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The Young Turks

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Some new states just legalized weed. Here's what you need to know. Cenk Uygur, Jimmy Dore, Brett Erlich, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section below.

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http://mjbizdaily.com/breaking-california-lawmakers-vote-to-adopt-statewide-medical-marijuana-regulations/

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Lessons Learned of Prop 19

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How California Will Legalize Pot in 2016: Learning The Lessons of Prop 19

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"The pitch is that prohibition has only created crime, violence, and the destruction of families. It's time to end prohibition," says Jim Gonzales, a political strategist for the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform. California set the stage for marijuana legalization in America as the first state to legalize the drug for medical use with the passage of Prop 215 in 1996.

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http://www.canorml.org/latestnews

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http://www.livetradingnews.com/california-voters-appear-set-pass-recreational-marijuana-legalization-17715.html#.WFLPVOArLnA

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http://www.imarijuana.com/laws/benefits-of-legalizing-marijuana-in-california

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Pot Shops

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After California Votes To Legalize Recreational Marijuana, Some Changes Take Effect Immediately

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With the passage of Proposition 64 Tuesday night, California has joined a growing cohort of states that allow for the recreational use of marijuana. Randy Paige reports.

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10 Pros

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A big subject that has raised concern as well as jubilance for many is weed legalization. Many states in America have now moved to allow for recreational use of the drug, due to voters letting their views be known in the ballots, and leading to a new initiative being implemented with regards to cannabis laws. Many people may have concerns about legalization: will it lead to a higher number of drug abusers? Will it de-stigmatize cannabis use to such a point where kids think it is ok to smoke? Will everyone quit their jobs and hang out at fast food joints all day? Apposed to somewhat popular belief, legalization of cannabis has had many benefits that are really helps the pros of legalizing weed

10 Popular Pros of Legalizing Weed

1. The Use of Hemp Is Wide

Legalization of weed means that the hemp industry will be allowed to flourish. Hemp can be utilized for products such as paper, clothing, plastics, fuel and food, and many other products that can be made from hemp. On top of that, hemp plants grow very quickly (especially when compared to the trees we are cutting down to make paper), with no need for herbicides in most environments. The power of hemp is truly astonishing.

2. It Has Many Medical Benefits

The move to legalize marijuana first gained an overwhelming amount of support when its obvious medical use and benefits became evident to the masses. There are a vast amount of reports and studies which state that marijuana is highly effective in treating a number of ailments, and it can make a highly effected replacement for numerous types of medication, many of which having various nasty side effects. Thus, its medical use must be one strong reason for the pros of legalizing weed.

3. It Is Good for Law Enforcement

Cannabis, whether you like it or not, is a highly popular substance that many people consume on a regular basis. When weed is illegal, officers are within their right to question and detain people in possession of the drug. This means a lot of police time is spent pursuing, questioning and arresting citizens due to possession and/or consumption of cannabis. Legalization will free up officers' time to pursue more worthwhile cases.

4. It Is an Entitled Right

What we put into our bodies should be our choice entirely. Many great scholars have pondered upon what rights every individual has been endowed, and it has been concluded by some that as long as an individual does not harm others in their actions, they should have a right to act freely without fear of repercussions. Criminalizing cannabis uses denies people that right, especially when you consider the fact that cannabis has never been linked to a decrease in the productivity of a society. So, why not be the pros of legalizing weed?

5. It Helps Ensure the Safety of Weed Dealing

As previously stated, many people consume cannabis, either medicinally or recreationally. Legalizing cannabis will give these people, most of which are law abiding, hard working individuals, a place to safely buy cannabis. It also means that what is being sold is regulated, safe, and not mixed with any other nasty substances.

6. It Can Increase Tax Income

When thinking of the pros of legalizing weed, this one can't be ignored. If cannabis is sold and regulated by the state, then all cannabis sales will likely be taxed. This new and highly profitable taxable substance can potentially provide a much needed boost to the economy.

7. It Takes Money Away From the Wrong Hands

Many large illegal cannabis operations are run by gangs and cartels, who often also participate in other unlawful activities (such as murder). As long as the cannabis is illegal, the illegal cannabis market is allowed to flourish. Legalizing cannabis will take money spent on the drug from the wrong hands.

