A first: Bakersfield Dem puts up $20K for radio ad opposing pot legalization

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Unless you live in the Central Valley, odds are that you would never have heard of the campaign of Michael Rubio, a Kern County supervisor running for state senate in Bakersfield. But the Democrat just became the first California politician to spend his own cash for a radio ad AGAINST Prop 19, the initiative that would legalize and tax cannabis.

The ad, which is airing in the Central Valley on stations between Bakersfield and Fresno, cost Rubio $20,000. He just told me that he expects to spend $1 million on his campaign.

He decided this was worth it because "this is just bad public policy" that would add "even more confusion" to marijuana laws that often put state, local and federal laws at odds with each other. The Valley has got enough problems -- high unemployment at the top of the list -- than to have to deal with legalizing (and taxing) dope.

... "I'm not running for office to help one party out," Rubio said. "I'm running to help the people of the Central Valley. If that goes against what people in the Bay Area are feeling, then so be it."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=68757&tsp=1

because he dares to speak the truth?

pot is illegal on the federal level

it doesn't matter if every state, county, and city in the US legalize it

unless Congress decides to legalize it, it's still illegal!

challenge to the current status. I don't think this is fully in the category of settled law.

to lobby Congress to change the law

which is a corrupt cesspool of corporate special interest legislation writing lobbies?

Yes popular referendums can be used for foul purposes such as prop 8, but why should we leave this arena to the right?

i couldn't imagine w/o pot

California Democrats should embrace legalization, not run away from it.

That 's discouraging.

Actually, a lot of my friends in Humboldt County don't want it legalized either.

personal financial selfish reasons

Judges, prosecutors, police, politicians, lawyers, prison guards, drug testing labs.. I could go on but you get the drift.

Personal financial for sure, buy not necessarly selfish. It's hard work to produce the high quality product. It's a well established counter-culture up there. Lots of people make a living at it, but aren't fabulously wealthy. Some folks have more courage than others. Running from helicopters is pretty freaky.

prison is one of the worst places on earth
it's absolutely immoral that weed smokers should go there
they are political prisoners

At the same time, there is a demand, and you put your own ass on the line when you enter into guerilla botanty on a large scale. The payoff is sometimes very nice, but you are just as likely to get wiped out, one way or another. I've seen a mama toad turn 1000 seedlings into a nice nest overnight.

I've always been for legalization, even when I was seriously into the back woods botany. Not just for legalization, but active on the front lines during Prop 215, and the Marin County initiative that preceeded it.

...should be doing the OBVIOUS: a voter registration drive based on getting out the pro-Prop 19 vote.

If they were smart, and not simply DLC-talking-points-spewing-droids, they could easily hire a few expert consultants (from here on DU, even) who could represent the known benefits, across the board, whether it be Medicinal/Industrial/and even the dreaded EVIL Recreational applications of my buddy the bud, and then -- there are the tax benefits derived from all of the above...not to mention, most importantly, the right to grow one's own, which was the one stipulation in Prop 19 which convinced the late great Jack Herer to endorse the measure before his unfortunate passing...but I'm obviously in a state of drug-induced delirium...

All of the above is IMO. And not so humbly stated.

Thanks for the link!

to imprison non-violent "criminals" who have no victim and possibly ruin the rest of their lives with a record.

When people make arguments against legalization, I think they are motivated by something other than truth, facts or any concern for widespread, negative impact that the war on some drugs has had.

Yes, Cannabis is a dangerous drug, only because it is illegal and being arrested, getting a record and being imprisoned are very, very hazardous in many, many ways.

Here is hoping this ass clown receives some informed rebuttals to his toxic message.

Oh, and I am really sorry to see those who are profiting from the prices that illegality provides them. They must have no sense of compassion for the innocent victims of this overly long campaign of lies and ulterior motives. I don't deny them their income and profit, but I do question their callousness and lack of creativity for coping with the transition to a new way to prosper when we finally restore this ancient plant of great value to its proper place.

A lot of them are not too happy with the idea of legalization, from what I understand. Cuts into their profit margin.