Both sides weigh in on Prop 64 ahead of Election Day
UPDATE: 6:55 p.m.
For more than 20 years, Randall Patten’s wheelhouse has also been a grow house. “I’ve seen so many firsthand experiences in my life where people that were anti-cannabis started getting older and having cancer,” Patten, Canndescent’s Master Cultivator said. “So, adding cannabis to their diet as opposed to pills really realizes this plant is not a bad plant.” But come November, Patten’s industry could soon be growing with Proposition 64 on the ballot. Canndescent CEO Adrian Sedlin said he supports the measure, not only with the opportunity to create up to $1 billion in new taxes, but to offer pot to any adult in the state. “Cannabis is zero calorie, non-addictive, and has a lower withdrawal profile than coffee,” Sedlin said. “So as an alternative to other sources like alcohol, it is far more beneficial for your body.” Longtime marijuana advocate and registered nurse Lanny Swerdlow said the move could also help change prison rates, and keep marijuana out of the wrong hands. “We arrest over 700,000 people a year in this country, (and) we spend somewhere between 10 and 20 billion dollars a year of taxpayers money,” Swerdlow, Director of the Marijuana Anti-Prohibition Project (MAPP) said. “It leads to disrespectful laws. We have all these murders along the border here in Mexico with these drug smugglers, half the drugs being brought over to the United States are marijuana. If we legalize it, we’re going to end all of these problems.” But one thing employment lawyer David Mule said the law won’t change will be drug-testing policies, with discretion being still up to employers. “Nothing in the statute would prevent employers from continuing to have testing policies that would test for state or federal illegal drugs,” Mule said. “So really the question comes down to what will happen in the future on the federal side.” The proposition would allow anyone in California ages 21 and older to have up to one ounce of marijuana, and grow up to six plants. But not everyone is high on support for the proposition. With the medicinal marijuana industry already lighting up the valley — local dispensary owner Joy Meredith said Proposition 64 could mean a change for medical marijuana patients. “Through Proposition 215, each patient in a household could grow eight plants,” Meredith said. “So, I think already it’s kind of limiting the amount you can grow in your own home.” Law enforcers, some of the proposition’s biggest opposers, said the measure could add some concern to driving under the influence. “The prevalence of medical marijuana in this state, we’ve seen a real up tick in the number of marijuana-related fatalities, where we prosecute cases, typically manslaughter cases,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said. “So, I only expect that to increase when you have sort of an open season where marijuana is legal for recreational purposes if that happens.” But whatever the outcome may be, Patten said he still has high hopes to see his passion continue to grow. “You’re going to have a lot more people that are still maybe thinking of it a little taboo and not approachable, and finally they’ll understand that, ‘Hey. This plant is not a bad thing, and it’s actually healthy for you,” Patten said. According to Ballotpedia, the proposition now stands with about 60 percent of voters in favor of it.
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ORIGINAL STORY: 3:40 p.m.
With Election Day coming up quickly, residents across California will be voting on 17 propositions — one of which could make the Golden State a little more green.
The move to legalize pot recreationally across the state has been voted down twice before. But this year, the adult use of marijuana has gained a lot of attention — especially here in the Coachella Valley with a booming medical marijuana industry.
KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer spoke to both sides about Proposition 64, which would legalize recreational marijuana use in California. We go in depth on the proposition on KESQ News Channel 3 at 6 p.m. and on CBS Local 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Those in favor of Prop 64:
ACLU of California African American Alcohol and Other Drug Council of LA County All of Us or None, Southern California Berkeley Patients Group Break the Chains: Communities of Color and the War on Drugs Broken No More California Academy of Preventive Medicine California Cannabis Industry Association California Council of Churches IMPACT California Council of Land Trusts California Medical Association California NAACP Cut50 Drug Policy Alliance Ella Baker Center Ensohara Inc. Equality California Friends Committee on Legislation of California Harm Reduction Services HealthRight 360 Institute of the Black World 21st Century Justice Not Jails Los Angeles Community Health Project Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP) Marijuana Policy Project of California Moms United to End the War on Drugs NORML Our America Initiative Our Revolution Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing Planning and Conservation League Progressive Christians Uniting Project Cannabis Project Inform Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce Students for Sensible Drug Policy William C. Velasquez Institute Youth Justice Coalition Blacks in Law Enforcement of America Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) National Latino Officers Association California Nurses Association United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council United Farm Workers
Those Opposing Prop 64
Auto Club of Southern California California Hospital Association California Association of Highway Patrolmen California Police Chiefs Association DUID Victim Voices Fight Crime, Invest in Kids California Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs California College and University Police Chiefs Association California Correctional Supervisors Association California District Attorneys Association California Narcotic Officers Associations California Peace Officers Association California State Sheriffs’ Association The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Office of the First Presidency Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana Community Action, Service & Advocacy Community Alliance for Healthy Minds International Faith Based Coalition Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Los Angeles Police Protective League National Network of Youth Ministries New Dawn Construction Company North Coastal Prevention Coalition Organization for Justice and Equality Palomar Health Communities Coalition Escondido Peace Officers Research Association of California Riverside County Law Enforcement Administrators Association Riverside Deputy Sheriffs Association Safety Wellness Advocacy Community Coalition San Diego School Boards Association Santee Solutions Coalition Smart Approaches to Marijuana of Northern California – SAM Action The Small Farmers Association Vista Community Clinic Weed for Warriors Project
