CALIFORNIA TO VOTE ON MARIJUANA BILL, BOTH PARTIES DIVIDED ON LEGALIZATION

Supporters of Act Are Generally Younger Voters, but Personal Beliefs
Are an Important Factor

Marijuana remains a controversial issue in the minds of American
voters, and it may require a joint effort by Republicans and
Democrats to make California the first state to legalize cannabis for
recreational use.

A third of Americans across the country support legalizing marijuana,
but the majority still oppose it, according to a recent poll by the
Associated Press.

California alone, however, is a different story.

Voters will decide in November if anyone more than 21 years old can
possess up to an ounce or grow up to 25 square feet of marijuana for
personal use. A poll released on Tuesday by SurveyUSA revealed 56
percent of Californians believe marijuana should be legalized for
recreational use.

Women, people more than 65 years old and Republicans were most likely
to be opposed to the measure.

"Though we believe in limited government, (many Republicans) see
marijuana as so bad, and the issue so important ... that the laws
that exist should be heavily enforced," said Andrew Kreitz, Bruin
Republicans chairman and a fourth-year business economics student.

But a group does exist within Bruin Republicans that supports
legalization, Kreitz said.

With a strong libertarian base, he said Bruin Republicans are not
categorically opposed to legalizing marijuana.

Some of the benefits Republicans see from decriminalizing cannabis
are reducing violence from drug trafficking across California's
southern border and tax revenue, Kreitz said.

"People have to consider the social cost (of legalizing marijuana).
.. Pot is simply not good for you," he said.

This contrasts with the 74 percent of Americans who believe marijuana
has medical benefits for certain conditions.

Democrats are also divided on the prospect of legalization, said
Rebecca Barrett, external vice president of Bruin Democrats. The
issue is potentially good because it leads to political interest
among students, who are especially active in the debate, she said.

There is no official position for Democrats, and members of the party
lean either way based on their personal beliefs, Barrett said.

"We should be focusing on larger issues like the environment and
health care reform, but if we see even a 5 percent increase in
students turning out to vote because of this, then it's a good
thing," she said.

But the issue is not so ambiguous for some people. Los Angeles
County's District Attorney Steve Cooley released a statement on April
19 detailing his opposition to the November bill. The measure lacks a
means for the state to regulate and tax marijuana, according to the statement.

"This is a bad initiative that will create tremendous harm and no
good at all," Cooley said in a statement.

The controversy surrounding the legalization of marijuana will not be
put to rest in November, but the measure is sure to be a significant
step depending on voters' decisions