SMOKE AND SPIN

Will Proposition 19 Be a Boon for Democrats on November 2?

D.C.-based website Politico reported last week that the
initiative--which would decriminalize recreational cannabis for
adults and give local governments the option to tax and regulate
marijuana--might be overlooked advantage that will put state Dems
such as Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer over the top this election.

Of course, no one can anticipate Prop. 19's impact on turnout for
certain. Recent polls suggest that the initiative itself might pass;
a Field Poll released last week shows the ballot measure with a
seven-point lead, at 49 percent support. Many also assume a
correlation between pot smokers and Democrat voters.

The No on 19 campaign, however, doesn't smell such smoke. "We haven't
seen any evidence of [19 helping Dems]," argued Sacramento-based No
on Proposition 19 spokesman Tim Rosales. "Every Democrat running for
statewide office has come out opposing Prop. 19. They're all running
away from it as fast as they can."

Mike Meno, communications director for D.C.-based Marijuana Policy
Project, agreed that Dems are avoiding 19. "For too long, politicians
have thought marijuana was a third-rail issue," he says.

But he also warns that politicians are squandering a substantial
electorate. "Millions of Americans want to see our marijuana laws
change," Meno argued. "They know prohibition is a failure. They want
to see a different approach."

Marijuana Policy Project, which supports Prop. 19, warns that if
top-of-the-ticket Democrat candidates keep distancing themselves from
cannabis, it could backfire. "[This] creates an opportunity for
Republicans," said Meno, arguing that legalizing cannabis appeals to
libertarian, right and moderate voters as well. "Sooner or later
someone is going to realize that there can be a lot of value
politically in supporting [marijuana] reforms."

But perhaps Dems will get on board first. California Democratic Party
chairman and former state Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, as
noted in the Politico story, has stated that "pot" will be a force
that drives young voters to the ballots this year, just as President
Barack Obama got them to vote in 2008.

Surveys show that 70 percent of voters under age 35 support marijuana
legalization. "But by and large, Democrat politicians have balked at
the chance to capitalize on this issue," said MPP's Meno.