They said it would be grand but they lied.
Why aren’t more people out there, talking about these issues?
I ask the same question:I am glad to see some conversation about this issue, I am not seeing much talk about the reality of what has actually happened, vs what all the proponents said would/not happen. I would like to share my personal experience since California passage of Prop 64.
“”Legalization” will eliminate & reduce crimes (minimize harm), & prevent people from going to jail.”-
Wrong! While it’s now legal to carry an ounce and grow a 6 plants per owned,(not rented dwelling, with owners permission) residence, cops are busting more people than ever for everything from, operating business with out a license, possession of over an ounce, concretes, growing to many plants, or growing in the wrong place, for driving, “under influence,” & for public toking, (good luck finding a place to use anywhere in public).
“”Legalization” will effectively end the War on Drugs”-
It has actually created new groups/kind of “criminals.” Some advocates have the idea, we should never reject ANY measure that moves us forward toward ANY type of marijuana legalization, at any cost! The idea that some recreational legalization, may actually be not worth losing medical rights over, is considered, “Purist” & “ Idealistic” by some. Tell that to the people who now find themselves, ”Criminalized” by “Legalization”!
“It will protect medical marijuana patients rights”.-
Some counties have placed growing restrictions & bans that make it illegal to even grow medical marijuana outside! Requiring patients additional $ for lighting, increasing utility costs, cost of purchasing licenses, greenhouses, etc. The state appears to be following Washington & Oregon move, to merge Recreational & Medical into one, that we have seen would result in eliminating more medical patients rights!
“Will not create “monopolies”-
Prop 64 specifically prohibits licenses for large growers (over 22,000 square feet)until 2020. This law was written for, and by, big corporations, who have ensured the high costs involved in becoming licensed, during the 5 year period, will guarantee most small & medium-size growers are forced out of business by then. Leaving the playing field wide open for “Big Corporate Marijuana.” This is not about supporting mom-and-pop growers or stores; it’s about, in the words of one “Ganjapreneur,” creating “the Wal-Marts of Marijuana.”
The law also allows for vertical integration. The five year cap is supposed to help small business survive, but the law will also allow enormous corporations to also vertically integrate. So Monsanto is just as free to create, produce & test each stage of their own product in five years!
“Will lead to lower prices and put an end to the black market.” -
Nothing could be further than the truth. The combination of over taxation & regulation is creating a perfect storm that drastically increases the, “Black Market.”
Many patients have had the cost of their medication double since first of the year! There is a bottle neck in permits, testing and licensing that will likely get even worse as the year goes on. People attempting to go legitimate, are now being targeted in some areas. Patients with higher than average medical needs, who can’t grow enough to get through the entire year, can no longer afford to purchase their medication in bulk from dispensaries. Many patients are being forced to choose, whether to loose a significant amount of their medication to taxation, or turning to frightening options like Craig’s List, ********* or Facebook!
“”Legalization” will protect consumers with safety tests, standardize dosage and labeling of cannabis.” -
Prop 64 does not require that cultivators send their product to independent or 3rd party testing or, “distributors”. They have arbitrary restrictions on edibles dosing, possession limits, that doesn’t consider diverse patients medical needs. There’s no specific protocol for how labs will gather samples from growers to perform state-required testing. It actually weakened the MMRSA testing requirements! This is clearly NOT a priority of, “Legalization”.
“Will allow for worry free home grows” -This is NOT the case! Prop 64 Allowed local cities & counties to set local growing & use restrictions. This has created many, “Dry” areas. As of this writing, one in seven California cities allow recreational marijuana stores!
“It will legitimize marijuana”
it’s still easier & cheaper to buy alcohol & tobacco than medical marijuana! “Legalization” has not addressed the issue of workplace drug testing, doesn’t even allow medical patients to use it at work or school. This was written to benefit a few fortune groups & individuals, not the patients or recreational users! Where the hell are all these legitimate places to use it? We would be foolish to ignore what has happened in Washington & Oregon since they have, Legalized Recreational Marijuana. The sales tax is now as extreme & Washington citizens can no longer even home-grow!
“Will Create more Jobs”-
Medical Marijuana was already creating jobs. This is killing people’s jobs & life’s work. Issues of workplace drug testing, banking, exportation, etc. have not been addressed by, “Legalization” and will continue to be problematic for the foreseeable future. It appears most small & medium sized family business /Growers, will be wiped out in entire regions of the state. While allowing, “Big business” with big $$, to buy up acres of failed agricultural business land in Central Valley.
WTF are we going to do about it is my question? I think we need a new generation of marijuana activism, post Legalization! To continue to fight for the medical rights, recreational legalization advocates are so willing to give away. Why aren’t more people out there, talking about these issues?
Why aren’t more people out there, talking about these issues?
