'WHAT'S WRONG ABOUT GETTING HIGH?'

Grass Valley resident Carole Chapman had one word Thursday to describe
her feelings after an initiative to legalize marijuana made it onto
November's ballot:

Thrilled!"

Outspoken against marijuana laws, which she calls "a crime against
humanity," Chapman helped gather signatures to make it legal. In
Nevada County, 1,051 people signed the petition.

With nearly 700,000 signatures statewide, the California Secretary of
State's office certified the initiative Wednesday.

The measure would allow those 21 years and older to have up to one
ounce of marijuana -- enough to roll dozens of marijuana cigarettes.
It would also allow residents to grow their own crop in gardens
measuring up to 25 square feet.

The prospect of marijuana being more accessible to teens raised both
cheers and jeers.

I hope they do -- what's wrong about getting high?" Chapman said. "It
beats the hell out of drinking and driving."

School officials, however, stand adamantly against the possible
proliferation of pot.

I think legalization inadvertently conveys that there's a lesser risk
involved," said Nevada Union High School principal Marty Mathiesen.

School administrators see students' grades and motivation drop when
they start using marijuana, and they worry about its role as a gateway
to harder drugs, they said.

I think we have so many issues that the kids deal with, with alcohol,"
said Bear River High School principal Jim Nieto. "By adding something
else to the mix, it's going to be even more detrimental."

Crime will change, but won't be reduced, police said.

Marijuana will be the subject of theft," said Grass Valley police
Capt. Rex Marks.

Statistically, we can expect an increase in criminal
activity."

The proposal would ban users from ingesting marijuana in public or
smoking it while minors are present. It also would make it illegal to
have the drug on school grounds or drive while under its influence.

Local governments would decide whether to permit and tax marijuana
sales.

Legalizing marijuana could save California $200 million a year by
reducing public safety costs, proponents said. At the same time, it
could generate sales tax revenue for local governments. Officials at
both levels are facing dire deficits.

Some have suggested it would help the state combat massive,
clandestine farms operated by Mexican cartels to finance
methamphetamine operations.

But regulating marijuana use won't wipe out illegal operations, police
say.

I don't think it'll weaken the market," Marks said. "It'll continue on
the black market. (Growers) are not going to register to be taxed."

A Field Poll taken in April found a slim majority of California voters
supported legalizing and taxing pot to help bridge the state budget
deficit.

The state was the first to legalize medicinal marijuana use, with
voters passing Prop. 215 in 1996. Since then, 14 states have followed
California's lead, even though marijuana remains illegal under federal
law.

Nevada County marijuana advocate and businessman Martin Webb said the
substance was a pathway for him to leave hard drugs. Much of the
information about the pros and cons of marijuana is myth, he said.

Downtown bar fights sparked by alcohol and the devastation of
methamphetamine are far more serious issues deserving law
enforcement's attention, Webb added.

Unfortunately, there's going to be a lot of confusion," Webb said
about the forthcoming debate. "I think it's great because it's going
to get people talking."