California Pot Initiative (Prop. 19) Still Leading In Latest Poll

[lame54]

Posted by Paul Armentano at 10:16 am
August 18, 2010 131 COMMENTS
California Pot Initiative (Prop. 19) Still Leading In Latest Poll
A majority of Californians continue to voice their support for Prop. 19 — which would eliminate penalties for the private possession and use of marijuana by adults, and allow local governments to regulate retail cannabis production and sales.

According to the most recent Survey USA poll (conducted August 9-11), 50 percent of likely voters in California say they are certain to vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 19 versus 40 percent who say that they will vote ‘no.’ These totals are the same as reported by Survey USA one month ago, and indicate that voters’ support is holding steady despite increased attacks and propaganda from our opponents...

http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/08/18/california-pot-initiative-prop-19-still-leading-in-latest-poll/

[RainDog]

1. hopefully Cali will also see the "Broadus" effect at the voting booth too n/t

[msongs]

2. "illegal" pot = job protection racket for police/prison industrial complex nt

[lunatica]

3. I really hope this passes because I think it'll work in unexpected ways

There's much more than just pot to this. There's the vast cottage industries of hemp. It could turn out to be a very successful experiment from the industrial benefits to the economic stimulus to the effects on crime cartels. There may be a down side to this that could make it a bad experiment, but I don't see it.

[immoderate]

4. Yes. but while you are contemplating the industrial and economic effects of hemp...

It's nice you can be smokin' a doobie. :smoke:

--imm

[Sinistrous]

5. Nice to contemplate, but

won't the Federal prohibition trump the State law?

(Hate to be a downer, but I do not see this going anywhere in the long run.)

[lunatica]

6. It's the economy stupid idea that applies here

It will be such an economic boost to California that the Pot Golden Goose will trump everything else. We've seen more bizarre turnarounds just in the last 2 years. We went from a country of thinking people to Sarah Palin being the Queen of Idiocracy in a mere two years. I think about that all the time. things do change. Just not always in good or predictable ways.

[Sinistrous]

16. Do you have anything to contribute vis-a-vis my question?

I hope what you forecast comes to pass. But if the Feds say "NO", we are right back where we are now.

[RainDog]

19. I'm not an expert on this issue

but I have spent some time reading up on it when I can.

it's my understanding that the state will not get into the actual licensing, etc... these things will be handled at the city level. if some cities want to have "no grow" zones, they can - but they cannot arrest someone for possession of an ounce in public.

by keeping this at the city or county level, I guess the state hopes to avoid a direct confrontation - tho, obviously, this will happen in some form or another b/c federal and state laws will be in direct conflict.

The best thing for the federal govt to do is to reschedule cannabis so that it is no longer the false "schedule 1" category (i.e. no medicinal use.) Too bad they haven't already done this since they look like idiots to continue to claim there is no medical use when Canada has made sativex, or liquid cannabis spray, legal for use by ms patients for years.

The reason this whole movement is an interesting moment is that it is propelled from the ground up - and has been building for years. People are ready to challenge the federal govt by, basically, state-wide level civil disobedience.

I'm sure Obama will be pressured to look like mr. law and order by some - because some people will continue to behave like dicks even when everyone else realizes the time has come to stop this b.s. hopefully he will have the A.G. continue to downplay the importance of mj for the DEA - now they are focusing on busting big grows in forests, etc... still busting people, but, again, the tipping point is here for this issue and it will not go away. It will pass this time or in 2012.

It would be great if it could pass now so that, in 2012, people can introduce initiatives in their states, when they're allowed to, and pressure their reps to move on medical mj at the least.

even long after prohibition, there are still cities that do not allow people to buy alcohol. that will probably be the case here, too. and, of course, the big irony in all of that is that Jack Daniels is made in a dry county.

[EstimatedProphet]

21. Yes, and no

Federal law trumps state law. However, that only will ruin this when 1) the feds want to make an issue out of this (and Obama said a little while back it's not a priority), and 2) the state doesn't fight it - which they will, and have won already with medical marijuana in some cases.

[Angleae]

23. Technically yes. But they'll have to do it all by themselves.

Without the help of CA law enforcement, the feds will be stretched pretty thin.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, lame.

[lame54]

9. thanks for the kick

[jpljr77]

8. I've got a bad feeling about this...

Once the opposition really starts throwing money at their campaign, Joe and Jill Suburb are likely to change their minds.

