Californians get to decide this fall whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
This ballot measure has managed to split the cannabis community right down the middle, with big time growers against the act, and most recreational users for it.
While there are many things to take issue with in this measure, including how many things are still illegal or suddenly become illegal under the act, we need to step back a moment to get a glimpse of the big picture here.
At this moment, public opinion, at least in California has swayed in favor of cannabis legalization. Whether this bill satisfies that desire, to legally use cannabis, is not the issue.
What is most important today and tomorrow is the National debate about cannabis. What happens in California will affect this debate. Whether Californians decide to legalize marijuana or not determines the narrative that the media will pickup and use going forward. And that narrative won't focus on the minutia of the act and why it was accepted or rejected. No, the media will focus on the end result only.
So we have two possible outcomes. One, cannabis is legalized in California, or two, it's not. If cannabis is legalized in California, it will send up a CHEER heard 'round the world! It will rally the masses to demand legalization in other states. It will encourage everyone active in the legalization movement to redouble their efforts in other places, and at the Federal level. It will place a lot of pressure on the Feds to back off on their War on Americans who use cannabis. Of course there will likewise be pressure from special interests groups to take action against the new California law. And I can easily see the California or Federal courts attempting to strike down California's law as being unconstitutional.
You see the Feds also know what a legalization victory means. And they will be relentless in their efforts to keep cannabis illegal. Of course this will have the effect of turning off a lot of people to the Obama administration, who might otherwise have supported it, if he was more lenient regarding cannabis. So there are some political risks if they get draconian on California as a result of legalization.
Now if Californians reject the act, another scenario will come into play. The media and government narrative will be different. They will take a defeat in November as a sign of a new backlash against cannabis, and play up the idea that the tide has turned against it. Then the positive spin that media has given cannabis over the past few years might turn negative. They will look for (and find) signs that cannabis is also being rejected at the local level in California, as counties and cities apply restrictive zoning ordinances. Therefore the media can run with the idea that the conservative view of cannabis as an illegal and dangerous drug is true, and that even the public that was once for it, is now against it. And you can bet the Feds will encourage this narrative in the media.
Once we lose the media narrative in our favor, we may lose the battle for legalization. Once the very progressive state of California rejects legal cannabis, how can less progressive states hope to pass a legalization bill? Much of the progress we've seen over the last few years will be lost.
Let's not forget what effect this will have on politicians whose platforms can blow with the prevailing wind. They will see the writing on the wall if legalization is defeated and won't support it again. And there lies the biggest challenge. It's been so difficult to round up enough politicians to support cannabis now. After a defeat, it might be impossible.
Think about these consequences. I know most people vote only in their self interests, but as a community that stretches around the world, we must see beyond ourselves and think about what will benefit the larger community over the long run. I was against this measure while there were better options available. But now with this or nothing else on the ballot this fall, I realize that a no vote against legalization won't just affect me or my local community, but the hopes and dreams of millions of cannabis users everywhere.
A victory in November, is a victory for the plant and for the movement, no doubt there. Whatever the shortcomings of this measure, we can improve it later, as any section in the measure is severable if found to be invalid/illegal/unconstitutional. Also the measure allows amendments by the people or the legislature to improve it (but not to undermine it).
Once Californians have shown they want cannabis legalized, politicians will follow along, and there will be a new, more powerful cannabis lobby, with fresh clout thanks to the legalization measure. We must not undermine the progress we've already made, we must keep moving forward or we will weaken the movement.
We cannot let this opportunity for change to slip by, we might not get another chance, and in fact, we may ensure we don't get another chance if it fails...
This ballot measure has managed to split the cannabis community right down the middle, with big time growers against the act, and most recreational users for it.
While there are many things to take issue with in this measure, including how many things are still illegal or suddenly become illegal under the act, we need to step back a moment to get a glimpse of the big picture here.
At this moment, public opinion, at least in California has swayed in favor of cannabis legalization. Whether this bill satisfies that desire, to legally use cannabis, is not the issue.
What is most important today and tomorrow is the National debate about cannabis. What happens in California will affect this debate. Whether Californians decide to legalize marijuana or not determines the narrative that the media will pickup and use going forward. And that narrative won't focus on the minutia of the act and why it was accepted or rejected. No, the media will focus on the end result only.
So we have two possible outcomes. One, cannabis is legalized in California, or two, it's not. If cannabis is legalized in California, it will send up a CHEER heard 'round the world! It will rally the masses to demand legalization in other states. It will encourage everyone active in the legalization movement to redouble their efforts in other places, and at the Federal level. It will place a lot of pressure on the Feds to back off on their War on Americans who use cannabis. Of course there will likewise be pressure from special interests groups to take action against the new California law. And I can easily see the California or Federal courts attempting to strike down California's law as being unconstitutional.
You see the Feds also know what a legalization victory means. And they will be relentless in their efforts to keep cannabis illegal. Of course this will have the effect of turning off a lot of people to the Obama administration, who might otherwise have supported it, if he was more lenient regarding cannabis. So there are some political risks if they get draconian on California as a result of legalization.
Now if Californians reject the act, another scenario will come into play. The media and government narrative will be different. They will take a defeat in November as a sign of a new backlash against cannabis, and play up the idea that the tide has turned against it. Then the positive spin that media has given cannabis over the past few years might turn negative. They will look for (and find) signs that cannabis is also being rejected at the local level in California, as counties and cities apply restrictive zoning ordinances. Therefore the media can run with the idea that the conservative view of cannabis as an illegal and dangerous drug is true, and that even the public that was once for it, is now against it. And you can bet the Feds will encourage this narrative in the media.
Once we lose the media narrative in our favor, we may lose the battle for legalization. Once the very progressive state of California rejects legal cannabis, how can less progressive states hope to pass a legalization bill? Much of the progress we've seen over the last few years will be lost.
Let's not forget what effect this will have on politicians whose platforms can blow with the prevailing wind. They will see the writing on the wall if legalization is defeated and won't support it again. And there lies the biggest challenge. It's been so difficult to round up enough politicians to support cannabis now. After a defeat, it might be impossible.
Think about these consequences. I know most people vote only in their self interests, but as a community that stretches around the world, we must see beyond ourselves and think about what will benefit the larger community over the long run. I was against this measure while there were better options available. But now with this or nothing else on the ballot this fall, I realize that a no vote against legalization won't just affect me or my local community, but the hopes and dreams of millions of cannabis users everywhere.
A victory in November, is a victory for the plant and for the movement, no doubt there. Whatever the shortcomings of this measure, we can improve it later, as any section in the measure is severable if found to be invalid/illegal/unconstitutional. Also the measure allows amendments by the people or the legislature to improve it (but not to undermine it).
Once Californians have shown they want cannabis legalized, politicians will follow along, and there will be a new, more powerful cannabis lobby, with fresh clout thanks to the legalization measure. We must not undermine the progress we've already made, we must keep moving forward or we will weaken the movement.
We cannot let this opportunity for change to slip by, we might not get another chance, and in fact, we may ensure we don't get another chance if it fails...
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