PROP 19 COMES TO CAMPUS

On Nov. 2, people will vote on Proposition 19, the legalization of
marijuana.

Proposition 19, also known as Regulate and Control Cannabis Act of
2010, would allow any person over the age of 21 to obtain one ounce of
marijuana to be used for personal consumption. It would further allow
the growth of up to 25 square feet of marijuana.

If passed, the state government would be able to tax the sale of
marijuana. Prop. 19 is proposed to generate billions of dollars in
annual revenue that would help fund jobs and health care.

There is controversy with this proposition because not everyone wants
marijuana to be legalized. Cal State Fullerton students and Faculty
shared their thoughts.

"Our economy is messed up, so legalizing marijuana right now can be
good," said Japanese major Jossue Rodriguez, 18.

Rodriguez said that alcohol is a lot more harmful than marijuana so
there is nothing wrong with legalizing it.

According to the Board of Equalization, legalizing marijuana would
bring $1.4 billion a year in California. They say the money collected
would go to funding, jobs, health care, parks, public safety, roads
and transportation.

There are some people who oppose the legalization of marijuana.
Addiction is a concern to many because they think that if marijuana is
legalized, more people will end up using the drug and become addicted
to the drug.

"I have seen many people get addicted to that drug," said Jose
Villafuerte, 22, a child development student.

An editorial by the San Bernardino Sun, suggested that Prop. 19 has
various flaws. One major thing was that Prop. 19 would allow
passengers to smoke in a vehicle, but not the driver. They argue that
this can have an effect on the person driving the vehicle because
secondhand smoke may interfere with the driver ability to focus.

"Prop. 19, as written, is a mess. It would allow each city within
California to create its own municipal codes so that a person could
conceivably be OK in one city and then a block later be breaking the
law. That's a joke," said Ioakim Boutakidis, CSUF child and adolescent
studies professor.

Each city will have their own regulations as to how to enforce the
rules on marijuana.

Boutakidis said change of these laws has to happen at the federal
level. Regardless of what California passes, it would still be a
federal crime to possess, grow or distribute marijuana, which would
put us in conflict with federal law.

"So while I like the overall idea of changing national policy to make
the use, cultivation and possession of marijuana less criminal, I
cannot support Prop. 19 as written," Boutakidis said.

Because Prop 19 is a state law, the use of marijuana will still be a
crime at the federal level. This law will not be made nationwide.

Nov. 2 is the date of the midterm election and Prop.19 will be on
California's ballot.