California to Legalize Weed for Everyone

[User]

There is an initiative in the works that could end up on the November ballot that allows for marijuana to be sold to anyone, and anywhere that already sells alcohol. Its being called The Inalienable Rights Enforcement Initiative. From the full text of the measure:

This initiative will amend the Constitution of California to defend and safeguard the inalienable rights of the People against infringement by governments and corporations, providing for the lawful growth, sale, and possession of marijuana. Marijuana will be taxed through a system of stamps and licenses--a $5 stamp will be required for the sale of an eighth ounce of marijuana and a $50 annual license will be required for the growth of one marijuana plant. To protect participants and encourage participation in the system, such licenses and stamps will be available anonymously in stores where marijuana is sold.

So instead of getting some quack doctor to give you a prescription for $100 because of your supposed "anxiety" or alleged "insomnia", you will just pay an extra tax each time you buy yourself another 8th.

Aside from allowing all willing adults to be able to buy weed easily, this initiative will start to generate revenue for California, and stimulate our struggling economy. More weed stores means more jobs for Californians, more taxes to be collected, and more people enjoying better weed. And finally marijuana will be put into the same file as Alcohol and Cigarettes where it belongs, instead of it being equated with *edit hard drugs.

The initiative goes on to say why they believe this to be a necessary measure:
We also hold these truths to be self-evident-That, as an intoxicant, marijuana is far less harmful to the health and safety of the People than alcohol--That, as a smoking substance, marijuana is far less addictive or harmful to the health of the People than tobacco--That, even though alcohol is harmful to the health and safety of the People, the prohibition of alcohol from 1920 to 1933 only increased the harms associated with alcohol use: criminals seized control of the alcohol market, crime and violence increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourished, while otherwise lawful alcohol drinkers were treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they had not harmed the rights of anyone--That, as with alcohol prohibition, the prohibition of marijuana has only increased the harms associated with the use of marijuana: criminals control a multi-billion dollar market, crime and violence have increased greatly, and poverty, unemployment, and corruption flourish, while otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers are treated as "criminals" subject to detention, arrest, and incarceration, even though they have not harmed the rights of anyone-That the history of marijuana prohibition is a history of repeated injuries and infringements upon the inalienable rights, powers, and best interests of the People.

Fuck Yes! Preach on, brothers! They go on to point out that alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma lobbyists have the politicians that are supposed to represent the People in their back-pockets and serving the interests of the alcohol, tobacco, and big-pharma industries.
Despite the harms of marijuana prohibition, politicians persist in imposing and upholding marijuana prohibition, because these politicians are not working for the People--they are working for the corporate executives who financed their campaigns, such as corporate executives in the alcohol industry who want to protect their monopoly on intoxication, corporate executives in the tobacco industry who want to protect their monopoly on smoking, corporate executives in the pharmaceutical industry who want to protect their monopoly on expensive medicines, and corporate executives in the many industries threatened by competition with hemp. These corporate executives pull the strings of the government to perpetuate marijuana prohibition despite its harms, because they do not care about the inalienable rights and best interests of the People--they care about taking as much money from the People as possible. These corporate executives also use their control of the mainstream media to make it seem like marijuana prohibition is a failed attempt to serve the interests of the People, censoring the idea that marijuana prohibition is a successful attempt to serve corporate interests at the expense of the People. For these corporate interests, politicians sacrifice the inalienable rights and best interests of the People. This corruption and corporate influence is worse at the national level, where the People can least afford political influence and the media is most effective at manipulating public debate. Because of this corruption, it is futile for the People to turn to the federal government for protection--because the federal government is the source of the harm. The repeated attempts by the People to reduce the harms of marijuana prohibition have been answered only by repeated injury. The harm from marijuana prohibition is ongoing and the need for relief is urgent. Such is the suffering of the People, and such is the necessity that constrains us to alter our former systems of government. A government with a character marked by every act that defines a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Therefore, appealing to humankind for the rightness of our intentions

They need 694,354 signatures by September, 5, 2008. I think it's totally do-able. Its been over a decade since Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was passed with over 5 million votes in favor.

So 12 years later... are we more or less tolerant of recreational use of marijuana? For now, we'll have to wait and see.

thanks FrankDaTank89 for submitting this article

News Hawk: User: http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: LAist
Copyright: 2008 Gothamist LLC
Contact: LAist: Los Angeles News, Food, Arts & Events
Website: LAist: California to Legalize Weed for Everyone

[POTential]

This would finally open the doors to industrial hemp as well.

