MMJ: Creating Space

You made a few errors about the [Adult Users of Marijuana Act] initiative. We should be able to possess 8 grams of concentrates legally. Cities can’t completely ban personal home growing in California. They have to allow indoor, greenhouse or in a secured location out of public view, even in places with bans.

The current law for over an ounce has a penalty of $500 or six months in jail. This doesn’t change under the initiative. Most other common penalties will be downgraded.

If the taxes prove too high (evidenced by an illicit market), then the Legislature has the authority to fix that and downgrade that, along with downgrading penalties even further.

If Colorado and Washington are any indication, arrests have gone way down since the passage of initiatives, and they also allow possession of 1 ounce. Arrests should go way down in California if this passes, as well. - Mikki Norris

You are correct. The original wording had it listed at 4 grams of concentrates, but it has recently been changed to 8. As to the growing ban, think about this: What defines a “secure area out of public view”? If you have them in your backyard, but your neighbor can see them or if you have a 10-foot plant behind an 8-foot fence, will you be hassled by the cops? What defines an “open container”? Does a baggie count? If I’m walking down the street puffing a doob, will I be subject to a fine? I wonder why we treat marijuana like crack, and not wine. This initiative does a lot of over-regulating. I would like a law that makes it easier for me to grow and use cannabis. We need farmers markets and bud-and-breakfast hotels, not sterile pot factories full of pesticides and greed. Colorado is having a huge problem with commercial pressures forcing growers to use pesticides. Is that what we want? California is already feeling pressure. At this year’s Emerald Cup, 15 percent of the entrants (and this is a contest for organically grown outdoors) tested positive for pesticides. We need to be creating space to grow delicious natural cannabis, not sweating citizens over an ounce. I could buy a van full of booze right now, and no one would blink an eye. Why is that? Weed is safer.

That said, I want to support the initiative. I am hoping backers Sean Parker and Co. will revise a few things and maybe throw a bone or two to the lifestyle user so that we won’t be mad when we vote yes.