Thursday's San Francisco Chronicle reported that a new group, TaxCannabis2010.org, has been formed for the express purpose of getting an initiative on California's November 2010 ballot that would legalize personal use of cannabis. The effort is spearheaded by Richard Lee, the executive director of Oaksterdam University, a major medical cannabis dispensary and advocacy group in Oakland.
But, while federal law prohibits cannabis possession now and the foreseeable future, is this and other efforts merely in vain?
More over the bump.
If the initiative makes it on the ballot, it would join legislation introduced earlier this year by SF Assemblyman Tom Ammiano that would decriminalize cannabis possession - that is until the federal government changes its tune. When that happens, and if the bill succeeds, California would have a regime in place to tax and regulate cannabis. Ammiano turned his legislation into a 2-year bill - it must now make it out of the Assembly by January 2010.
The imminent push to get a tax and regulate initiative on the November 2010 CA ballot thus increases the chances a state will for the first time legalize cannabis outright - in direct conflict with federal law.
13 states currently allow medical cannabis - also in direct conflict of federal law. However, just this week, a provision in a bill moved out of the House Appropriations Committee authored by Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) calling on AG Holder and the Obama Administration to clarify their collective policy position regarding states that have legalized medical cannabis.
Federalism - the states pushing change in federal policy through legislative activism - beautifully at work.
While cannabis activists talk about a perfect storm (economics, Mexican drug wars, change in administration, etc.) for pushing this issue, it will still be a while before the DEA packs up and stops its dispensary and grow raids. But how long?
Support for legalization is growing - at 56% in California at the end of April. Nationwide, polling shows support from 41 to 52%, probably somewhere in the middle.
In this climate, perspectives are changing - does it really make sense to criminalize and spend lots of money enforcing against something as innocuous as cannabis?
California, broke as hell, appears poised to say no.
America, much of it bankrupt, is just a step or two behind.