Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Santa Cruz, Ca - Most elected officials won't touch marijuana reform but Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom dived in Wednesday, telling 90 people at Chaminade Resort why they should support Proposition 64, which he called the "most comprehensive legalization initiative to be placed in front of voters."
The measure is runs 64 pages, said Newsom, explaining why he's "the only statewide Democrat in a very blue state that is out front on this issue."
Prop. 64, if approved, would put the state in charge of regulating marijuana and impose taxes on retail sales and allow local regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Newsom came at the invitation of the Santa Cruz County Medical Society, headed by Dr. Donaldo Hernandez, a trustee of the California Medical Association, which has been working with Newsom on marijuana policy reform and favors reclassifying cannabis to encourage research on its safety and effectiveness, and taxing cannabis to fund regulation, enforcement and education.
"I have long believed the war on drugs is an abject failure," said Newsom, a father of four children, sharing that his wife "is not happy" with his stance in favor of legalizing this billion-dollar industry.
He said he sees legitimate concerns - such as marketing of cannabis-laced gummy bears - but he sees benefits to regulation.
"Our initiative provides an unprecedented amount of money going to counties for drug treatment," he said, sparking a round of applause.
"We'll be putting an unprecedented amount of money into research," he added, primarily to the University of California.
Tax revenues would be split three ways, he said, 60 percent to youth programs and drug treatment, 20 percent to law enforcement and 20 percent to the environment.
He pointed out wholesale cannabis produced in Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties - a hotbed of growers since marijuana was legalized for medical use - is worth $9 billion to $13 billion a year.
In Humboldt County, dead deer were found at illegal grow sites where cultivators have stashed rodenticide to kill squirrels and banned toxic chemical Carbofuran.
"Who's eating these carcasses?" asked Newsom.
As San Francisco mayor, Newsom went after grants to fund drug busts, paying police officers overtime and making arrests.
"I was part of the problem," he said. "I never solved the problem. I perpetuated it."
The arrests disproportionately affect people of color, African-Americans and Latinos, and they often agree to plead guilty, leaving them with a record that makes it difficult to get a legitimate job, prompting the state to spend more money on re-entry services and job training.
If the initiative passes, possession of marijuana would become an infraction, Newsom said.
An infraction is a petty crime typically punishable by a fine, not jail time.
Newsom said he appreciates law enforcement's trepidation but he pointed out California can take advantage of lessons learned by Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2014, followed by Washington state, Oregon and Alaska.
When Hernandez, the medical society president, asked about funding for drug treatment in Santa Cruz County, Newsom said, "You're going to have to fight for these dollars."
Lobbyists are going to have influence, he added. "Be an advocate."
To a cannabis grower worried big industry would push out small cultivators, Newsom said the initiatives gives existing businesses a five-year head start.
Doctors, elected officials and educators were among the attendees.
"I don't know that what we've been doing has been working," said Mary Gaukel, former Delta High School principal who now heads the Santa Cruz County College Commitment. "I don't have the answer."
Proposition 64
Provisions of the marijuana legalization initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot:
-Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry.
-Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15 percent of sales price and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana.
- Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors.
- Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana.
- Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions.
- Potentially more than $1 billion in taxes annually.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said 60 percent would be devoted to youth education programs and drug treatment, 20 percent for law enforcement and 20 percent for the environment.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lieutenant Gavin Newsom Pitches To Legalize Marijuana
Author: Jondi Gumz
Contact: 831-423-4242
Photo Credit: Shmuel Thaler
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel
The measure is runs 64 pages, said Newsom, explaining why he's "the only statewide Democrat in a very blue state that is out front on this issue."
Prop. 64, if approved, would put the state in charge of regulating marijuana and impose taxes on retail sales and allow local regulation and taxation of marijuana.
Newsom came at the invitation of the Santa Cruz County Medical Society, headed by Dr. Donaldo Hernandez, a trustee of the California Medical Association, which has been working with Newsom on marijuana policy reform and favors reclassifying cannabis to encourage research on its safety and effectiveness, and taxing cannabis to fund regulation, enforcement and education.
"I have long believed the war on drugs is an abject failure," said Newsom, a father of four children, sharing that his wife "is not happy" with his stance in favor of legalizing this billion-dollar industry.
He said he sees legitimate concerns - such as marketing of cannabis-laced gummy bears - but he sees benefits to regulation.
"Our initiative provides an unprecedented amount of money going to counties for drug treatment," he said, sparking a round of applause.
"We'll be putting an unprecedented amount of money into research," he added, primarily to the University of California.
Tax revenues would be split three ways, he said, 60 percent to youth programs and drug treatment, 20 percent to law enforcement and 20 percent to the environment.
He pointed out wholesale cannabis produced in Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties - a hotbed of growers since marijuana was legalized for medical use - is worth $9 billion to $13 billion a year.
In Humboldt County, dead deer were found at illegal grow sites where cultivators have stashed rodenticide to kill squirrels and banned toxic chemical Carbofuran.
"Who's eating these carcasses?" asked Newsom.
As San Francisco mayor, Newsom went after grants to fund drug busts, paying police officers overtime and making arrests.
"I was part of the problem," he said. "I never solved the problem. I perpetuated it."
The arrests disproportionately affect people of color, African-Americans and Latinos, and they often agree to plead guilty, leaving them with a record that makes it difficult to get a legitimate job, prompting the state to spend more money on re-entry services and job training.
If the initiative passes, possession of marijuana would become an infraction, Newsom said.
An infraction is a petty crime typically punishable by a fine, not jail time.
Newsom said he appreciates law enforcement's trepidation but he pointed out California can take advantage of lessons learned by Colorado, which legalized marijuana in 2014, followed by Washington state, Oregon and Alaska.
When Hernandez, the medical society president, asked about funding for drug treatment in Santa Cruz County, Newsom said, "You're going to have to fight for these dollars."
Lobbyists are going to have influence, he added. "Be an advocate."
To a cannabis grower worried big industry would push out small cultivators, Newsom said the initiatives gives existing businesses a five-year head start.
Doctors, elected officials and educators were among the attendees.
"I don't know that what we've been doing has been working," said Mary Gaukel, former Delta High School principal who now heads the Santa Cruz County College Commitment. "I don't have the answer."
Proposition 64
Provisions of the marijuana legalization initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot:
-Designates state agencies to license and regulate marijuana industry.
-Imposes state excise tax on retail sales of marijuana equal to 15 percent of sales price and state cultivation taxes on marijuana of $9.25 per ounce of flowers and $2.75 per ounce of leaves. Exempts medical marijuana.
- Establishes packaging, labeling, advertising and marketing standards and restrictions for marijuana products. Prohibits marketing and advertising marijuana to minors.
- Allows local regulation and taxation of marijuana.
- Authorizes resentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions.
- Potentially more than $1 billion in taxes annually.
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said 60 percent would be devoted to youth education programs and drug treatment, 20 percent for law enforcement and 20 percent for the environment.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lieutenant Gavin Newsom Pitches To Legalize Marijuana
Author: Jondi Gumz
Contact: 831-423-4242
Photo Credit: Shmuel Thaler
Website: Santa Cruz Sentinel
