Proposition 19 would legalize the recreational use of marijuana
Christian Action League
In November, California will vote on whether or not to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Fourteen years ago California was the first to pass a state-wide initiative to legalize medical marijuana. For the last two years in North Carolina legislation has been put forward for the legalization of medicinal marijuana. “By looking at California, one can easily see the progression of legalizing medicinal use of cannabis. The intended goal of its advocates is to ultimately legalize the recreational use of the drug,” said Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League.
Arguments made in favor of the legalization of recreational marijuana are strikingly similar to the ones the Christian Action League has been countering in favor of alcohol sales in the Tar Heel state for decades. The two main arguments in favor of Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 are (1) legalizing and taxing marijuana would generate much needed revenue for California, and, (2) legalization would allow law enforcement to focus on other crimes.
This week, however, an excellent editorial was run in the Los Angeles Times written by experts in the fields of drug policy, policing, prevention, education and treatment of drugs. Each authority strongly contends the arguments in favor of the legalization of marijuana don’t add up.
“No, those arguments just don’t stand up to scrutiny and they never have. I strongly urge our supporters to read this editorial,” said Rev. Creech. The commentary is written by Gil Kerlikowske, John Walters, Barry McCaffrey, Lee Brown, Bob Martinez and William Bennett, directors of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the administrations of Presidents Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Read the editorial by clicking here
