Pot legalization gains momentum in California

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Marijuana advocates are gathering signatures to get at least three pot-legalization measures on the ballot in 2010 in California, setting up what could be a groundbreaking clash with the federal government over U.S. drug policy.

At least one poll shows voters would support lifting the pot prohibition, which would make the state of 40 million the first in the nation to legalize marijuana.

Under federal law, marijuana is illegal, period. After overseeing a series of raids that destroyed more than 300,000 marijuana plants in California's Sierra Nevada foothills this summer, federal drug czar Gil Kerlikowske proclaimed, "Legalization is not in the president's vocabulary, and it's not in mine."

The U.S. Supreme Court also has ruled that federal law enforcement agents have the right to crack down even on marijuana users and distributors who are in compliance with California's medical marijuana law.

But some legal scholars and policy analysts say the government will not be able to require California to help in enforcing the federal marijuana ban if the state legalizes the drug.

Without assistance from the state's legions of narcotics officers, they say, federal agents could do little to curb marijuana in California.

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Pot legalization gains momentum in California



SPOTLIGHT ON SMOKING POT. You don't hear much about the medical marijuana community because people tend to be discreet about illnesses, says pot activist Russell Barth. That's why event's like Extravaganja are so important. (Neil McKinnon)

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The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would not speculate on the effects of any decision by California to legalise pot. "Marijuana is illegal under federal law and DEA will continue to attack large-scale drug trafficking organisations at every level," spokeswoman Dawn Dearden said.

The most conservative of the three ballot measures would only legalise possession of up to one ounce of pot for personal use by adults 21 and older - an amount that already under state law can only result at most in a US$100 fine.

The proposal would also allow anyone to grow a plot of marijuana up to 5 feet-by-5 feet on their private property. The size, Pacula said, seems specifically designed to keep the total number of plants grown below 100, the threshold for DEA attention.



Full legalisation could turn medical marijuana dispensaries into all-purpose pot stores

Tha's all we need more junkies driving around stoned!

We are going to legalize here in California I hope!!!!

I d much rather have a person stoned on the road than one with a cell phone up thier ass and unaware of what thier doing.Pot drivers usually drive slower than most.Its long over due .Its time for a reality check in America and its time to lealize pot and take the criminal elliments out of its sale and distribution.PROHIBITION DOES NOT WORK!....Think of the jail space that would be freed up.Law enforcement could go after REAL criminals.TAX IT....solve all the USA debt.Grow it for fiber,fuel,...for Gods sake save millions of trees each year!