Initiative to Legalize Cannabis Approved by California Secretary of State
Proponents of the Responsible Use Act of 2016, an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis in California, have been given the go-ahead by Secretary of State Alex Padilla to begin collecting signatures in an attempt to place the measure on next year’s November ballot.
Advocates now have 180 days to collect 365,880 signatures from registered California voters. If they’re successful in doing so, the initiative would be put to a vote during the 2016 presidential election. If passed by voters, the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis would be legalized for those 21 and older, with cannabis retail outlets authorized to distribute the plant.
The proposal would establish an $8 per ounce tax, while allowing cities and counties to impose a jurisdictional sales tax. The initiative would also setup procedures for the reconsideration of prisoners serving sentences for cannabis-related charges.
According to polling released in March, 55% of California voters support legalizing cannabis.
– TheJointBlog
Patrick H Moore
The People of the great State of California will never except a “legalization” measure that only allows one ounce of “legal” cannabis…that is just plain silly.
You can fool some of the People some of the time, but you can’t fool Californian’s about Weed!
Keep looking for a real solution, it’s coming soon…hint 7/10 for the 710
Fluffheadpnw
Sounds shitty just like what we have in wa bullshit decrim with legal cartels and no home growing
David
Fluffheadpnw
Prior to the now regrettable passage of I-502, the bill’s sponsor’s told Washington’s medical community they’d “leave our medical law alone”. In fairness, they legally did what they said. They dragged their knuckles for two years whereby, under Washington State initiative law, the legislature could monkey with it. They went much further. They killed it -off. I have already watched 6 disabled Washington medical patients move because of the passage and signing of anti- medical patient re-prohibition Aka SB5052
David
Patrick H. Moore:
It’s not just a reduction in rec. possession amounts they’re after in California. They’ll want to kill California’s medical marijuana law too. Have you been hearing these terms there yet ?
1). “The Wild West” of marijuana ?
2). ” two “Parallel marijuana systems” ?
3). Unregulated “medical Grey area’s” ?
4). Medical dispensaries are “competition”
If the answer is yes, then good-luck. A former Microsoft billionaire wants to own it all.
Anthony
“The initiative would also setup procedures for the reconsideration of prisoners serving sentences for cannabis-related charges.”
GOOD. I would hope this is happening everywhere that is legalizing or considering it. It’s already ridiculous enough that they’re serving time for anything cannabis-related in the first place, and leaving them in there after the “crime” they committed is no longer a crime would be a crime itself.
David
As much as I disagree with Washington State’s legalization law by calling sick people ‘competition” and killing- off medical marijuana for patients in need. I will give Washington prop’s for immediately releasing non-violent cannabis offender’s and expunging felonies from young peoples court records. Washington (and Oregon it appears) did get this right.
KCMike
I was 23 when I got a Class A Felony 10 year sentence for sales of a controlled substance within 1000ft. of a school zone.
It was in an apartment building 2 blocks down the street, in a part of town more known for hookers and crack… It was mostly art institute hippys and hipsters. Pot was, or seemed at that time, not a big deal. It was on more than one top 40 song on the radio, it was in movies, celebritys were talking about using it on the TV.
When they brought me in I didn’t even lie, I didn’t think that is was going to be anything but a slap on the wrist. I had only sold pot a few times. So I knew exactly who and when I sold it, they tried to buy a bunch of times after that and I just couldn’t find anything. I didn’t have a lawyer and I just admited to it.
I sold 4.8 grams of Marijuana to an undercover cop who hit the bong with us before I sold to him. It was actually 3.5 grams, my bags always weighed spot on, they even charged me with the weight of the plastic baggie.
Just like anything the more you buy the less expensive it is, it was only $60 bucks for a for a half ounce(14grams) and you could sell eighths(3.5grams) for $20 bucks. I really wasn’t a drug dealer, I just would buy a little more than I was going to use and would split it with my friends so I could smoke some for free.
I got a 10 year sentence and ended up dealing with the system from 1996 – 2009, thirteen years stuck in a system that humiliated me and threw me in with murderers and rapists at 23 years of age. I was a non-violent drug offender but because of my mandatory minimum 10 year sentence I was grouped in with the people going to level 5 camps 10 years to life…
I was humiliated and abused by not only inmates but staff, I was beaten badly enough to need several sets of stiches in my eyebrow and still have a nasal passage thats too small, it grew back funny. I lost teeth and other teeth were cracked and loosened.
I was in prison for almost 4 years over just a few joints worth of pot. I spent most of my time in solitary confinement or treatment programs that I would sign up for to avoid general population.
I was released in 2003 and have been trying to make it but since my release I have been shunned by almost every company that I apply for. They don’t see the “crime” They see the word Felony and I can’t find jobs that will see past it… and i’m talking about recently it’s 2015, that “crime” happened 19 years ago and I still can’t rent or get jobs 90%+ places that require a background check.
I am the result of the war on drugs in this country. I haven’t had the money for healthcare or dental care and I have such a hard time finding work because of my record. I have mainly relied on jobs doing manual labor but Im 42 now and I have had some dings along the way, manual labor tears up the body, my backs hurt and my shoulder is in constant pain, but I don’t dare mention that or my diabetes… I can’t get any public assistance because of my drug crime.
I have just been scraping by and now I have 3 more teeth that need to get pulled but I have already lost so many that I will need to get them all pulled. I need a full upper and lower and possibly bone grafting and implants. I just don’t have it and I don’t have family that can help.
I wonder when it’s legal if I’ll get a pardon…how do you value 19 years of lost opportunitys…
I have a fundly set up if anyone wants to share it, I could really use the help.
https://fundly.com/mike-s-emergency-dental-reconstruction