California to Vote on Legalizing Pot

In November, California will vote on whether to legalize marijuana, thanks to a voter ballot initiative that passed inspection by state election officials on Wednesday. If passed, the initiative would legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by people over age 21 and allow people to grow small amounts of marijuana at home for personal use. Cities and counties would gain the right to pass laws allowing commercial distribution to adults 21 and older in accordance with local regulations. Activists say that legalizing and taxing marijuana sales would provide income for the state and free up law enforcement resources currently dedicated to tracking down otherwise law-abiding citizens. The rule has a chance of passing—an April 2009 field poll found that 56 percent of Californians favored legalizing pot for social use and taxing its sales. Not everyone is on board, though: California Mothers Against Drunk Driving say that the legalization of marijuana could cause impaired driving and its attendant fatalities.