8. It Saves Government Funds

During cannabis prohibition, government agencies funded the war on drugs and spent a lot of money on ensuring people did not consume cannabis. This money could be much better spent in more essential areas, such as housing, healthcare, education, and social programs.

9. Prohibition Has Been Ineffective

Although the production, use and sale of cannabis have been prohibited, the amount of users has shown no decrease, the amount of support for legalization has shown no decrease (in fact the opposite is true), and the amount of damming evidence against marijuana has shown no increase. This clearly shows that prohibition has been ineffective.

10. Disputes Can Be Properly Resolved

If cannabis is illegal and you still decide to purchase some, you have no protection in terms of court and law if you are deceived and scammed for your money. This can lead to you acting upon yourself for justice, which could have violent repercussions. Legalizing cannabis will allow the courts to settle any disputes.

More Pros of Legalizing Weeds

Cannabis use has been recorded for many years throughout human history. The fact that it is a naturally growing plant makes criminalization seem ludicrous; how can nature be illegal? Cannabis may have been here for longer than humans, so we really have no right to say it is wrong. When cannabis is illegal, society actually suffers. This is because during prohibition, it forces an illegal black market to transact the substance, in which the state has no control over. There is also the fact there are many substances, such as alcohol, tobacco and fast food, are perfectly legal and far more damaging to individuals and society when abused than cannabis.

Other more reasons for the pros of legalizing cannabis include:

Many illegal drug dealers will sell to anyone without asking for proof of age, this means that cannabis prohibition actually makes cannabis more accessible to children, as a licensed store would most definitely ensure that the person buying from them is at an appropriate age.

There is evidence to suggest that the antioxidants within cannabis can reverse cancer.

Cannabis is cheap and easy to produce, and highly profitable.

Legalization will reduce the amount of necessary resources, such as trees, being utilized for products that can be made from hemp, such as paper.

It is physically impossible to overdose on marijuana, while many pharmaceutical drugs can be harmful if overdose.

The pros of legalizing weed most certainly outweigh the cons; therefore, it would be almost foolish to continue with prohibition.

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10 + Pros to Think When Trying to Legalize Weed

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Whether you are for or against cannabis, the pros should not be ignored. Here are more than 15 reasons for the legalization of weed.

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Yes On Prop 64

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Six years ago California voters were asked to make recreational marijuana legal under state law and they declined to do so. But the close decision - 46% voted "yes" on Proposition 19 - suggested that the battle was not yet over. At that time, The Times opposed Proposition 19 not because legalization was necessarily a bad idea, but because it was a poorly drafted mess that would have created a regulatory nightmare.

In the years since, a lot has changed. Four states, starting with Colorado and Washington, have legalized adult recreational use, without major problems. Half of the states now allow medical marijuana. Canada is working on legislation to legalize adult use next year. And Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have suggested that, if elected, they wouldn't use the federal prohibition against marijuana to undermine state legalization efforts.

For the record:

An earlier version of this editorial said that Proposition 64 would call for people under 21 who are caught with marijuana to be sentenced to drug education and community service. That provision would apply to those under 18.

There has also been a huge shift in thinking on drug policy, as more people question the effect of the decades-long war on drugs on law enforcement expenditures, overcrowded prisons, marginalized communities and violent drug cartels. In the case of marijuana, there is growing support for the argument that the cost of enforcing prohibition is too great and delivers too few benefits.

By sending mixed messages, the federal government has effectively ceded its role and left it to states to create a new national marijuana policy.

In November, Californians will again consider whether to legalize pot, this time with Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Voters will have to ask themselves whether the time has come to treat marijuana less like heroin and more like alcohol - as a regulated but acceptable product for adult use. Do the risks of legalization outweigh the costs of prohibition? Does Proposition 64 strike the right balance between allowing adult Californians to make their own recreational choices and protecting their health and safety? Does the measure put cannabis-industry profits ahead of public health? What does it mean that marijuana will be legal under California law but still illegal under federal law?

On balance, the proposition deserves a "yes" vote. It is ultimately better for public health, for law and order and for society if marijuana is a legal, regulated and controlled product for adults. Proposition 64 - while not perfect - offers a logical, pragmatic approach to legalization that also would give lawmakers and regulators the flexibility to change the law to address the inevitable unintended consequences.

