CANNABIS ROLLED UP IN BALLOT

Marijuana Is Becoming Part of Our Culture.

Hope for marijuana supporters and consumers in California has reached
an all time high with the "Regulate, Control, and Tax Cannabis Act"
initiative on the path for the November ballot.

The first step in ending the ban on marijuana, which is getting the
required amount of signatures, has almost reached 700,000 and only
about 433,000 are needed. Getting on the November ballot will be a
milestone for the supporters of marijuana legalization. The "Regulate,
Control, and Tax Cannabis Act 2010," states that people 21 years and
older can possess, grow, share, and transport marijuana for personal
use. Smoking in front of minors or possessing it on school grounds,
driving while inebriated, or smoking in public are all prohibited
under the measure relating to the Health and Safety Codes.

Recent surveys reveal that the United States has the strictest laws
and ironically the largest amount of marijuana consumers, 5.4 million
of those are estimated to smoke 300 times a year, which is almost
every day. Although pot is not addictive, a tolerance can be built up
and indulgence can be extreme. It has fewer harmful effects than
alcohol or cigarettes, which are legalized everywhere, and there's no
connection between violent offensive crimes and the usage of pot.

Marijuana is becoming part of our culture, if not to be used for a
medical condition, then to give pleasure to those who use it. It's
becoming more accepted and in some areas, the norm.

Reform would be needed to permit the Act to be implemented, such as
allowing people, 21 and older, or those with a medical condition, to
consume cannabis. Current state laws, the "Compassionate Use Act" of
1996 and Proposition 215 in the Health and Safety Codes, are what
allow people with medical conditions that can range from migraines to
AIDS, from anemia to glaucoma, the use of marijuana now. A doctor must
deem it appropriate and provide a prescription for the patient, as
well as all the appropriate licenses to utilize it.

Enforcement of state laws relating to public health and safety of
children would not be affected by the initiative, but certain aspects
of the use of marijuana, such as growing or possessing it, will be
relieved of state and local laws. Police could stop wasting their time
on arresting "non-violent" marijuana users and the money wasted on
keeping these people locked up can be saved or used for a better
cause. The release of criminals because of lack of space could be
prevented and the back up of court systems due to petty crimes, like
marijuana offenses, could be alleviated. The state could save money on
the costs to run anti-marijuana programs, which could in turn be
re-directed back into police resources to keep real criminals in jail.

The Act is meant to benefit Californians as it intends to rid crime by
putting marijuana dealers on the streets out of business by
"establishing legal, regulated sales outlets," to sell marijuana just
like alcohol and cigarettes, which would in turn be taxed creating
revenue for the state. It is estimated that over 15 billion dollars of
marijuana transactions are made each year illegally. For California
cities, that would legalize and tax marijuana a firm legal system
would be set up to regulate cultivation and sales, but all regulations
would have to follow the Health and Safety Codes. However, if a city
does not want to tax marijuana, residents can still use it within the
Codes' limits.