[DaMagoMan]

This is the initiative Jack Herer is pushing, isn't it?
California Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2008

Marijuana Advocates Circulate Petitions Despite Apparent Backlash

[FrankDaTank89]

this is not only good news for californians, but good news for the rest of the states, becuase wasn't cali the first to leagalize medical marijuana, and then in later years, other states followed? Hopefully if this vote does pass in cali, it will only be a matter of time for the rest of the states.

[FreakNature]

BOSEG *


* © DaMagoMan

[BlackThumb]

That's awesome.
I have often dreamed that if I had the resources of a Bill Gates or someone with a bottomless pit of money, that this very type law suit should be filed against the Federal government as a whole simply based on the concept which so many of you have proclaimed in these posts, "Who the F%^& do they think they are dictating anything we ingest/digest etc". This should be a standing suit through eternity until they submit and desist.
They have only a single constitutional obligation being the defense of this nation, all the other thousands of programs are self created. Are we safe from outside attacks? Do we know who/what are crossing our boarders right this moment?

[FreakNature]

Originally Posted by BlackThumb

Do we know who/what are crossing our boarders right this moment?

In the case of BC Bud, let's hope not. :)

[jocoguy]

this would be a great that for all if anyone would like to read the bill or prop( not sure what you would call) it but i have found a copy for anyone
hear you go it a link my friends send me

http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/ini..._compliant.pdf

[BlackThumb]

HaHa, roger that Freak. A little A.Gold from the south & BC from the north, they got us surrounded...lets party!

[Strive4Wisdom]

I dont agree with the tax at all. $50 to grow one plant at home? ONE PLANT. No Thanks.

This opens the doors for law enforcement to throw you in jail for tax stamp technicalities. So it goes from possession of marijuana to not possessing a stamp as a reason for jailtime. Same sh*t in the end.

It's the same idea introduced at the beginning of the 20th century so they could arrest you for not having your stamp even though cannabis itself wasnt illegal yet. Why repeat history, we're supposed to learn from it. geeze

I don't understand how anyone could see this as a good idea. I know "legal marijuana" looks good but think the WHOLE idea over.

This initiative blows.

[FreakNature]

If I had the federal legal approval to grow a plant for $50.00, I would be in a lot better place than potential prison time on a federal charge. $50.00 for a pound of kind bud? Definitely a step in the right direction. I feel there should be no control on how and when I grow, transport, trade, or use Cannabis; but any help is appreciated.

[Strive4Wisdom]

Originally Posted by FreakNature

If I had the federal legal approval to grow a plant for $50.00, I would be in a lot better place than potential prison time on a federal charge. $50.00 for a pound of kind bud? Definitely a step in the right direction. I feel there should be no control on how and when I grow, transport, trade, or use Cannabis; but any help is appreciated.

That would be different. But it says nothing about approving this on a federal level, just the state of California.

So that being said, paying $100-200 to a doctor who gives you a recommendation will allow you MUCH more freedom to grow and possess while costing you MUCH less in the overall picture.

But Both systems are still illegal under the Fed. laws.

So all I'm saying is what is the benefit of this new system? From the way it looks, users are gonna have to pay more and it will also open the door to let state police be involved more directly with raids on growers and users. Except they do it not for growing an illegal substance, but not having proper tax documentation.

So under state law, the system we currently have in place is f***in awesome in comparison. It just needs more detail in certain areas.

But I totally agree with you on having no limits on cannabis in any form by the way.

[FreakNature]

My mind went somewhere...not sure where. You're right.

This initiative wouldn't remove Prop 215, though, would it? MMJ patients would still have their rights. This would open it up for recreational users. If it would remove 215, then I'd be dead set against it because of the limitations it would put on patients, as you stated.

[Strive4Wisdom]

Originally Posted by FreakNature

My mind went somewhere...not sure where. You're right.

This initiative wouldn't remove Prop 215, though, would it? MMJ patients would still have their rights. This would open it up for recreational users. If it would remove 215, then I'd be dead set against it because of the limitations it would put on patients, as you stated.

I would hope not about the MMJ.

The thing that gets to me about the initiative is that they are trying to advertise cannabis as a product that can be exploited and corrupted by taxes and business. Like "Hey! We've got something here that you can taint with your unethical business practices and over the top pricing! Make money at our expense!"

That's just not beneficial to the advancement of our cause in my opinion.

[FreakNature]

I too hate to see the blessed herb exploited. I'd just feel a lot better about growing a 12' tall Cannabis plant in my backyard, next door to my neighbor the cop, if I had a $50.00 tax stamp stuck on the front of my refrigerator that says it's OK. I see this as a step in the right direction. In the society we live with the government we have, our utopia will never arrive.