As has been widely reported today, the alcohol lobby has come out swinging its hop soaked fists at California's new marijuana legalization initiative, Prop. 19. The California Beer and Beverage Board has donated ten grand to No on 19, the Public Safety First group, which is also being funded by some law enforcement organizations.
It is ironic in a way that an alcohol industry that was once itself an illegal pariah and forced to exist through speakeasies and the mafia, a victim of prohibition, now stands hand in hand with the establishment in favor of a different kind of prohibition. To fight an industry that is fighting for the same recreational dollars. Memories are short. Similar to the way that the Indian casino lobby fights non indian gaming propositions across the state. Simply a matter of dollars and cents and self interest, conscience or other's personal freedom not ever entering into the equation.
I am pro Proposition 19. I know firsthand how marijuana helped me through cancer, to such a degree that I was able to do without any narcotics whatsoever. That is old ground. What is interesting is the way some potheads have been co-opted to campaign against the proposition, on the grounds that the mystic herb can never be taxed and regulated. I am pro tax and regulate for several reasons. One, it will take a huge bite out of Mexican cartel money, sure opponents of the measure. Help restore the state's coffers. Let us do our share.
Keep your crappy brown mexican dirtweed, we're Americans pal. Drink your twobuckchuck with the screw tops and the brown paper bag, we're drinking Crystal. California can shine again, with golden nuggets baking as far as the eye can see!
Cops are against the proposition because police departments unfortunately live off the money they get from the feds for anti-drug campaigns. It funds department budgets. Personal Marijuana busts are at an all time high under Obama and law enforcement and the criminal gangs are walking hand in hand against the ballot measure and to protect the status quo. In a faltering economy, in a strange way, illegal drugs mean jobs on both side of the equation.
People surmise that the old Humboldt and Mendocino growers are also not keen on changing things around and having a wholesale price reduction but I don't know any so I couldn't tell you. I would like to think that they had more integrity than that.
The microbrewers like Stone and Sierra Nevada were very adamant today that they had nothing to do with the contribution.
If Proposition 19 fails, I want all of the people who are potheads that are anti 19 to realize that people are not going to say "oh, it was a bad proposition." They are going to say, "The people of California do not want the legalization of marijuana." And the next one arrested may be you or your kid. The medical marijuana movement approved by the voters twice so far has been stifled at every turn by parochial communities like San Diego county that do everything they can to thwart the will of the people manifested in Propositions 215 and 420 . That many elderly people still can not find safe reliable sources of medical marijuana because of draconian persecution and harassment.
We can not let the perfect stand in the way of the good. Vote yes on Proposition 19.
6 comments:
Humboldt county marijuana growers sold out the "integrity" thing a long long time ago. The organized political clout against legal pot is coming from small to medium sized local businesses here in Humboldt. They are super fearful and they should be. Humboldt county economy will collapse quick and hard if legalized. Banks, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, car dealers, etc will all face a brave new world. This is not all bad. I have many friends that grow pot as a family business. In the very best grows I have seen and by that I mean small grows run by educated, kind spiritual people, there is a negative vibe present. Really, you can taste the fear and uncertainty as you visit and chat things up in the living room. That's the top of the quality of life food chain for growers. On the bottom, most growers, they are in it just for the money. A horrible situation populated with violent greedy folk that dont even smoke pot. In Humboldt county, where pot is virtually legal, being a grower is a shitty lifestyle. That is why I dont grow...I sure could use the money but I am unwilling to pay the spiritual price that accompanies the biz. My grower friends cry out loud "this is all I know, I have no marketable skills". That is bullshit. I used to have very comfortable "legal" cash flow. I now work a very ordinary job, single dad money is tight, but were happy and grateful and I've learned how to enjoy the simple things in life. If some one as simple as myself can change so can the growers. Legalize it!!
B
Bob, I was playing around on the computer after sending another nasty letter to our local newspaper--accusing our council persons of being stupid--or maybe what they did was so stupid it was criminal. It involved Zipcar and the city of Davis subsidizing it. Look up Sacramento CBS television and click on Davis sweetheart deal.
About marijuana, it has been a long time since people have been arrested for possession of small-very small--amounts of the weed. I remember--all to clearly--sitting in the living room of your cousin's home with her and two L.A. police officers while we were all waiting for a warrant to search the home--after my ex-son-in-law (thankfully ex) was waiting in jail charged with being a part of a meth manufacturing group. After the warrant was received and the house searched the officers told me that all they found were two marijuana cigarettes, but they wouldn't bother about something that small--but had they found any meth your cousin would be right off to jail. I will probably vote for the initiative, but I have my doubts. I keep thinking about how beer is advertised as the way to have a good time. The only thing worse than beer ads are the auto ads, mostly Volkswagon, telling the kids how much fun it is to speed around curves--your grand cousin, Sherry, was killed while riding in a car in which the driver said "let's see how fast this thing will go."
Finally, I liked, but wonder why, you put on pieces by Frankie Yankovich. That is great exercise music--it increased my speed on a treadmill by 1/2 mile per hour when I listened to him. Not now, because my knees and my back have slowed me to a leisurely walk.
I'd send you one of my pictures for your show--but I don't think they would qualify. My favorite is of me being embraced by a six foot three naked female--but that was a s far as it went.
Norm
what i meant to say the first time was, you're preaching to the choir; you've got my vote; yes on 19.
HEY RICH AGAIN FROM OAK STREET SURF SHOP I PRAY PROP 19 PASSES IM A MEDICAL SMOKER MYSELF BECAUSE OF BROKEN NECK SEVEN PLACES AND MY MOM DIED FROM CANCER BUT BECAUSE OR WEED SHE LIVED 11 MONTHS LONGER BECAUSE SHE COULD EAT AND HELPED WITH KEMO TOO HER DR GAVE HER ONLY 6 MONTHS SO TY GOD FOR THE HERB AND THE EXTRA 11 MONTHS WITH MOM !!!YOUR ALL FOOLS IF YOU DONT VOTE THIS IN !!!YES ON PROP 19 !!!
"Bob" I wish more growers would feel that way. I am voting for it because it is a step in the right direction. I think like the housing market getting out of hand so did the weed market. Prices way too inflated and no trickle down so to speak. Let's get it going in the right direction and then do the fine tuning if you will. VOTE YES PROP 19. PS Miss you on facebook. You vanished and I love your insite get back in touch with me Andrea H. In answer to your question yes I do still . . .
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