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?"

"Stoners Against Tax Cannabis Initiative" Misguided

This afternoon, I was made aware of a new source of opposition to Proposition 19, a blog written by a self-described "professional stoner".  She identifies and addresses some eighteen "myths" that Proposition 19 supporters believe.  I firmly believe one of the biggest threats to the successful passage of this initiative in November is this kind of paranoid mistrust gone rampant.  I will be addressing her concerns one by one, and, if Miss Dragonfly would like to respond, I would welcome an honest dialogue that educates everyone more about both current marijuana laws and Proposition 19.

Proposition 19 Makes Us All Safer

Opponents of Proposition 19 like to claim that it will cause crime to increase, put a heavier strain on law enforcement, and be a general public safety nightmare.  As I touched on in my comments on why Senator Feinstein is wrong for opposing Prop 19, the facts just don't support this.

CBS Poll Puts Prop 19 Support Ahead 10% From Opposition

From CBS 5:

Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana, and allow marijuana to be regulated and taxed in California, is supported among those likely voters surveyed by 50% to 40%, although 11% remained uncertain how they would vote on the issue.

The poll found younger voters support the measure, while older voters oppose it. Democrats and Independents tended to support pot legalization, while Republicans generally opposed the idea.

The CBS 5 poll of 614 likely California voters was conducted by the polling firm SurveyUSA from July 8 through July 11 and has a four-point margin of error.

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.

Voting No On Prop 19 Is Voting Yes For Shady Dealers and Gangs

The opposition is attempting to scare mothers into voting against Proposition 19 on the grounds that ending prohibition will make cannabis more accessible to their children, and send the wrong message to youth, condoning or even encouraging underage usage.

Say it with me: dealers don't card; licensed proprietors of shops or bars do.

Does your neighborhood pot dealer ask someone's age before selling?  Most dealers are not Nancy Botwin from Showtime's "Weeds" (first season, anyway); kids make easy targets with extra cash.  A dealer is already operating outside the law; he has nothing to lose by selling to children.

High times with legalized pot? It all depends

From The San Francisco Chronicle:

Foes of the ballot measure say legalizing casual cannabis use will lead to pot farms everywhere, rampant drug use and dangerous dopers on the highway. Proponents say cannabis is no more dangerous than alcohol, and that bringing California's biggest cash crop - an estimated $14 billion a year - out of the shadows of illegality will create jobs and inject millions of dollars into governmental coffers.

Well written and balanced, this article also calls attention to the highly speculative nature of the RAND study's figures.

There's just one question we need to be asking: does the damage done by using cannabis, to individuals or society, outweigh the damage of our current prohibition?  All evidence points to a clear and decisive NO.