January 13, 2010 11:32 AM

California: Marijuana, Not Gay Marriage?

By
Ryan Smith
Topics
Daily Blotter
(CBS/iStockphoto)
(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
(The Ackerley Group)
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) As the legality of Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, continues to be debated in a San Francisco federal courtroom this week, one so-called culture issue that may be faring better in the Golden State is the legalization of marijuana.

A bill seeking to legalize the drug won initial approval from a legislative committee in the state's Assembly Tuesday.

But the vote may be purely symbolic because a second committee likely won't take it up in time to permit passage.

The state Assembly's public safety committee voted 4-3 on the measure that would tax and regulate marijuana in the same way alcohol is controlled. But the health committee also must approve the measure by Friday before the full Assembly can consider it – an unlikely scenario.

Photo: Same-sex marriage supporter Marilee Kreml waves flags during a rally in front of a federal courthouse in San Francisco, Jan. 11, 2010.

If the bill does die, a spokesman for the bill's author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, said the San Francisco Democrat would hold off on reintroducing legislation until after the November election, which could feature a marijuana legalization ballot proposition.

Though the successful committee vote could end up being purely symbolic, pot advocates hailed it as an important step forward.

"We're thrilled," said Stephen Gutwillig of the Drug Policy Alliance, a pro-legalization group. "This to me, this is the formal beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition in the United States."

The legislation would allow adults 21 and older to legally possess, grow and sell marijuana. The state would charge a $50-per-ounce fee and a 9 percent tax on retail sales.

State tax collectors have estimated the bill could bring in nearly $1.4 billion in revenue.

Under the bill, much of that money would go to fund drug abuse education and prevention programs. Republican Assemblyman Danny Gilmore ridiculed that idea during the hearing at the state Capitol.

"We're going to legalize marijuana, we're going to tax it, and then we're going to educate our kids about the harms of drugs?" said Gilmore, a 31-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. "You've got to be kidding me."

If the legislation fails to arrive on the Assembly floor this year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will likely not be forced to take a stand on marijuana legalization before he is termed out of office early next year.

At an appearance in Mountain View on Tuesday, he reiterated his support for debate on the issue, though he believes in the current law that makes the sale of marijuana illegal except for medical purposes.

The opinions of the state's politicians could be rendered moot in November, however, if voters approve a proposed ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana under limited circumstances.

Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, the initiative's main backer, has said supporters have obtained far more than the necessary 434,000 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

The Tax and Regulate Cannabis 2010 campaign is expected to submit those signatures for approval later this month.

In the gay marriage debate, California gay rights supporters are going to federal court to challenge a 2009 ballot initiative called Proposition 8, which outlaws same-sex marriages performed after November 4, 2008.

The plaintiffs in Perry v. Schwarzenegger seek to have the federal courts strike down Proposition 8 as contrary to the United States Constitution. The case is widely regarded as a landmark case that will be appealed to the Supreme Court. The case is currently underway.




Add a Comment See all 33 Comments
by xmandy_candyx June 10, 2010 8:14 PM EDT
Okay this is the dumbest argument. I would rather have everyone in America smoke weed than drink and drive or smoke cigarettes. Please show me one case in which Marijuana has KILLED somebody. People should be worried about their kids popping prescription pills and smoking heroin. Weed is the least the least of their worries. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!
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by aacrnst January 20, 2010 10:43 AM EST
"We're going to legalize marijuana, we're going to tax it, and then we're going to educate our kids about the harms of drugs?" said Gilmore, a 31-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. "You've got to be kidding me."

This is EXACTLY what the entire federal government of both the US and my native Canada are doing with both alcohol and tobacco. The government has no problem legalizing both of these harmful substances, collecting a sustaining amount of tax dollars from them, and then send out government sponsored ads about quitting smoking and alcohol abuse. It's such mixed messages. If you asked any government in the world to ban alcohol and tobacoo, and they answered truthfully, they would tell you that they just can't afford to do it.

Marijuana is no more of a "drug" than alcohol or tobacco as far as long term effects and damage to the body goes. People can spout whatever they want, but go to Wikipedia, and Google the tests that have been done and you can see that they're all inconclusive. Science can't even AGREE on what it does to the body.

