NO ON PROP 19

Wholesale Pot Legalization a Lousy Idea

"Nine of 10 states having the highest levels of past-month illicit
drug use among persons age 12 or older also had the highest levels of
past-month marijuana use (in alphabetical order: Alaska, Colorado,
District of Columbia, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island,
Vermont, and Washington)."

That's directly from a report issued by the federal government's
Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Association.

It points out why California voters should make sure Proposition 19,
the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, which would
legalize marijuana use, goes up in smoke this November. Our society
really doesn't need to legalize another drug that involves such
serious debate on health issues.

The questions about whether or not marijuana use leads to heavier drug
use don't have to be answered definitively. That debate rages on. The
point is there's no compelling reason to legalize the drug for
recreational use.

The stance is a pragmatic one. Imagine, for example, the workplace
issues that will likely revolve around legalized marijuana use.

While it is true that enforcement of current marijuana laws in the
state are lax, that's hardly reason to simply open the floodgates and
declare the substance legal.

And let's be clear, the legalization being described is for
recreational use. Medical marijuana use, currently swept up in the
vagaries of the system, is another matter altogether and not addressed
in Proposition 19. Marijuana, prescribed by a medical doctor for
legitimate purposes, should be dealt with as all other prescriptions
are - patient and doctor to pharmacist.

Lastly, the claims that California could reap huge tax revenues are
spurious. The proposition allows individuals to grow as much as 25
square feet of marijuana for "personal consumption." It's easy to
grow. Imagine if the state taxed tomatoes like it taxes alcohol.
Everyone who really wanted tomatoes would be growing their own.

If marijuana is legalized, it stands to reason that drug use will
increase. The illegality of the substance deters use for many. Does
California really need another drug legalized which will undoubtedly
carry with it increased societal costs and unclear consequences?
Absolutely not.

Vote against the wholesale legalization of marijuana. No on
Proposition 19.