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Schwarzenegger Opposes Pot Legalization

Prop 19 would make state a 'laughingstock,' Governator writes

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 24, 2010 11:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – Arnold Schwarzenegger, who just last year called for debate on legalizing pot, has come out against Proposition 19, a ballot initiative that would do just that. “Any patrol officer, judge or district attorney will tell you that Proposition 19 is a flawed initiative that would bring about a host of legal nightmares and risks to public safety,” the Governator writes in an op-ed piece for the LA Times. “It would also make California a laughingstock.”

The rest of Schwarzenegger’s piece is an attack on the state’s public employees union, which recently endorsed Proposition 19 as a way of easing California’s budget woes. But Proposition 19 would bring in only $1.4 billion in annual revenue, Schwarzenegger argues—“a fraction of our current deficit”—while pension reforms the union opposes could “preserve far more jobs and prevent many more cuts without the legal complications and safety risks.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen during a news conference, Sept. 15, 2010.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen during a news conference, Sept. 15, 2010.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 43 comments
yahoo-5R447CKSOFGZSSH5S2DLV5NS4Y
Oct 3, 2010 11:32 PM CDT
I see E-pot cigarettes coming next after legalization, E-cigarettes are fairly new, the tobacco industry is hiring bloggers to post negative comments about it so they wont lose as much business, pot will be taken off the list of federal approved drug test employer guidlines.
sclaw
Sep 27, 2010 12:05 PM CDT
PROPOSAL Repeal ALL MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS. Medical marijuana is a SHAM. It is LEGALIZED marijuana under the cloak of medical. Everyone qualifies for medical marijuana with a fake illness, some money and unscrupulous doctor. FDA must approve marijuana smoke as treatment for medical conditions. Legalization of marijuana MUST START at the FEDERAL LEVEL. Bug your Congress. No on Prop 19. PROPOSED LEGAL MARIJUANA BILL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. 1. Only 21 and over will have legal access. 2. No cultivation at place of residence at ALL. No cultivation at any place of business unless there is a LICENSE and PERMIT fees are all paid. 3. No cultivation at any public property. 4. Marijuana will only be sold in Legal Marijuana Adult Stores. Do not sell in grocery stores, liquor stores, discount stores, etc. There will be zoning restrictions and the store should only be in a business area about 5000 feet away from residence, religious places and schools. This must be approved by the city. 5. Marijuana-laced food is banned just like trans fat is banned. 6. Marijuana is heavily taxed. 7. Marijuana can only be smoked INSIDE the smoker's residence with closed windows and air cleaner to remove the smoke. 8. Marijuana cannot be smoked in front of the minors. 9. Smoking marijuana outside of the house is illegal. Smoking marijuana at somebody else's residence is illegal. In other words, if you want to smoke marijuana, you can do it alone in your own residence!!! 10. Anyone caught violating the marijuana laws will pay heavy fines and will be required to attend education classes in pot dependency and treatment for pot dependency. 11. Police will routinely test for DUI of pot for drivers. 12. Pot will only be LEGALLY cultivated and IMPORTED from Mexico. Mexico will be the LEGAL suppliers of pot to the USA. If cultivated in the USA, it is heavily regulated with very high license fees. 13. Federal laws regarding marijuana will change and new pot laws affecting employment will be instituted. These means employers have the right to test employees who are impaired and have the right terminate employees who test above the pot limit in their system or are impaired. Employers have the right to have a drug-free environment. 14. Medical marijuana should be treated as medicine and prescribed by doctors and dispensed from pharmacies in SHRINKWRAP with tracking numbers. 15. All legal recreational marijuana will have special universal wrapping and tracking numbers. In other words, marijuana will be treated like selling ADULT (porn) items in ADULT STORES only. It will NOT be treated like alcohol or cigarettes.
alansk
Sep 25, 2010 7:09 PM CDT
Hey sclaw, You've made that same post on a number of sites and several people have pointed out that prop 19 will take profits away from drug cartels and make the world a bit safer for everybody. It will also reduce the tax payer dollars spent on prosecution. And, we like calling America the land of the free and prop 19 would put a little more truth in that. I know you've seen the responses so why do you keep asking the same question?
 

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