The new CA cannabis regulation is too weak

Arnold Schwarzenegger just signed a new California cannabis bill into law. The bill isn’t really a full legalization. It is only a mild decriminalization. The penalty for possession has been lowered by the brand new law. Under the new regulation, anyone caught with a certain amount of weed without a prescription will pay a small fine. Formerly, the penalty was a fine plus a court appearance.

Marijuana reform is sustained by Schwarzenegger

The SB 1449 bill was something Governor Schwarzenegger signed lately. The bill, SB 1449, reduces the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Currently, it is a misdemeanor that requires a court appearance, and up to a $100 fine. The Los Angeles explains that 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 entirely lawful. Prop 19 is not something that Governor Schwarzenegger supports. Of course it was only practical that he sign in SB 1449. The idea is to cut back burdens on regulation enforcement and courts. CA has super relaxed laws on medical marijuana. It has the most relaxed laws within the whole country.

Several say the bill seems inadequate

The arguments concerning marijuana use and its relative “evils” are flawed. Marijuana is no more a gateway drug than tobacco or alcohol. If someone wants to do drugs, they’ll get a hold of them very easily. Cannabis may not have even been their first drug. Furthermore, the history behind the criminalization of marijuana makes the illegality of the drug philosophically suspect to start with. 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.

Hardly any benefits

We can see in history the effect regulation has. Clearly, individuals will not follow the regulation if they do not want to. In the early 20th century, alcohol became prohibited. Of course more crime only happened with this. We can see the same thing. It comes when prohibiting marijuana. It opens the door to a police state. Anyone who lived with the K.G.B or the Stasi looking over their shoulder can attest to the abhorrence of that experience. Nobody enjoys marijuana being illegal. It does not benefit anyone.

Citations

LA Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/schwarzenegger-signs-bill-reducing-offense-for-marijuana-possession.html