There is at the moment a full legalization proposal for weed in CA that’s pending. Nevertheless a slightly different California cannabis regulation was just signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. The law only makes marijuana just a little less illegal. The possession of small amounts of cannabis has slightly less stiff penalties. Possession of small amounts of marijuana will now only result in a fine. Formerly, the offense would take a defendant to court for misdemeanor possession.
Schwarzenegger working the weed reform angle
The SB 1449 bill was something Governor Schwarzenegger signed just lately. SB 1449 is about marijuana. Possession of less than one ounce of marijuana has a penalty that went down with it. Right now, an individual could be fined up to $100 and is required to show up to court with a misdemeanor offence. The Los Angeles explains the penalty will now only be a fine as of January 1, 2011. There is also an additional bill, Proposition 19, which would make marijuana use for recreational purposes completely legal. Gov. Schwarzenegger opposes Prop 19, but he signed SB 1449 for practical reasons. The idea is to lower burdens on regulation enforcement and courts. California has super relaxed laws on medical marijuana. It has the most relaxed laws in the whole country.
The bill is insufficient
There is not much of a debate to say that weed is evil. Marijuana has the exact same effect of tobacco and alcohol. It is the very same kind of gateway drug. Anyone that is determined to use drugs will use them anyway, regardless of whether that person first uses marijuana. The drug being illegal is odd to start with considering the history of the criminalization of weed. There was really only one reason why Nixon even stared the “Drug War.” This was so that political dissenters would be stopped in their tracks.
Fewer advantages
We can see in history the effect law has. Obviously, people won’t follow the law if they do not want to. Crime happened mostly because alcohol was prohibited in the early 20th century. Marijuana being illegal does the exact same thing. It just makes it harder on police. They have more to do to control people. Those who lived with the K.G.B. or Stasi looking over their shoulder have a thing or two to state. They testify to that experience completely. No one benefits from marijuana being illegal.
Citations
LA Times
latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/schwarzenegger-signs-bill-reducing-offense-for-marijuana-possession.html
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