CA marijuana Prop 19 still leading in poll, despite the banquet of bullshit served by opponents

from AlterNet:




Posted by Paul Armentano at 10:16 am
August 18, 2010


California Pot Initiative (Prop. 19) Still Leading In Latest Poll
Posted by Paul Armentano on @ 10:16 am


A majority of Californians continue to voice their support for Prop. 19 — which would eliminate penalties for the private possession and use of marijuana by adults, and allow local governments to regulate retail cannabis production and sales.

According to the most recent Survey USA poll (conducted August 9-11), 50 percent of likely voters in California say they are certain to vote ‘yes’ on Proposition 19 versus 40 percent who say that they will vote ‘no.’ These totals are the same as reported by Survey USA one month ago, and indicate that voters’ support is holding steady despite increased attacks and propaganda from our opponents. (NORML Outreach Coordinator Russ Belville has just posted an excellent rebuttal to many of our opponents’ more outrageous claims here.)

According to the latest polling data, voters age 35 to 49 are most likely to back Prop. 19, and African Americans and self-reported Democrats are more likely to support the measure as compared to other groups. (To read why self-proclaimed ‘conservative’ voters ought to vote yes on Prop. 19, please see my recent op/ed in the Orange County Register here.) On Friday, leaders from the Latino Voters League held a press conference in Los Angeles announcing their support for Prop. 19, joining the state NAACP which had previously announced their ‘unconditional support’ for the measure in June. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2010/08/18/california-pot-initiative-prop-19-still-leading-in-latest-poll/

From what I'm hearing, it's a two-edged sword and requires careful analysis.

I know I know, there's nobody more pro-legalization than I, but when I continually hear from the medMJ community that this law is BAD, especially for MedMJ patients, we need to look closely at it.

prohibits private sales, for starters.

This article starts with a lie:

"...Prop. 19 — which would eliminate penalties for the private possession and use of marijuana by adults..."

Any amount over an ounce? Still illegal.

Want to buy a quarter from a friend? Illegal. Better keep your receipt from your legal licensed ($30,000 per license PER YEAR in Oakland) dispensary. And who financed the signature gathering for this ridiculous piece of legislation? Jeff Jones, from Oaksterdam who benefits because he can afford the Oakland license.

Want to grow your own? Prop 19 gives you a 5x5 plot PER PARCEL not per person. So if you live on 20 acres and have 4 roommates you get ONE square foot to do so.

There's more at this link, seemingly the only detailed analysis by anyone anywhere.

http://votetaxcannabis2010.blogspot.com/2010/07/why-pro-pot-activists-oppose-2010-tax.html

Prop 19 is like Health Insurance Reform: A bait and switch. And sure enough, when you find someone that will actually listen to the arguments against, they say "Pass this and we'll fix it later". Bullshit!

“People think it’s legalization, it’s being sold as legalization—even though it’s the opposite of legalization.” - Dennis Peron, author of Prop. 215 that legalized medical marijuana in California