California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill downgrading the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction.
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The bill makes possession of up-to an ounce an infraction; like a traffic ticket, punishable by a simple $100 fine and no arrest record.The Governor said that the bill is not intended to make it easier for people to have cannabis, but instead to ease the state’s financial burden of the cost of enforcing the previous policy.
“Gov. Schwarzenegger deserves credit for sparing the state’s taxpayers the cost of prosecuting minor pot offenders,” Gieringer said. “Californians increasingly recognize that the war on marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources.”
The new law will not take effect until January 1, 2011, and it will still remain relevant even if Proposition 19 passes.
Well then an ounce of coke should be the same.
And an ounce of crack.
And ounce of heroin.
And ounce of <insert any drug used for fun instead of medicine).
Hell make it all legal again like in 1850.
Then pass a law that users are not to be licensed to drive, operate heavy machinery, carry any weapons nor use trauma wards except in private hospitals.
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@ # 13
Do you think the cops will actually check how much you’re carrying if they want to bring you in?
To clarify my point in post #2, they wont actually legalize the stuff because it’s a useful tool for law enforcement. It gives them a reason to bring someone in if they can’t come up with a real reason.
#21 “Hell make it all legal again like in 1850.”
That’s the ticket, Darwin will take care of the rest.
FYI, follow-up to my previous post #17
Just got my voter information guide, it says:
California could see 1.4 billion from taxing pot by the Pro side.
It says it could cause our schools loose 9.4 billion from the Feds and million from federal grants by the Against side
+1.4B vs -9.4B
even more to think about…
I guess it computes. So when do they criminalize tobacco?
Finally! A light at the end of the tunnel.. now if the rest of teh country would join in, we might turn the economy around!
Given the utter failure of the war on drugs, and the gangs it spawned…perhaps the Libertarian argument is sound, legalize it all, tax and regulate it like tobacco.
If that causes more problems, we can always return to the failed policy that has corrupted our political, judicial, and law enforcement agencies.
Where are all the state’s rights people who support Arizona’s right to make their own laws? Does a state’s rights only count for repressive laws they implement?
18 Alfred E Newman,
“perhaps the Libertarian argument is sound, legalize it all, tax and regulate it like tobacco.”
Wait… Libertarians now tax and regulate? You really are insane…
27, Alfred E Newman,
29 was for you, not 18…
Your headline is completely wrong. It does NOT decriminalize marijuana at all.
Isn’t the caption saying the same thing twice?