There are millions of people in both countries who are behind bars because of recreational use of marijuana. It's a drain on the economy and absolutely a double standard from the government. Legalize it, tax the **** out of it like you do alcohol and tobacco, and let us make our own choices.
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by theplaintruth January 20, 2010 1:43 AM EST
Wow, do we really need another substance more available to the public that destroys all logic and common sense? And the fact that this is seemingly more possible to get put through over the happiness of a couple is just wrong. This is really an eye-opener on seeing how far we, as americans, have come (not very). After the long strides from we have overcame in the past this seems like one big step back in the advancement of america. Putting a drug in the faces of The People that does none but lessen common sense and put those around them in danger is just idiotic and unacceptable. Furthermore, with this product conveniently placed at our doorstep, criminal activity will do nothing but sky-rocket with cocaine and meth use exploding. I will leave you with this: Sure 1.4 billion would be nice but at what cost? What cost is too much? What step is too far? What lines will we cross by putting forth this suicidal proposition?
-- World's Insignificant & Minuscule Conscience.
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by _ENDIF_ February 13, 2010 1:34 AM EST
Right, because illegal, un-regulated, un-taxed, it's totally not available and there are no violent drug cartels, so your argument makes perfect sense..


Oh, wait, none of those things are true.

Legal, cannabis could be regulated as to how it is grown to reduce environmental and social impact.

Legal, it could be taxed to pay for, say, universal healthcare including treatment on demand for any addiction.

Legal, violent and corrupting drug cartels would be cut off from one of their most lucrative revenue streams.
by mylinth July 10, 2010 6:44 AM EDT
"Wow, do we really need another substance more available to the public that destroys all logic and common sense?"

Are you serious? Are you talking about marijuana? It sure doesn't sound like it. Most smokers I know have absolutely no interest in other drugs, including alcohol, and especially cocaine and meth. The reason more people are interested in legalizing marijuana instead of gay marriage is because it helps them. Blame the African-American demographic on same sex marriage being illegal, because they are your Democrats that don't care to vote for it. You need to get your facts straight before you start running your mouth. YOU and people like you are what is wrong with this country. That's theplaintruth.
by black_howler January 15, 2010 3:24 PM EST
giveamoose111: You miss the point. I actually support same-sex marriage and the legalization of weed. I'm both gay and a smoker myself. But the fact of the matter is, religious people remain silent on the issue of pot even though it's clearly a sin in the Bible, yet will pour millions of dollars to stop 2 loving consenting adults to get married (via twisting the Bible) I know that weed is less harmful than both alcohol and smoking cigarettes. But what irks me is that most of the people voting to legalize weed, were the same people who voted yes on prop 8.
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by garzatd January 14, 2010 2:07 PM EST
As a regular Cannabis user who ingests rather than smokes (smoking anything is just bad for your health), I can say that I hope that it doesn't ever become legal. Being of Mexican decent, and having done plenty of research, there is mostly prejudice behind Cannabis prohibition. Cannabis prohibition was mostly aimed at eliminating the Mexican presence in the US particularly around border states. We even used the word "marijuana" at first to create a negative connotation and associate it with the Mexicans. Now with immigration being a concern, and the chaos from the cartels occurring south of the border, I think it's best to leave it alone and just let them kill each other. If we do that, then Cannabis prohibition in a sense will have served its purpose and succeeded, and isn't the point of any legislation: for it to succeed? They're not American, so why should we care? Besides, no one who's dead can migrate across the border - immigration solved. I'm not funding those operations. Personally, I know my growers and I have to say without the drug war, the pot might not have gotten as good as it have as quickly as it did, so let's not degrade it by allowing it to be legalized and controlled by some tobacco like corporation(s). It wasn't all just about race either; there were some economic concerns as well. Why use hemp for paper and many other purposes when we can chop down trees? William Randolph Hearst and the DuPont Company knew this, and the bottom line is that it interfered with business. Hell, do you think in today's economy Ambien, Prozac, Zoloft, or Wellbutrin (and the list continues) would even have a market if pot were legal? I'm just trying to think this out logically, as when I was younger, I didn't understand why something a lot less harmful and more enjoyable than alcohol could be illegal. However, we don't make the rules, we didn't write history, and chances are, most of use don't have enough money to really do anything about it so we should just let it be. After all, if you can't pay, you have no say.

