STATE BALLOT MEASURE PUTS LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL POT IN SPOTLIGHT

A November ballot initiative could legalize recreational marijuana
use, causing some to wonder what the broader implications could be.

Voters will be asked via Proposition 19 whether California adults over
21 can legally have a gram or less and grow marijuana for recreational
use. Supporters said passage could lead to nationwide legalization but
critics said the measure is flawed.

"This initiative is so poorly worded it's going to create more
problems. It puts California in direct conflict with federal law,"
said Covina police Chief Kim Raney.

Robert Ortiz, director and manager of Whittier Hope Collective, a
medical marijuana dispensary, said he supports decriminalization of
pot but is concerned Proposition 19 will create more chaos.

In 1996, Californians legalized medical marijuana with Proposition
215, but Ortiz said patchwork local regulation of dispensaries has
wreaked havoc on patients.

"The lack of leadership and implementation from local and state
governments when it came to Prop 215 disrespected the entire patient
community," he said. "I really wish I could believe it would be
implemented correctly."

Tom Angell, spokesman for the Yes on 19 campaign, said support for
legalizing marijuana is growing and hopes passage of Proposition 19
will lead to national decriminalization.

"Over the past couple years there's really been a shift in the public
consciousness," he said. "If California votes yes on 19 you're
definitely going to see a number of other states following suit."

Thirteen other states legalized medical marijuana after California
passed 215 and two weeks ago Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced
penalties for possession of one gram or less from a misdemeanor to an
infraction.

But the current initiative leaves much of regulation and taxation up
to local governments and Raney said that will create a law enforcement
nightmare.

Per the measure, "each one of the 478 cities in California and each of
the 58 counties can come up with their own tax and regulation scheme,"
Raney said. "You're going to have theoretically over 500 regulating
bodies."

Angell said regulation of pot would fall to Alcoholic Beverage Control
and state lawmakers are already working on legislation in preparation
for the measure passing.

"Local control and decision making is part of the bedrock of American
democracy," Angell said.

But problems could arise if California becomes the only state with
legal recreational pot, some said.

"Amsterdam has become a place for people all over Europe to go and use
drugs, so there's kind of a danger to being the most liberal drug
culture in the U.S.," said Robert Gore, associate director of clinical
training and assistant professor of psychology at USC. "We'll probably
attract people from all over the country or world who want to use the
drug."

The Dutch have backed off their liberal stance on marijuana to some
degree, closing many pot-selling shops in an effort to clean up the
capital's red light district some say has attracted organized crime.

Gore said marijuana legalization could have societal impacts. Research
has shown people predisposed to mental illnesses like schizophrenia
and bipolar disorder are vulnerable to negative effects that could be
long-term, he said.

"There's an understanding even within the pro-marijuana culture that
this is a lfestyle drug," he said. "People who use it on a regular
basis tend to be low-key and less motivated to do things."

Raney said further marijuana legalization in California could lead to
the state being a distribution point for gangs.

"It's naive to think the drug cartels who control about 60 percent of
the marijuana trade in California will walk away from a market that's
exploding and emerging (here)," he said.

But Angell said one of the ultimate goals is to spark nationwide
legalization of marijuana, leading to government regulation and taking
gangs out of the picture.

"There will continue to be a black market in other states but
hopefully other states will follow California," he said. "It has to
happen state by state."

Raney said he couldn't see himself supporting any legislation that
would legalize marijuana and said it comes down to one question.

"There should be a national debate about this issue," he said. "Are we
as a society ready to legalize another intoxicant and deal with the
consequences of that?"