The reality is that California has already, essentially, legalized marijuana. Virtually any adult can get a medical marijuana recommendation and buy pot products legally at a dispensary. And those who can't be bothered to fake a headache or back pain can buy it on the black market without fear of going to jail.

Proposition 64 would end the need for such ruses and deal a blow to the illegal market, which thrives on prohibition. If it is passed, adults 21 and older would be allowed to grow, buy and possess marijuana for their personal use in private homes or at businesses licensed for on-site consumption. The state would license and regulate businesses that grow, process, deliver and sell marijuana. Pot shops could not sell tobacco or alcohol. Cities would have the ability to set local regulations and even ban marijuana businesses, but they couldn't bar adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use.

The measure would impose state taxes on commercial cultivation and sales that could eventually raise more than $1 billion a year. The measure would dedicate the new revenue to youth drug education, prevention and treatment programs, law enforcement programs to reduce driving under the influence, and environmental restoration of land damaged by illegal cannabis cultivation.

For decades, drug enforcement - and particularly enforcement of the marijuana laws - has disproportionately affected African American and Latino men, leaving them with criminal records that make it harder to get a job or to advance in their careers. Though California decriminalized marijuana possession in 2010 and misdemeanor arrests have fallen by 90%, there are still people serving time for marijuana crimes or who are hindered by past marijuana convictions. If the initiative passes, individuals could ask to have their sentences reduced, or if they are no longer incarcerated, they could ask the courts to have their criminal records changed. Also, Proposition 64 would take a less punitive approach to youth enforcement: People under 18 caught with marijuana would be sentenced to drug education and community service.

Proposition 64 gets a lot right, but the measure still asks voters to make a tremendous leap of faith. The fact is, the health effects of marijuana consumption are still not fully understood, particularly the long-term, regular consumption of today's high-potency cannabis products. It is known that young people, whose brains are still developing, can suffer long-lasting effects and are at increased risk of addiction and mental disorders from frequent use. That is why it is so important to use a portion of the Proposition 64 revenues to educate teens on the risks of regular, daily use.

Public health experts had recommended treating marijuana more like tobacco - a legal product that the state has an interest in discouraging through regulations and high taxes. But because a key goal of Proposition 64 is to foster a legitimate, regulated marijuana industry, some of those experts fear that Big Weed may become the next Big Tobacco, using its profits and lobbying power to minimize research into negative health affects and to stymie regulations that curb consumption. Proposition 64 already offers a lot to the industry; it would not, for instance, strictly limit advertising or bar marijuana industry representatives from serving on advisory committees on cannabis regulations, as public health experts had recommended.

Proposition 64 would give the Legislature the ability to amend the marijuana industry regulations by a majority vote; other changes to the law would need a two-thirds vote. Regulatory agencies would be given the flexibility to develop rules as issues arise. That flexibility is welcome if lawmakers and regulators use it to make sure the law meets its objectives - not to grant the wishes of an army of marijuana industry lobbyists.

Proposition 64 would not change the fact that marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and that is a serious complicating factor. Growers, sellers and even consumers are at risk if a new administration in Washington suddenly decides to enforce federal law. Is that likely to happen? Four states have already legalized recreational use and five more, including California, are voting on legalization in November, and 25 states allow medical marijuana. By choosing not to stop the states, President Obama and Congress have essentially permitted more liberal marijuana laws. At the same time, however, they have been unwilling to amend federal law to make clear what is and isn't allowed. In fact, the Drug Enforcement Agency decided last month to maintain marijuana's status as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is as addictive as heroin and has no medical value, despite the fact that half the states in the nation permit medicinal use.

By sending mixed messages, the federal government has effectively ceded its role and left it to states to create a new national marijuana policy that legalizes marijuana with minimal harm and meaningful protections. Proposition 64 is California's attempt to do just that. The Times urges a "yes" vote.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE FROM OPINION Why this time will be different for marijuana legalization The problem Proposition 53 aims to solve is speculative, but the damage it could inflict is very real Proposition 54 is a modest proposal to make lawmaking more transparent

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Editorial: It's time to legalize and regulate marijuana in California. Yes on Proposition 64.

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Six years ago California voters were asked to make recreational marijuana legal under state law and they declined to do so.

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Marijuana Legalization in California

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California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)

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Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics