Thank God, for the democrats that stand up as against the libertarian orthodoxy. Pot does not need to be legalized, nor should it, this is essentially so some college kids can do whatever the f*k they want, and be stoners.
Its also so millions of non-violent people who are only doing harm to themselves aren't considered criminals anymore. But that's way less important than being able to do whatever the f**k people want.
That can be solved by decriminalization though, not necessarily legalization.
I'd vote yes on legalization if it was on the ballot, but I really couldn't care less either way. Decriminalization is the much higher priority in my mind.
But marijuana is already decriminalized in California, in order to deflate support at the last referendum a law was passed which makes it not punishable by anything but a citation and fine and a speeding ticket would likely give a bigger fine. Full legalization is the only step further you can take.
People are generally almost never arrested solely for marijuana charges. Well, they used to. But not anymore. A pretty miniscule amount of people in jails are there only for marijuana. Typically, it's used the same way guns are. Ie, feds catch a guy dealing crack and then prosecutor piles on marijuana charges too.
Generally, I don't support anything prosecutors do, but legalizing pot doesn't change mass incarceration. That's just a weird myth put forward by millennials who get to combine their two pet political views (the cops are racist! and I want to get high!).
