According to a poll conducted just before the election, voters in California think marijuana should be legalized by a margin of 49% to 41% with 10% undecided. If the poll is accurate, why didn't Proposition 19 pass on November 2?
Probably because Prop 19 was a flawed initiative with a likelihood of confusion and chaos . George Skelton, the LA Times columnist, wrote that under Prop 19 "each city and county - 536 entities - could decree their own marijuana rules and taxes." As George argues, this could lead to chaos.
I agree with Mr. Skelton. Think about it: what if every city and county had their own unique alcohol and tobacco laws? There could easily be a situation where a person could purchase, possess and consume marijuana on one side of the street, but not on the other. It's fair to say that would be chaotic.
After the failure of Prop 19, Richard Lee, the founder of Oaksterdam University in Oakland and the man behind Prop 19, stated that he plans to have another proposition legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana on the 2012 ballot. If this happens, hopefully the proposition will be more rational and pass.
Don't get me wrong, I am completely in favor of the legalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana. I firmly believe that marijuana prohibition in its current form is incredibly ineffective and wastes billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Not to mention that marijuana is available to anyone almost anywhere, especially in California. But if California is going to be the first state to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, then we should do it right.
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