PROP. 19 SHOULD NOT BE FOUGHT BY OBAMA ADMINSTRATION

Voter turnout among 18 to 29-year-olds is generally a low number and
fluctuates depending on the election. The percentage of youth voters
has slightly increased over the years, but it has never passed the
highest rate of 55.4 percent in 1972, when 18-year-olds were able to
vote in the presidential election for the first time. The second
largest youth voter turnout was during the 2008 election of Barack
Obama, where 66 percent of the votes from the that age group were in
favor of Obama.

This year's upcoming November election is expected to have an
increase in young voter turnout because of the California measure to
legalize the cultivation, possession and transportation of marijuana.
In fact, votes from youth will be crucial for the bill to pass.

The bill would allow anyone 21 or older to legally possess an ounce
of marijuana and be able to grow the plant in one's own home.

Proposition 19 is the driving factor that is motivating certain young
people who normally have no interest in politics to vote. In turn,
since they will already be at the booths Nov. 2, they are more likely
to cast their vote for a new governor and other measures in addition
to Prop 19.

Not everyone is in support of legalizing marijuana, though. The
controversial bill equally draws arguments from its supporters and
critics. The Obama administration, specifically Attorney General Eric
Holder, "strongly oppose" the measure.

On Oct. 13, Holder wrote a letter to former heads of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration expressing his apprehension toward the
bill. He stated that the bill will delay efforts to "target drug
traffickers who frequently distribute marijuana alongside cocaine and
other controlled substances."

He also went on to say that even if it is allowed under state law,
the federal government will continue to "vigorously enforce the
[Controlled Substances Act] against those individuals and
organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for
recreational use."

It is this type of thinking that clearly overlooks the concept of
state's rights.

It's the same concept that the founding fathers of this country made
sure to include so that the federal government would not be able to
interfere with the interests of the people.

The meaning of a democracy is not that we are just a government for
the people, but also by the people. It is the right of the people to
be able to decide on laws and their choice be implemented.

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle announced his support of
Proposition 19 earlier this month. "The War on Drugs has created
tremendous damage in California and throughout America, and this will
help stop that damage," explained Hinkle.

On top of that, the Libertarian Party stands for the "the repeal of
all laws creating 'crimes' without victims, such as the use of drugs
for medicinal or recreational purposes."

Decriminalizing the use of marijuana would curb the amount of drug
violence that occurs and it would help bring in tax revenue.

The use of medical marijuana is already legal with a license in the
state of California and passing the recreational use of marijuana
would be the next step for the plant.

We have our own response to Attorney General Holder's statement that
"even if the bill passes, nothing will change." When the bill passes,
things better change.