Arnold Schwarzenegger just signed a new CA marijuana bill into regulation. The bill only makes weed slightly less illegal. The possession of small amounts of marijuana has slightly less stiff penalties. The regulation is for people who don’t have a medical marijuana prescription. Those caught with a small amount of cannabis will only receive a small fine. The penalty used to also include court appearances.
The cannabis reform by Schwarzenegger
Governor Schwarzenegger signed a recent bill, titled SB 1449. The bill, SB 1449, reduces the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Right now, a person can be fined up to $100 and is required to show up to court with a misdemeanor offence. However, as of Jan. 1, 2011, the new penalty could be only a fine, according to the Los Angeles Times. There is also another bill, Proposition 19, which would make marijuana use for recreational purposes totally legal. Prop 19 isn’t something that Governor Schwarzenegger supports. Of course it was only practical that he sign in SB 1449. It is a huge burden to courts to have too several cases in there. Also, it was a burden to law officials. California has some of one of the most relaxed medical marijuana laws in the United States.
The bill is insufficient
Several argue that marijuana is just an evil that should be avoided. It is actually a quite flawed argument. Alcohol and tobacco are gateway drugs just as marijuana is. Whether or not that person uses marijuana first or not, someone seeking drugs will find them. Furthermore, the history behind the criminalization of marijuana makes the illegality of the drug philosophically suspect to start with. Any person who was considered a political dissenter was stopped with the “Drug War” that Nixon begun.
Few advantages
We can see in history the effect law has. Definitely, people will not follow the law if they do not want to. Crime happened mostly because alcohol was prohibited within the early 20th century. We can see the same thing. It comes when prohibiting marijuana. The police end up having more to do. 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. Nobody enjoys marijuana being illegal. It does not benefit anyone.
Articles cited
LA Times
latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/10/schwarzenegger-signs-bill-reducing-offense-for-marijuana-possession.html
