California Marijuana Laws Now Nation's Most Liberal

• what happens to person growing a pot plants in calif an sales of pot sinse it is the nations mostlibera states ??

• Joe Eskenazi you are absolutely wrong. Alaska's State Supreme Court ruled back in 1975, under Alaska State Constitution, a person's right to privacy allowed the possession and consumption of marijuana. That's right: IN ALASKA YOU CAN LEGALLY HAVE MARIJUANA IN YOUR HOME.... (Ravin v State) The only thing legislator's can do is regulate the amount: they can't make marijuana illegal, just the location, the transportation, and the amount. That's why the amount of possession of marijuana in Alaska has now changed since 2006. Possession -in your residence or home- of up to one ounce IS NOT AN OFFENSE. And yes, you can have marijuana plants.

• I'm all for legalizing pot but you guys are not helping the case any. LordBKP, I hope you're not serious about the "fund" for the tax revenue to go into and then be sent back to the taxpayer as a refund or "stimulus". The absurdity of your argument is almost too hard to believe. Mark, I understand you are 60 and have probably been smoking pot for decades but does it affect the ability to spell (or notice the red squiggly line that appears underneath misspelled words) that much. Come on now, "licker", "tersest". Your post is actually hard to read. If you're going to make arguments for legalization at least do it while sober or leave it for the one's who can make comprehend-able sentences. It doesn't help change people's minds any to see posts such as these that mostly don't make any sense or look like they are coming from someone in fantasy land.

• The benefits of Marijuana use are well known, and only a fool tries to refute them. It is an absurdity that the U.S. incarcerates thousands of people a year for possesion . But what is most disturbing is the fact that politicians against decriminalization or legalization, have the audacity to say it is the welfare of the people that informs their position. Politicians do not generally take the public welfare into concideration at all. We know ciggarettes kill 400,000 americans every year but i dont recall any politicians screaming to make them illegal. And if their objective is truly to decrease the influx of drugs to the .U.S., the most effective way to achieve that end is to remove the profit motive. The poppy growers will plantin wheat!

• But doesn't the money from Marijuana fund the terrorists over there in the East? I mean, don't they grow pot everywhere over there? Or is that POPPY/HEROIN???

• Its crazy that it is illegal just have A Cancer stick. You know that will kill you and its legal. How about Drinking licker. Now thats good for our Kids. There is more good in Pot then all the chemicals that the drug company's are poring down us, So lets just all start smoking Pot they can't put us all in Jail. If they do then we can live good let them feed us wash our close give us cable TV Its like a country club any way. Look at the money going to tersest from it. Why not let it go to the people in the US Aren't the drug lords rich enough. Give it to the US. Its the people making Booze that are paying the politicizations off We need to see who is taking the money from them to do it. Like He says no stealing to get money for pot. I am 60 and won't to be able to smoke my pot.I know judges lawyers Doctors and all walks of life that smoke it every day.

• Well if the numbers are correct or even close then pot should definatly be legal and taxed. Emagine that if California who suggests that the revenue would be 1.4 billion a year, revenue is profit right? Ok so they legalize it, the profit from the first year would go into a fund, at the end of the year divide every person who bought pot and paid the tax into that and send them a check for half, like the stimulus checks, then divide every other person living there that was born in the usa into the remaining balance and send them their checks everyone in California would be rich. After the first year the government then could use the profit to help its economy. What would Californias economy be like if no one was poor? At least those that were born in our great country? Then do that in all other states, what the hell, they can wait one year before taking the profits. 1.4 billion in profit, 40 million or so in population you do the math. after the first year the people wanting pot could even be able to afford it, how great would that be? No stealing to get pot money!!

• I've been waiting for this to come into being during my lifetime...and now it's around the corner! I think that making Cannibus an industry/union would stop alot of drug problems, create honest jobs. Control the shtuff like alcohol, and reep the benifits from taxes like no other "Natural" substance could provide. I think also this should've been done before Peroquat got into the mix in the '80's! Maybe also the Cartels would'nt be so Viralent as of lately...They're gonna loose alot of business if the states don't need them anymore.

• Gambling is pretty much legal in CA already. Indian casinos are everywhere and you better believe the state gets their share! Like others already stated, this will free up room in prison for real felons. It will save millions of state dollars that would otherwise go to fighting cultivation, court costs, etc. The state already makes tax money off of the medical dispensaries. People already drive under the influence. I don't think more will drive high after, yes I said after, it's legal. Legalize it and I will advertise it!

• If the main reason to legalize pot is to get California out of debt.....why not legalize gambling instead? It would generate more money and does not have tne issue of "driving while gambling".

• Yaaay! ! !

• Actually, in Breckenridge, CO, it's 100% legal. That passed in Nov '09, 79% for. The government is finally starting to understand that they can make money off of pot--but not the way they could. Tax it and get us out of the damn RECESSION!!! If they would just sit, smoke and think. . .

• I would just like to say that Montana is NOT the 2nd harshest. http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 yeah, maybe its medical but its still better than the other states. Getting a card is a legit way to be legal.

• I'm pushing sixty and not a doper at all. I'm thrilled to see this law go into effect. Quit wasting our money on pot offenses, which are nothing at all... similar to alcohol, but probably even less damaging. Let these mellow pot users out of prison and let them get on with their lives which just might be productive. Not like that would happen, but at least NO NEW ONES IMPRISONED! Thank you for a short breath of sanity, California.

• and in different cities the laws can be very different in ohio in some cities such as brecksville it is a misdemeanor 3 for possesion

• i have believed for several years that as the economy continues its downward spiral and governmental entities become more and more desperate for money-generating possibilities, marijuana (production and distribution) will eventually be at the forefront of this. given california's incredibly abysmal deficit, this seems to finally be coming into fruition - praise the gods! the billions of dollars that the U.$. government has invested in fighting the war on 'drugs' (and i read somewhere that roughly 85% of inmates serving drug-related sentences are convicted of pot charges) could have been utilized in infinitely better ways - such as exploring the possibility of cannabis as a source of fuel! lord only knows we will need it in a few years... i was a preschool teacher in asheville, NC (and a damn fine one at that!) until i got charged with possession (one joint between 3 people). because i could not jump through the numerous 'hoops' that the legal system was instituting for a deferred sentencing program due to my job, i eventually got fired. 'drug-free workplace' should mean that your consumption activities don't effect your work performance - what mistakes you make while not ON the clock should have no bearing on the future of your livelihood. and such it is, with many, many otherwise innocent, law-abiding people in this country. jah bless the politicians who actually look at the reality of our country's situation rather than blind obedience to outdated, ill-founded methods of thinking.

• I believe that this is just a start and with my firm belief that with this law it can hopefully prove how much injustice there is for just possessing marijuana with no violence added. I mean people who speak negatively about it truly have no real facts to go off on to which it is similar to other recreational drugs that actually do have more of a upfront physical and mental effect on abusers. Just think if lawmakers (were actually smarter than 5th graders and wan't worried about their pockets instead of the people's) this could help us boost the economy in many ways. 1. It could create more small buisnesses for those "contributing" entreprenuers. 2. Open up more jobs for opportunities for the unemployed. 3. Allow strands to be breeded and tested for other medical solutions as well creating foods for patients to consume. 4. BOOST THE ECONOMY!! I mean like most people I know smoke marijuana and you discover someone new as well...I mean Arnold smoked right, he know's it's not a terrible herbal drug..he's still successful right with other governmental influences.

• Actually, what this does is get the rest of the states thinking. Hmmm, that's a quick easy way to generate money, AND free up the courts. Watch for forthcoming legislation to be submitted in various free thinking blue states!

• Eventually, when decrimialization spreads to the rest of the country, California will be under pressure to be more progressive still. Perhaps in 10 years time if you are busted with under an ounce in Cali, you will win a free car wash, a toaster, or a 10% discount on of your next bail bond!

• Yeah, but Alaska has zero penalty for under four ounces. Most liberal? You betcha! Or am I just imagining I can see Russia?

• This is really a big deal. What it means is there can be no arrest and therefore no fingerprinting. If there is no fingerprinting then this does not get forwarded to the state DOJ and become part of a citizen's "rap." What it means is one can travel to Canada (they have access to your rap sheet), one can submit to background checks for all sorts of things without fear and one does not have to shell out enormous lawyer fees (oftentimes that "one" is the taxpayer). Even if prop 19 did not pass this alone makes a big difference. Good work Mark and Arnie!

• What Buzzby fails to mention is Ohio's insane paraphernalia laws. Getting caught with pot may be no big deal there, but getting caught holding something with which to smoke pot sure as hell is.

• Actually, Ohio has the nation's most liberal marijuana possession law and we've had it since 1975. Up to 100 grams (around 3.5 ounces) gets you a ticket with a $100 fine, no jail time, and no criminal record.

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