Jim Finnel
Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
The biggest problem voters have when considering how to use their votes in a meaningful way is misinformation. After reading Dick Dickerson's opinion in Monday's Record Searchlight, I thought it would serve our community to know the facts as opposed to opinions and beliefs about Proposition 19. I have no doubt that Councilman Dickerson's motives are good; it is just that his understanding of this issue is founded on inaccurate information.
First, like many propositions, Proposition 19 is not meant to be definitive in itself. If passed, Proposition 19 would have to be codified into the existing law. That means that the state would have to create guidelines to "regulate, tax and control" the use of and sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults. After the state creates these guidelines and laws, the proposition is designed to allow local governments the right to decide how that happens in our communities. Some communities are already planning on how to regulate locally. A majority of voters understand the negative aspects to marijuana prohibition far outweigh the few problems with the controlled, partial legalization of marijuana that Proposition 19 would create.
Contrary to the beliefs of some, studies show that prohibition and ever-more-costly law enforcement efforts in this area have failed miserably for 40 years. Not only has usage not gone down and availability to high school-aged children not been significantly reduced, but criminalization of youths for minor drug offenses has gone up markedly. Considering the huge "black hole" our prison system has become, partial legalization accomplished by Proposition 19 would limit the criminalization of individuals for nonviolent, victimless cannabis use.
Dickerson brings up usage and potency as reasons to not pass Proposition 19. The facts support the conclusion of Dr. Evan Wood, founder of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy ( International Centre for Science in Drug Policy - ICSDP ): "No scientific evidence demonstrates an association between the amount of money governments spend on drug law enforcement and rates of drug use. ... And some nations like the U.S., which spend the most have among the highest rates of drug use." Though costs of drug law enforcement have gone up by 600 percent in the past 30 years, marijuana usage among 12th-graders has increased from 27 percent in 1990 to 32 percent in 2008. Scientific evidence indicates marijuana potency has increased one and a half times since 1981; that makes regulation of potency or labeling of products an area that local government could control under the new laws.
Dr. Wood goes on to state, "Legalization and strict regulation are more likely to be effective at eliminating the role of organized crime in marijuana production and distribution, because the profit motive is effectively removed." In other words, the drug cartels won't be able to turn a profit in California if Proposition 19 passes. There is absolutely no evidence to support Dickerson's belief that "illegal cultivation of marijuana will not only continue, but also expand."
It is also misleading to say, "California is currently the major source for marijuana for the nation," when Mexico and Canada are the sources of most U.S. marijuana. The former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, stated, "We should consider legalizing the production, distribution and sale of drugs ... [W]e have to see it as a strategy to strike and break the economic structure that allows the mafias to generate huge profits in their business."
Proposition 19 is a sensible approach to treat marijuana much the same way we treat alcohol and tobacco. It is not some horrible threat to our community; laws to protect minors and the workplace will remain in place. Alcohol prohibition didn't work and helped create one of the most dangerous and lawless times in our history, when gangs led by people like Al Capone ruled city streets. How did we end that era? We did it by repealing the laws prohibiting its use and creating strict local regulation and taxation.
Contrary to what Dickerson would have you believe, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine are all more toxic, addictive and deadly than marijuana. Criminalization of drugs has failed, and most countries have learned that treating drugs as a health problem makes far more sense. Proposition 19 is a step in the right direction. As the retired chief of police for San Jose, Joseph D. McNamara, proclaimed, "Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous drugs than cannabis, but no one is being killed in an alcohol or cigarette black market because those drugs are legal, regulated and taxed."
Facts indicate Proposition 19 just makes sense. Vote yes on 19.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Record Searchlight
Contact: letters@redding.com
Website: Redding Record Searchlight: Local Redding, California News Delivered Throughout the Day.
Details: MapInc
Author: Doug Bennett
Note: Doug Bennett is the Shasta Tehama Trinity Chapter representative for the ACLU of Northern California.
First, like many propositions, Proposition 19 is not meant to be definitive in itself. If passed, Proposition 19 would have to be codified into the existing law. That means that the state would have to create guidelines to "regulate, tax and control" the use of and sale of small amounts of marijuana to adults. After the state creates these guidelines and laws, the proposition is designed to allow local governments the right to decide how that happens in our communities. Some communities are already planning on how to regulate locally. A majority of voters understand the negative aspects to marijuana prohibition far outweigh the few problems with the controlled, partial legalization of marijuana that Proposition 19 would create.
Contrary to the beliefs of some, studies show that prohibition and ever-more-costly law enforcement efforts in this area have failed miserably for 40 years. Not only has usage not gone down and availability to high school-aged children not been significantly reduced, but criminalization of youths for minor drug offenses has gone up markedly. Considering the huge "black hole" our prison system has become, partial legalization accomplished by Proposition 19 would limit the criminalization of individuals for nonviolent, victimless cannabis use.
Dickerson brings up usage and potency as reasons to not pass Proposition 19. The facts support the conclusion of Dr. Evan Wood, founder of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy ( International Centre for Science in Drug Policy - ICSDP ): "No scientific evidence demonstrates an association between the amount of money governments spend on drug law enforcement and rates of drug use. ... And some nations like the U.S., which spend the most have among the highest rates of drug use." Though costs of drug law enforcement have gone up by 600 percent in the past 30 years, marijuana usage among 12th-graders has increased from 27 percent in 1990 to 32 percent in 2008. Scientific evidence indicates marijuana potency has increased one and a half times since 1981; that makes regulation of potency or labeling of products an area that local government could control under the new laws.
Dr. Wood goes on to state, "Legalization and strict regulation are more likely to be effective at eliminating the role of organized crime in marijuana production and distribution, because the profit motive is effectively removed." In other words, the drug cartels won't be able to turn a profit in California if Proposition 19 passes. There is absolutely no evidence to support Dickerson's belief that "illegal cultivation of marijuana will not only continue, but also expand."
It is also misleading to say, "California is currently the major source for marijuana for the nation," when Mexico and Canada are the sources of most U.S. marijuana. The former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, stated, "We should consider legalizing the production, distribution and sale of drugs ... [W]e have to see it as a strategy to strike and break the economic structure that allows the mafias to generate huge profits in their business."
Proposition 19 is a sensible approach to treat marijuana much the same way we treat alcohol and tobacco. It is not some horrible threat to our community; laws to protect minors and the workplace will remain in place. Alcohol prohibition didn't work and helped create one of the most dangerous and lawless times in our history, when gangs led by people like Al Capone ruled city streets. How did we end that era? We did it by repealing the laws prohibiting its use and creating strict local regulation and taxation.
Contrary to what Dickerson would have you believe, alcohol, tobacco and caffeine are all more toxic, addictive and deadly than marijuana. Criminalization of drugs has failed, and most countries have learned that treating drugs as a health problem makes far more sense. Proposition 19 is a step in the right direction. As the retired chief of police for San Jose, Joseph D. McNamara, proclaimed, "Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous drugs than cannabis, but no one is being killed in an alcohol or cigarette black market because those drugs are legal, regulated and taxed."
Facts indicate Proposition 19 just makes sense. Vote yes on 19.
NewsHawk: User: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: Record Searchlight (Redding, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Record Searchlight
Contact: letters@redding.com
Website: Redding Record Searchlight: Local Redding, California News Delivered Throughout the Day.
Details: MapInc
Author: Doug Bennett
Note: Doug Bennett is the Shasta Tehama Trinity Chapter representative for the ACLU of Northern California.
