ACLU California Announces Support Of Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measure

[Katelyn Baker]

The American Civil Liberties Union of California on Tuesday endorsed the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, or AUMA - Californians' ballot measure that would legalize cannabis in the 2016 general election.

After conducting research proving Black people and other minorities get arrested far more for pot than whites despite similar usage levels, the ACLU is supporting AUMA to help stem the mass incarceration epidemic in America.

"The disastrous war on marijuana in California continues to ensnare thousands of people — particularly young people of color — in the criminal justice system every year," said Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, criminal justice and drug policy director with the ACLU of California. "It is time to move from prohibition to regulation. AUMA will establish a controlled and regulated market for adults, significantly reduce the harm done to young people under current marijuana laws, and generate substantial revenue for drug education and for the communities most devastated by the war on drugs."​

The announcement comes on the heels of a groundbreaking new study showing that even after California decriminalized personal possession of pot in 2010 by making it equal to a parking ticket - minorities are still the ones getting those tickets. Police use cannabis laws to prey on young males least equipped to pay fines, or fight charges, and most at-risk of being knocked off their life-track by adjudication.

From 2011 to 2014, California police made 60,000 marijuana arrests statewide, with young people under the age of 20 accounting for 73 percent of all misdemeanor marijuana arrests. "Nearly 70 percent of all marijuana arrests were of people of color," the CA-ACLU found.

The ACLU states that the Adult Use of Marijuana Act offers the most vetted, thoughtful cannabis policy reform in the state's history, and AUMA builds on the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy spearheaded by Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and the ACLU of California in 2013.

"In November, California voters will have the opportunity to get regulation right," stated Abdi Soltani, executive director of the ACLU of Northern California and steering committee member of the Blue Ribbon Commission. "AUMA is a comprehensive proposal that incorporates consensus findings based on extensive research and discussion. Most importantly, it includes measures that will protect young people, maintain public safety, and establish workable taxation and regulation. This comprehensive measure lays out a strong framework for implementation."​

AUMA allows adults 21 and over to have an ounce of pot in public and grow up to six plants at home and is the most endorsed legalization initiative in state history, with support from the California Council of Land Trusts, California Medical Association, and California NAACP, and now the California ACLU.

News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: ACLU California Announces Support Of Marijuana Legalization Ballot Measure
Author: David Down
Contact: East Bay Express
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Website: East Bay Express

 

[gentlhart]

Six plants, and what happens if you get caught growing seven? Six months in jail? I can legally grow 90 even though I won't grow that many because I don't need so much but the county sets my limit to a big fat zero. As long as I grow 90 or less, I can't be arrested for it, just fined $1,000 per plant.
Six plants is per residence so if two people living in the home growing for themselves, the limit for each is three. Local governments can ban outdoor growing but what is there to stop them from requiring permits to grow? I don't want cops coming into my home anytime they want to conduct compliance checks.