myownsatellite wrote:How did it turn out?
19 Legalize Marijuana in CA, Regulate and Tax
Choice Votes %
Yes 3,424,145 46.2%
No 3,994,442 53.8%
100% of precincts reporting; Updated 11/03 7:00P
The proposition would have made it legal by state law for anyone 21 years or older to grow and possess a limited amount of marijuana, and would have allowed local government to regulate and tax commercial activity. If would have remained illegal under federal law so California would have become a potential target for federal bullying through withholding funding.
So only 53.8% of voters believe we should continue to spend more money in law enforcement, courts, and prisons fighting marijuana, and we should overlook perfectly good opportunity for local government to generate revenue through licensing fees and taxes. A similar proposition was voted on in California in 1972 and failed 66.5% to 33.5% -- it probably won't be that long before this comes up again and passes.