The big moment

What’s the biggest obstacle facing legalization this November?

—Al Foreet

Hmm, let’s see. … There are a few cannabis activists who feel like Proposition 64 isn’t the right way to go. Their argument is usually something about “not wanting corporate marijuana” or that Prop. 64 isn’t the “right kind” of legalization. But let’s be adults about this and accept the fact that there will probably never be a “perfect” legalization measure. Ever. Our first priority should be to keep people out of jail, and Prop. 64 will do just that.

Right now, there are people all over California facing felony charges for “crimes” involving cannabis. Most of these cases have been put on hold pending the outcome of this election. If Prop. 64 passes, hundreds of people facing serious jail time will have their charges dropped. Dropped! As in: “Go home. No jail for you. Sorry to have bothered you.” This is a big fucking deal. Prop. 64 lessens penalties across the board for all marijuana “crimes.” This is great news for the casual user, and for the grower that decides to remain an outlaw.

There are some other folks against legalization, of course. The alcohol industry, a few (OK, most) of the police officers’ unions (surprise), a fentanyl manufacturing company in Arizona, right-wing Las Vegas casino owner and media owner Sheldon Adelson, Kevin Sabet and his Smart Approaches to Marijuana group (they aren’t very smart at all) and a few more poor misguided souls seem to think that prohibition and throwing people in jail is the best way to deal with marijuana, a plant that has happily co-existed with humans for thousands of years.

Listen: It is time for California to reclaim its spot as the leader in the cannabis industry. All the arguments people may have against this initiative don’t hold up. It is way beyond time to legalize weed in California. There is no good reason for anyone to vote against Prop. 64. Vote yes on 64! Have fun at the polls. Oh, and please keep Donald Trump out of office, you guys.

Do you ever think about the children?

—T. Hink

I do. I think the kids are all right. Listen, if children being exposed to marijuana led to them using marijuana, my kids would be the biggest stoners in the state. They aren’t. They don’t even like the smell of weed. They look at cannabis like it’s some weird thing that “the olds” do, and that’s fine with me. When I think of the children I think of the teenagers (usually minorities) harassed by cops over small amounts of weed. Fortunately for us, Prop. 64 keeps kids caught with weed out of juvenile detention centers. There is no reason to incarcerate anyone for marijuana ever. Think about the children. Protect the children. Help the children. Vote yes on Prop. 64!