From The New York Times (via @TaxCannabis on Twitter):
Dr. Elders has never been afraid to speak up for the truth over "conventional wisdom," propaganda, and politics.Last week, proponents secured what they view as a major endorsement, that of Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the former United States surgeon general and the first black to hold that position.In a statement to be published in a voter guide, Dr. Elders said the legalization bill would help divert law enforcement resources to more serious threats. “We can let police prevent violent crime, or we can accept the status quo, and keep wasting resources sending tens of thousands of nonviolent marijuana consumers — a disproportionate number who are minorities — to jail,” Dr. Elders wrote.
It's a shame that, even after hearing arguments from Assemblyman Ammiano and Alice Huffman of the California NAACP, the California Democratic Party couldn't follow Ammiano, Huffman, and Dr. Elders's courageous example and endorse this historic ballot initiative. They better hope, politically, that the Republicans don't have their finger on the pulse of California better than they do this time.
