SUPPORT GROWING FOR CALIF. MARIJUANA BILL

In November, the voters of California get to vote on Proposition 19
to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana. The polls say the
proposition has a good chance of passing, though the last weeks
before the election will be crucial to how this turns out.

The proposition has many groups and individuals who endorse it,
including Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, the National Black
Police Association, many physicians, the California NAACP, the
California Libertarian Party, the California Green Party, California
Young Democrats, the Republican Liberty Caucus and several labor unions.

Illinois voters do not have such a choice on our ballot, but we do
have some votes that will affect our chances of getting meaningful reform.

Both the 15th District Republican Congressman Tim Johnson and his
Democratic opponent Dr. David Gill support marijuana law reform.

Among the candidates for governor, our current governor, Democrat Pat
Quinn, has expressed lukewarm support for such reform. His Republican
challenger, Bill Brady, will absolutely oppose it.

Rich Whitney, the Green Party candidate, and Lex Green, the
Libertarian Party candidate, support legalizing marijuana for reasons
of their parties' philosophy.

California is mainly pushing for this as a budget and economic issue.
That state is in a deep financial hole and is facing a painful
budgetary crisis.

The idea of a multibillion-dollar, agriculturally based industry just
popping out of the ground around them seems to many Californians as a godsend.

It would be here, too.

Gregg Brown, Bloomington