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The Legalization of Marijuana to Be on California Ballot?

By Kamika Dunlap on December 18, 2009 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

In 2010, California voters may have their say about the legalization of marijuana.

Recently, more than 400,000 signatures have been collected through a legal petition drive to put the issue on the November 2010 California ballot.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the initiative would also allow cities and counties to adopt their own laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold, and the localities could impose taxes on any aspect of marijuana production and sales.  It would also would be legal adults over 21 years old to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and to grow it in a 25-square-foot area for personal use.

Lately, marijuana legislation has been a hot topic.

As previously discussed, the Department of Justice released new guidelines addressing the enforcement of marijuana laws and medical marijuana.

In addition, the Los Angeles City Council is still weighing its long attempts to limit the number of medical marijuana dispensaries operating in LA, while the LA County District Attorney vows to bust pot sales within the city as illegal under state law.

Polls have shown that a majority of California voters support the legalization of marijuana. According to a Field Poll taken in mid-April 56% of voters in the state and 60% in Los Angeles County want to legalize and tax pot as a way to help solve the state's fiscal crisis.

Also some say there is increasing acceptance of medical marijuana since the Obama administration announced it would not prosecute medical marijuana providers or users who follow state law.

In California, at least, the legalization of marijuana on a the state level could be a matter for voters to weigh in 2010.

 

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