PROP. 19 FUTURE UNCLEAR IN BARSTOW

BARSTOW - Marijuana has an ambiguous future within the city of Barstow
even if a proposition passes on Tuesday that would legalize possession
and potential sale within the state of California.

Proposition 19 would legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana in
adults age 21 or older. Both state and local governments would be able
to authorize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana.

The use of marijuana would still be illegal under federal law, which
is causing some debate among politicians. U.S. Attorney General Eric
Holder has stated that he will still use federal law to prosecute
marijuana users in California even if Proposition 19 passes.

Although voters approved a proposition in 1996 that allows the use of
marijuana for medical purposes, Barstow and the County of San
Bernardino currently have a moratorium on the sale of medical
marijuana within Barstow's city limits and unincorporated portions of
San Bernardino County.

Barstow's mayor and one member of City Council were unable to give a
definitive answer when asked if marijuana would be allowed to be sold
within the city if Proposition 19 passes. Calls to the other three
city council members and to Police Chief Dianne Burns went unanswered
Friday.

Councilmember Timothy Silva said that he wanted to wait for the
outcome of some pending court decisions on medical marijuana before he
made a decision about whether or not the city would allow marijuana to
be sold within city limits.

Mayor Joe Gomez said that he would like more input from residents
before he made a decision about the sale of marijuana.

An informal survey of ten Barstow residents outside Walmart on Friday
afternoon had six residents against the proposition and four residents
for the proposition.

Some of the residents against the proposition said they were afraid
that children and teens would be able to have easier access to
marijuana if it were legalized for adults.

"There's too many kids that might get into drugs," said Inez Francia,
a resident of Barstow. "A lot of kids are doing drugs at a young age."

Residents who were for the passage of the proposition said that it
would help people with chronic pain or conditions such as anxiety.

"It's an anxiety calmer," said Sue Nelson, also a resident of Barstow.
"To me, it's just like drinking a beer."

A recent poll done by the Los Angeles Times and the University of
Southern California also found that more people are opposed to the
proposition, with 51 percent opposed and 39 percent in support.