I hope I'm wrong.

[slackmaster]

11. I'm afraid you are probably right

It will be "Reefer Madness in the 21st Century", and I believe that will draw out some older people who otherwise might not have even bothered to vote at all.

[court jester]

10. "which would eliminate penalties for the private possession and use of marijuana by adults"

Doesn't anyone read the fine print anymore?

This prop legalizes an ounce. And since no one goes to jail for an ounce now and anyone that wants a med card can get one that permits what this prop makes illegal I fail to see what the huge deal is. Also apparently it makes a new law where one doesn't exist-it makes private sales illegal. So you better keep your receipt from your dispensary that now has monopoly powers, since that's the only place you can buy your ounce. How much will a license cost in Oakland by the way? $30,000. That's what they're saying. So here comes factory farming.

Search "Dennis Peron" for the truth about 19.

Lots of people can't be bothered by details anyway as long as it sounds good. Maybe they'll fix the bad parts like they did with NAFTA.

Oh, and what's this about requiring your landlords permission to grow? That bs doesn't exist now. But if it sounds good...

[lame54]

15. Thanks for the kick

[RainDog]

18. the ounce limit is in public

you can have unlimited amounts of cannabis in your home - you can store cannabis that you've grown.

I read the thing and it's my understanding that the medical mj laws remain in effect.

one hope with legalization is to be able to create an "enterprise zone" in the Oakland area - the truth of the matter is that, when mj is legal, people will want to do large-scale growing.

but, like wine, some people will choose to buy things that are grown in such a way that they are more expensive.

some people will grow their own.

I find it incredible that the anti-19 people think that it's better to be able to be arrested than to make it possible for people to know the conditions under which something they ingest is grown.

I would imagine people would prefer things grown pesticide free, for instance, which will impact cost, just for an example.

Also, this vote at this time can make it possible to grow HEMP.

It's not just about someone who wants to get high or who wants to make a lot of money by keeping cannabis illegal. It's also about reintroducing hemp as an American crop with the many amazing uses for that plant.

California's vote can lead the rest of the nation to some sanity about this issue.

You know, if you have a landlord now that doesn't want you to grow pot, they can make that part of the lease... and arrest you if you're not a licensed grower for mmj patients.

I think the anti arguments are weak.

[EstimatedProphet]

22. Really, the big deal is that the medical card won't be necessary anymore

But...

From what I have been able to find out, there's not a replacement ID for the medical card. In other words, according to the law as I have seen it, all anyone has to do is show that they are over 21, not a state resident or anything comparable.

Think about the impact if this is true, when anyone who is 21 can go to California and buy pot. It will break the nationwide prohibition by making it unenforceable.

[krabigirl]

12. Good news, but people have to be vigilant, because the prohibitionists will throw everything at this

Sadthat so many are state Democrats! Shame on them.

[RainDog]

20. no poll will touch this b/c they don't want to let opponents use it against them.

the only pols who might benefit from support for the prop are libertarians and moderate republicans - in hopes they can pull some votes from the dems.

but honestly, more and more in my life I realize that the govt does not lead. the people lead and they change the govt. on issues of civil liberties and rights.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

13. The People in Charge of the Opposition are Idiots & Lunatics

If you have seen the dramatic, scaaaary anti-19 video, do some research on the group that created it. They also have an unintentionally HILARIOUS page dedicated to opposing the "homosexual indoctrination of school children", complete with a video of (gasp!) children in classrooms daring to talk to each other about having "two mommies".

Prop 19 is going to pass easily.

[Mz Pip]

14. The anti- Prop 19 people

are starting to crawl out of the woodwork. Yesterday in the Sunday paper there were two commentaries, both against. One from a doctor and one from someone in law enforcement telling of all the problems that legalizing marijuana would bring. I expect to see more of this.

Some of the same people who backed the Yes on Prop 8 campaign will be pushing to defeat Prop 19.

I really don't have a whole lot of faith in CA voters these days. Anti- choice Carly Fiorino could end up beating Boxer, one of the most liberal Senators out there and we also could have Nutmeg for Governor who says she'll defend Prop 8 in the courts.

[B Calm]

17. My fingers are crossed that it will pass!

[TheKentuckian]

24. Californians need to remind folks that prisons are a budget buster and that fixing this will go a

long way in reducing a huge outlay.

Legal pot keeps the taxman away.