As for the issue of gay marriage, good luck. Personally, I think our concept of marriage (gay or strait) is an insecurity, but maybe I just haven't found the right one. It doesn't bother me if two people of the same sex want to be married, and it shouldn't really bother anyone else, but I guess anyone will be bothered by whatever they allow themselves to be bothered by. What matters is how the couple appears in the eyes of each other, not the courts or even the church. However, I know that does nothing for the cause, so all I guess I can really say is, good luck! If I ever have to vote on it, I'll vote in your favor.
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by codehearted January 14, 2010 8:22 PM EST
So you use marijuana regularly but would rather have it be a crime? I can't say I understand that.. As for the harms of smoking, it's about damned time that vaporizing becomes much more well known, it's by far the best option.

Mexico already legalized marijuana along with plenty of other drugs last year, so those cartels have plenty of potential customers to deal with. And enough very high quality cannabis is grown in CA that we'll do just fine without their help. They can't make money importing what there's already plenty of.
by AttentionDeficit January 14, 2010 10:05 PM EST
codehearted: i agree. vaporizing is the best method. i have a stoner dream about micro-grows (like micro-brews, but for weed). Purple Kush, White Widow, Hawaiian...whatever is your taste. Sit in a room and vaporized. Attach it to a bakery and make mega muncie money
by perkysmiles2000 January 14, 2010 1:41 PM EST
I have to say that it is unthinkable how many people on this earth think they must control what every body else in this world does. Why does it matter to you what anyone does? Whether it be smoking pot, prostitution,
having a same sex lover. It's NOT HURTING YOU! Mind your own business, live and let live. Quit cramming your religious beliefs on the rest of us. I believe in God but MY god doesn't care if I smoke weed, cigarettes, crack, have sex with another woman or sell my body to support myself as long as I do what I can to help others, love them unconditionally, and hurt no one. I think every one should do what makes THEM a better person without trying to make everybody CONFORM to what they believe is right or wrong. There is NO TRUE right and wrong it's all grey area that is shaped by peoples OPINIONS which every body has.
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by AttentionDeficit January 14, 2010 2:00 PM EST
i doubt that many of the folks who want to keep pot illegal are willing to re-criminalize alcohol. how successful was alcohol prohibition? why would it be different with pot prohibition?
by Blumpkinator13 January 14, 2010 1:29 PM EST
I'm happy to see that legalization of Marijuana is finally taken in to consideration. And if this happens, I'm moving to California :D
Reply to this comment
by Donesk January 14, 2010 1:01 PM EST
Lol, it's obvious you don't know anything about marijuana or drug use. Just because it differs your tastes doesn't make it "off par" Many smokers feel your attraction to alcohol is off-par as well.

See how this works?

You Christians are funny. I've seen Christians that support/oppose marijuana and I've seen Christians that support/oppose gay marriage. And they're all supported by the word of God. Frankly, I'm not interested in what your God has to say, especially since they're hardly His words anymore.
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by jankebenzone January 13, 2010 11:56 PM EST
Pot smokers and gays share the same common denominator when it comes to brain activity and thought processing, they're both totally off par.
Reply to this comment
by black_howler January 14, 2010 4:04 AM EST
Lol, it's obvious you don't know anything about gays or homosexuality. Just because it differs your tastes doesn't make it "off par" Many gays feel your attraction to women is off-par as well.
by AttentionDeficit January 14, 2010 10:10 AM EST
jankebenzone: still have diarrhea of the mouth, eh? you have some nerve talking about other's thought processes.
by armyoftwelve January 13, 2010 10:22 PM EST
Let me clarify: there might be 3-5,000,000 h0m0's in California.
But there are easily 15,000,000 pot smokers. This is how the Golden State winds up with pot smoking but no same-sex "marriage."

I'm not saying it's right that so many people smoke pot....but it's certainly right that members of the same gender are not allowed to marry.
Reply to this comment
by black_howler January 14, 2010 4:06 AM EST
So what you're basically saying, is if people like it, then it should be legalized, even though it's bad, but if people don't like it, then it should be banned. There is nothing wrong or harmful about gay marriage. But there can be harmful effects associated with weed. Not surprised, this world is filled with hypocrites and double standards.
by AttentionDeficit January 14, 2010 11:57 AM EST
it's not the business of the government which adults marry
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