Legalization of marijuana

Legalization of marijuana
Sarah Nomoto. Ken Kwong

Proposition19 Also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 If it had been approved, it would have legalized various marijuana-related activities in California. Allows local governments to regulate these activities to impose and collect marijuana-related fees and taxes, and authorizing criminal and civil penalties, if approved. November 2, 2010. California Statewide ballots as an initiated state statute, where it was defeated.

Marijuana benefits Physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits Feel relaxed and alert No possible overdose; safer than other drugs such as alcohol Inhibit the activity of T-lymphocytes in the blood, it would compromise the body's ability to fight infection

Marijuana risks Impairs coordination Slows thinking, and limits brain effectiveness Addictive Increases rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia May cause development of weakened verbal/communication skills Lowers attention span due to limitations of brain activity Hazardous to lungs

Economic benefits In the time leading to 2010, California's state government's budget deficit has grown to be the largest of all American states The California legislature has estimated that taxing the previously untaxed domestically grown $14 billion cannabis market would produce $1.4 billion a year Taxing cannabis, supporters say, could be a smart way to help alleviate pressure on the state budget Result in significant savings to state and local governments, potentially up to several tens of millions of dollars annually due to reduction of individuals incarcerated, on probation or on parole. Reduction in state and local costs for enforcement of cannabis-related offenses and the handling of related criminal cases in the court system, providing the opportunity for funds to be used to enforce other existing criminal laws. The RAND Corporation has found that law enforcement costs for cannabis enforcement are approximately $300 million a year.

Supporters and Donors Gary E. Johnson, former two termRepublicanGovernor of New Mexico Jocelyn Elders, former United States Surgeon General George Miller, current Democratic House Representative from California's 7th congressional district Barbara Lee, current Democratic House Representative from California's 9th congressional district Oakland and Berkeley City Council Republican Liberty Caucus United States Libertarian Caucus

Opposition and donors against Public Safety First - No on Proposition 19, a Project of California Public Safety First Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana, a Committee Against Proposition 19 Committee Against the Legalization of Marijuana, a Committee Against Proposition 19 DARE America Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D) Senator Barbara Boxer Arnold Schwarzenegger Republican Meg Whitman Democrat Jerry Brown

Argumentsin Favor Reduce the racial bias in cannabis arrest Create between 60,000 and 110,000 new jobs in California Generate between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion in new direct tax revenue annually Expand California's economy by between $16 billion and $23 billion annually Reduce crime in California[ Reduce police corruption Improve the relationship between police and the communities they serve

argumentsagainst Proposition 19 could cost our K–12 schools as much as $9.4 billion in lost federal funding", according to public school superintendents, because the schools wouldn't be able to comply with federal government grant requirements Proposition 19 doesn't include a definition of "driving under the influence" and as a result, it is opposed by the California Police Chiefs Association because it could lead to a situation where a driver can legally drive "even if a blood test shows that they have marijuana in their system.“ Problems exist from tobacco and alcohol being legal, why add another to the mix? Enactment of Proposition 19 will endanger school children because "A school bus driver would be forbidden to smoke marijuana on schools grounds or while actually behind the wheel, but could arrive for work with marijuana in his or her system.“ Employers would not be able to pre-emptively remove workers who smell of marijuana use from sensitive jobs such as operating heavy machinery or running medical lab tests but would instead have to wait to take action until after an accident occur

Voting turnout in 2010

Voting poll in 2011 A record-high 50% of Americans now say the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from 46% last year. 46% say marijuana use should remain illegal.

sources http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/10/19/benefits-marijuana/ http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_19,_the_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_(2010) http://www.alternet.org/drugs/155269/5_special_interest_groups_that_help_keep_marijuana_illegal http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugsmarijuana/?utm_campaign=paid-search&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_content=marijuana http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=prop+19&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=994&bih=636&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=p7W_T7T0HNTaiQK9xdXcBw

Legalization of marijuana

Télécharger la présentation

Plus de contenu associé

Legalization of marijuana