recommendation than it is now with solely prop 215 if Prop 64 is approved. It believes that marijuana should be used for medical purposes only and that it is pointless to legalize another drug when there is already so much drug use in our state.
The anti-legalization group The Weedly Times believe that it is going to be much harder to get a doctor’s recommendation than it is now with solely prop 215 if Prop 64 is approved. It believes that marijuana should be used for medical purposes only and that it is pointless to legalize another drug when there is already so much drug use in our state.
“It’s… shameful,” wrote Vivian McPeak, patient, advocate and Executive Director of Seattle Hempfest, “especially when our nation… is in the midst of a deadly opioid drug overdose epidemic. These senseless, money-grab policies will cost lives and cause suffering.”
If the act passes, patients who have been growing their own weed for years will be forced into purchasing slightly higher taxed plants due to new regulations, opponents argue. This could hinder the health of patients that have been dependent on cannabis.
Journalist, Casey Jaywork compares this situation to that of Washington’s recent legalization of recreational cannabis.
“Washington’s vote to legalize recreational marijuana… was also the beginning of the end of the state’s medical-marijuana (MMJ) culture," Jaywork wrote. "The law does not protect patients. In fact, evidence suggests that it will put the state’s most vulnerable patients at risk.”
Green ballots
The proposition needs a 60 percent "yes" vote to become law. Proponents believe that taxed marijuana could force buyers to go back to the black market. Others believe that the state shouldn’t allow weed to become a major state cash cow.
But according to California journalist,Robin Abcarian, the proposition appears likely to pass.
But according to California journalist,Robin Abcarian, the proposition appears likely to pass.
“The latest polls show that more than 60 percent of likely voters favor legalization. And according to government filings, pro-Prop. 64 interests have contributed $6.5 million to passing the measure; opponents have raised $185,870. Yeah, I know," Abcarian said. It's "probably safe to start firing up those old bongs.”