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 super relaxed laws on medical weed. It has probably the most relaxed laws in the whole country.
There is not much of a debate to state that weed is evil. Marijuana has the very same effect of tobacco and alcohol. It is the exact same kind of gateway drug. If somebody wants to do drugs, they’ll get a hold of them very easily. Cannabis may not have even been their first drug. Cannabis also has an interesting criminalization history. This is another reason to suspect it should never have been illegal. One of the reasons Nixon launched the “Drug War” was to give police force greater powers to crack down on political dissenters.
Very few advantages
The regulation won’t stop people from doing what they want, says history. In the early 20th century, alcohol became prohibited. Of course more crime only happened with this. Prohibition of marijuana does the exact same. It opens the door to a police state. Any person who testifies to that probably lived with the K.G.B. or the Stasi looking over their shoulder consistently. 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
