California Marijuana Legalization Initiative Collects 600,000 Signatures

[jct74]

California Marijuana Legalization Initiative Collects 600,000 Signatures

By Associated Press, Stephanie Chuang and Chuck Coppola
Published at 5:55 AM PDT on May 5, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Backers of a marijuana legalization initiative say they have collected enough signatures for the measure to qualify for the California ballot this November.

A coalition that includes former Facebook President Sean Parker and backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the nation's leading marijuana advocacy groups says it has collected 600,000 signatures, a lot more than the 365,000 needed, well ahead of the July 5 deadline.

Newsom, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018, and other supporters of the ballot measure known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act plan launched the official campaign Wednesday in San Francisco at the Commonwealth Club.

"California grows more cannabis than any state," Newsom said. "It could be a $12 billion a year crop."

...

read more:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/California-marijuana-legalization-initiative-has-signatures-378102981.html

[jct74]

California marijuana legalization 2016 campaign launches with Lt. Gov. Newsom

By Jimi Devine
May 4, 2016 at 5:05 PM

In what may have been the most politically well connected pro-cannabis event ever, backers of California’s Adult Use of Marijuana Act led by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom announced in San Francisco on Wednesday they had reached enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

...

“California will be asked to do something that will change the debate nationally in terms of failed drug policy. California is a gamechanger in this debate. It’s significant what’s happened in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon, but it will pale in comparison to the decision the taxpayers, the voters of this state will be asked this November,” said Newsom. “California is the largest grower of cannabis of any state in the nation. Some estimates as high as $12 billion just in the Emerald Triangle, in just three California counties at wholesale. In Colorado, last year retail and medical cannabis totaled $1 billion.”

Newsom also stated that the signature drive was well clear of the mark needed to hit the ballot by almost 200,000 signatures.

Newsom was joined from across the aisle by longtime Southern California Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who spent nearly a decade in the nation’s capital working to stop federal interference in states that had approved the use of cannabis as medicine. Rep. Rohrabacher started off by sharing his joy with the Department of Justice decision to drop the case against Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, then moved on to AUMA saying it was an important philosophical and practical issue for California and the country. He then noted on the national deficit and the costs of enforcing marijuana policies nationwide,

...

read more:
http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2016/05/04/california-marijuana-legalization-2016-campaign-launches-with-lt-gov-newsom/