Response to the "Vote Know On Prop 19" Campaign - Proposition 19 Is Only The First Step

Opposition Myth #1: The initiative will end the War on Drugs and substantially reduce marijuana arrests, saving millions in prison costs.

First of all, please point me at anyone who is seriously saying that passing Proposition 19 will single-handedly and immediately "end the War on Drugs."  It would be a huge victory, though.  One of the anti-cannabis opposition's biggest fears is that we pass this thing, not because they they believe (as an organization) it will actually be a massive public health and safety nightmare, but because they know it will not be.  And how do they continue fighting their "war on drugs" when anyone can point to California and say, "Yeah, so what about them?"

DEA Flouts Mendocino Medical Marijuana Ordinance by Raiding First Grow Permit Applicant

On July 7, the DEA conducted an armed raid on the Mendocino County property of Joy Greenfield, 68, the first applicant under the Mendocino County sheriff's new cultivation permit program. Sheriff Allman has been highly supportive of efforts to bring local growers into the permit program, and confirms Ms. Greenfield was in full compliance with local law.

Despite Obama's pledge to end raids on individuals who are acting in accordance with local medical marijuana laws, when Ms. Greenfield informed the DEA agent in charge that she was a legal cultivator under the sheriff's program, the agent's comment was "I don't care what the sheriff says."

Ms. Greenfield called the raid a "slap in the face of Mendocino's government." I think it's a slap in the face to law and liberty everywhere.

From California NORML News

What does it matter? It will still be illegal to the feds.

One of the more discouraging arguments from pro-cannabis individuals on why they don't support and/or don't care about Proposition 19 is that it doesn't matter if we end cannabis prohibition in California, because California law has no effect on federal law or policy.

It's true that passing Proposition 19 won't directly change federal law. But that doesn't mean it won't have an effect. Obviously everything is pure speculation at this point, but here are some points worth considering.

What will this Proposition let me do?

I hear a lot of people expressing concerns and questions about what Proposition 19 has to say about growing your own marijuana. Can you grow it? Can you keep it? Can you consume it, transport it, sell it?

Can I grow my own?

Let's start with cultivation. Section 3 of Proposition 19 clearly states that, for anyone over 21, it shall be "lawful and shall not be a public offense" to

Cultivate, on private property by the owner, lawful occupant, or other lawful resident or guest of the private property owner or lawful occupant, cannabis plants for personal consumption only, in an area of not more than twenty-five square feet per private residence or, in the absence of any residence, the parcel. Cultivation on leased or rented property may be subject to approval from the owner of the property. Provided that, nothing in this section shall permit unlawful or unlicensed cultivation of cannabis on any public lands (Section 11300(a)(ii)).

In plain English: anyone over 21 can grow as much as they want in a 25-square-foot area for personal consumption, on your own private property, rented or owned, provided, if rented, it's okay with your landlord.