will CA voters legalize marijuana in 2010?

[© Tweed the Younger]

it appears as if at least one ballot initiative that would do so has reached the CA AG's office, and will, pending approval, be on the ballot...  I haven't looked very hard, but I would hardly be shocked if a majority of CA voters favor legalization, and so, well...?  could be a fun test to see if Obama is worth his weight in horsesh**t on the drug front, to see if he sends in the federal mob to enforce national statute.

[Badger]

it appears as if at least one ballot initiative that would do so has reached the CA AG's office, and will, pending approval, be on the ballot...  I haven't looked very hard, but I would hardly be shocked if a majority of CA voters favor legalization, and so, well...?  could be a fun test to see if Obama is worth his weight in horsesh**t on the drug front, to see if he sends in the federal mob to enforce national statute.

As of last week it appears the Obama Administration is taking a "hands off" approach to the states.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/medical.marijuana.policy/index.html

[© Tweed the Younger]

it appears as if at least one ballot initiative that would do so has reached the CA AG's office, and will, pending approval, be on the ballot...  I haven't looked very hard, but I would hardly be shocked if a majority of CA voters favor legalization, and so, well...?  could be a fun test to see if Obama is worth his weight in horsesh**t on the drug front, to see if he sends in the federal mob to enforce national statute.

As of last week it appears the Obama Administration is taking a "hands off" approach to the states.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/medical.marijuana.policy/index.html

he's contradicted himself before, and regardless, that's medical, not recreational

[Badger]

it appears as if at least one ballot initiative that would do so has reached the CA AG's office, and will, pending approval, be on the ballot...  I haven't looked very hard, but I would hardly be shocked if a majority of CA voters favor legalization, and so, well...?  could be a fun test to see if Obama is worth his weight in horsesh**t on the drug front, to see if he sends in the federal mob to enforce national statute.

As of last week it appears the Obama Administration is taking a "hands off" approach to the states.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/medical.marijuana.policy/index.html

he's contradicted himself before, and regardless, that's medical, not recreational

Every politician contradicts themselves occassionally. IIRC Obama's been fairly consistent on this issue. Regardless of the medical/recreational distinction, you can't deny the current policy is a very strong indication of what federal policy will be if states pass laws along recreational use.

[So the Heroes Fall]

The thing is marijuana is already de facto legal in some places and the feds can't really do much. In Minneapolis something like a total of 8 people were arrested for simple marijuana possession last year (I checked the city attorney records), and in some cities like Seattle, Boulder and Ann Arbor there are policies making anti-marijuana laws essentially unenforceable. Some bureaucrat may whine, but it's not like they can send DEA agents to every street corner in California to bust anyone buying.

[Senator Sbane]

The thing is marijuana is already de facto legal in some places and the feds can't really do much. In Minneapolis something like a total of 8 people were arrested for simple marijuana possession last year (I checked the city attorney records), and in some cities like Seattle, Boulder and Ann Arbor there are policies making anti-marijuana laws essentially unenforceable. Some bureaucrat may whine, but it's not like they can send DEA agents to every street corner in California to bust anyone buying.

I don't think the feds would care much about possession, but they might care if California tried to sell it in stores and taxed it. Then it would be very easy to shut those places down. Obama is unwilling to do this with medicinal shops but we don't know what he will do if it is legalized for recreational use. Anyways I doubt Marijuana will be legalized in 2010.

[© Tweed the Younger]

it appears as if at least one ballot initiative that would do so has reached the CA AG's office, and will, pending approval, be on the ballot...  I haven't looked very hard, but I would hardly be shocked if a majority of CA voters favor legalization, and so, well...?  could be a fun test to see if Obama is worth his weight in horsesh**t on the drug front, to see if he sends in the federal mob to enforce national statute.

As of last week it appears the Obama Administration is taking a "hands off" approach to the states.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/21/medical.marijuana.policy/index.html

he's contradicted himself before, and regardless, that's medical, not recreational

Every politician contradicts themselves occassionally. IIRC Obama's been fairly consistent on this issue. Regardless of the medical/recreational distinction, you can't deny the current policy is a very strong indication of what federal policy will be if states pass laws along recreational use.

One week after President Barack Obama's top law enforcement official seemed to indicate the feds would no longer raid pot clubs, DEA agents busted a medical marijuana facility in San Francisco Wednesday night.


so, um, yeah.  forgive me if I don't trust Obama worth a flying .  this is the contradiction; Obama's words vs. the actions of the executive.

I don't think the feds would care much about possession, but they might care if California tried to sell it in stores and taxed it. Then it would be very easy to shut those places down. Obama is unwilling to do this with medicinal shops but we don't know what he will do if it is legalized for recreational use. Anyways I doubt Marijuana will be legalized in 2010.

correct.  I didn't read the proposed proposition and I am unsure if it would tax/regulate/sell retail or just legalize possession, but I have a hunch it is the former, which provides us with the most interesting spectacle of state vs. federal conflict on marijuana to date.  I would personally be stunned if the Obama-DEA did not bust the sh**t out of store after store that sold marijuana.  as for the chances, why not?  it seems somewhat ridiculous to think about, a state legalizing within a calendar year+, but if we take it fact by fact it no longers seems impossible.

[Senator Sbane]

I don't think the feds would care much about possession, but they might care if California tried to sell it in stores and taxed it. Then it would be very easy to shut those places down. Obama is unwilling to do this with medicinal shops but we don't know what he will do if it is legalized for recreational use. Anyways I doubt Marijuana will be legalized in 2010.

correct.  I didn't read the proposed proposition and I am unsure if it would tax/regulate/sell retail or just legalize possession, but I have a hunch it is the former, which provides us with the most interesting spectacle of state vs. federal conflict on marijuana to date.  I would personally be stunned if the Obama-DEA did not bust the sh**t out of store after store that sold marijuana.  as for the chances, why not?  it seems somewhat ridiculous to think about, a state legalizing within a calendar year+, but if we take it fact by fact it no longers seems impossible.

IIRC the proposition that has gotten the most signatures is the one that aims to tax and regulate Marijuana. As for the chances I can't say anything for sure unless I see some polls of likely voters. The only poll I have seen is of all adults and that too by Zogby. Of course that poll said 56% want to legalize it so it may just be possible. In 2010 the electorate is going to be older than usual and I don't think it will pass then. If in 2012 Obama brings out young people to the polls, then legalization may have a chance.