CUT THROUGH MISINFORMATION ON PROP. 19

The biggest problem voters have when considering how to use their
votes in a meaningful way is misinformation. After reading Dick
Dickerson's opinion in Monday's Record Searchlight, I thought it
would serve our community to know the facts as opposed to opinions
and beliefs about Proposition 19. I have no doubt that Councilman
Dickerson's motives are good; it is just that his understanding of
this issue is founded on inaccurate information.

First, like many propositions, Proposition 19 is not meant to be
definitive in itself. If passed, Proposition 19 would have to be
codified into the existing law. That means that the state would have
to create guidelines to "regulate, tax and control" the use of and
sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults. After the state creates
these guidelines and laws, the proposition is designed to allow local
governments the right to decide how that happens in our communities.
Some communities are already planning on how to regulate locally. A
majority of voters understand the negative aspects to marijuana
prohibition far outweigh the few problems with the controlled,
partial legalization of marijuana that Proposition 19 would create.

Contrary to the beliefs of some, studies show that prohibition and
ever-more-costly law enforcement efforts in this area have failed
miserably for 40 years. Not only has usage not gone down and
availability to high school-aged children not been significantly
reduced, but criminalization of youths for minor drug offenses has
gone up markedly. Considering the huge "black hole" our prison system
has become, partial legalization accomplished by Proposition 19 would
limit the criminalization of individuals for nonviolent, victimless
cannabis use.

Dickerson brings up usage and potency as reasons to not pass
Proposition 19. The facts support the conclusion of Dr. Evan Wood,
founder of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy
(www.icsdp.org): "No scientific evidence demonstrates an association
between the amount of money governments spend on drug law enforcement
and rates of drug use. ... And some nations like the U.S., which
spend the most have among the highest rates of drug use." Though
costs of drug law enforcement have gone up by 600 percent in the past
30 years, marijuana usage among 12th-graders has increased from 27
percent in 1990 to 32 percent in 2008. Scientific evidence indicates
marijuana potency has increased one and a half times since 1981; that
makes regulation of potency or labeling of products an area that
local government could control under the new laws.

Dr. Wood goes on to state, "Legalization and strict regulation are
more likely to be effective at eliminating the role of organized
crime in marijuana production and distribution, because the profit
motive is effectively removed." In other words, the drug cartels
won't be able to turn a profit in California if Proposition 19
passes. There is absolutely no evidence to support Dickerson's belief
that "illegal cultivation of marijuana will not only continue, but
also expand."

It is also misleading to say, "California is currently the major
source for marijuana for the nation," when Mexico and Canada are the
sources of most U.S. marijuana. The former president of Mexico,
Vicente Fox, stated, "We should consider legalizing the production,
distribution and sale of drugs ... [W]e have to see it as a strategy
to strike and break the economic structure that allows the mafias to
generate huge profits in their business."

Proposition 19 is a sensible approach to treat marijuana much the
same way we treat alcohol and tobacco. It is not some horrible threat
to our community; laws to protect minors and the workplace will
remain in place. Alcohol prohibition didn't work and helped create
one of the most dangerous and lawless times in our history, when
gangs led by people like Al Capone ruled city streets. How did we end
that era? We did it by repealing the laws prohibiting its use and
creating strict local regulation and taxation.

Contrary to what Dickerson would have you believe, alcohol, tobacco
and caffeine are all more toxic, addictive and deadly than marijuana.
Criminalization of drugs has failed, and most countries have learned
that treating drugs as a health problem makes far more sense.
Proposition 19 is a step in the right direction. As the retired chief
of police for San Jose, Joseph D. McNamara, proclaimed, "Alcohol and
tobacco are far more dangerous drugs than cannabis, but no one is
being killed in an alcohol or cigarette black market because those
drugs are legal, regulated and taxed."

Facts indicate Proposition 19 just makes sense. Vote yes on 19.