Breaking - Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders Endorses Proposition 19

From The New York Times (via @TaxCannabis on Twitter):

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.

Dr. Elders has never been afraid to speak up for the truth over "conventional wisdom," propaganda, and politics.

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.

Marc Emery Agrees: Marijuana Activists Who Oppose Prop 19 Are Wrong

From Cannabis Culture Magazine:

But first, let me explain that opponents of Richard Lee's initiative fall into three groups. The first group is the police and prison industry, represented by their unions and spokespeople...The second group includes the cartels, thugs, street gangs, large commercial growers, commercial medical marijuana growers and their dependents that make exploitative profits taking full advantage of prohibition-inflated prices...The third group is the so-called old guard of the cannabis or medical marijuana movement. The wonderful Proposition-215 pioneer Denis Peron is one, but there are many others.

A brilliantly articulated defense of Proposition 19, he takes on the "marijuana activists" and "professional stoners" who claim to be insiders but have the most to lose by a change in the status quo.  If a pro-cannabis individual you know has bought into any of these myths, please show him or her this article.  We have a chance to make history in November.  It will be a sad day indeed if we are defeated not by the law enforcement special interests or the puritanical moralists but by the greed and selfishness of our own.

Feinstein supports campaign to defeat marijuana legalization measure

From the LA Times:

California's senior U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has endorsed "No on Prop 19," the main opposition campaign to Proposition 19.  She issued a statement today calling the measure "a jumbled legal nightmare that will make our highways, our workplaces and our communities less safe."

Dale Sky Clare, a spokeswoman for Tax Cannabis 2010, responded that she was not surprised by the lack of support from Feinstein and other top officials. "I'm just not putting a lot of faith in politicians to lead," she said. "The voters have always led on this issue."

California voters, please take a moment and contact Senator Feinstein.  Ask her if she is aware that:

1. Regarding highways: Proposition 19 specifically states, "nothing in this Act shall permit cannabis consumption by the operator of any vehicle, boat or aircraft while it is being operated, or that impairs the operator;" (proposed Health and Safety Code, Article 5, Chapter 5, Division 10, Section 11300(c)(iii)).
2. Regarding workplaces: "No person shall be punished, fined, discriminated against, or be denied any right or privilege for lawfully engaging in any conduct permitted by this Act or authorized pursuant to Section 11301 of this Act. Provided however, that the existing right of an employer to address consumption that actually impairs job performance by an employee shall not be affected" (proposed Health and Safety Code, Article 5, Chapter 5, Division 10, Section 11304(c)). [Emphasis added.]
3. Regarding our communities -- detailed studies (such as this one, this one, or this one) have shown that drugs are not a major cause of crime.  In 2001, Portugal decriminalized all drugs and the results, both on public health and safety, have been largely positive-- certainly better than the status quo in America.