I'm actually starting to hope the measure doesn't pass. I like weed the way it is right now: readily available to anyone who wants it at a price that hasn't changed in years. At first I thought legalization would be great, but now I'm thinking I really don't want the government involved. Our government, state and federal, could screw up a cup of coffee. I don't want those imbeciles messing up weed. Also, California doesn't deserve to make tax revenue off of pot heads. We've been villified and persecuted for longer than I've been alive but now we're ok because CA needs the money? Pffft. Whatever. Up yours, California. I'm glad that narrow-minded voters will sink this measure. Their own fear and ignorance will cost their children in terms of public education and infrastructure quality when there's no more money to pay for it. The very children they're supposedly trying to protect. How ironic. I think I'll stick that in my pipe and smoke it.

You can't stop people from getting high. It's a complete waste of public funds to even try. We'll keep using pot recreationally whether the measure passes or not. The vote boils down to: Does CA want the tax revenue? Or not? You can lead a horse to water, but he's still a stupid horse. (I know that isn't the saying, but I like mine better. It's funnier.)

Marijuana and Xannies caused your friends to flip over the highway??? Don't you think taking Xannies with Alcohol can potentially if not exponentially increase 3x-4x the same situation from happening?

What needs to be done is a controlled test between Marijuana and Alcohol users. These test should involve coordination, reflexes, etc. I'll bet all my money that the Alcohol users will fail with flying colors.

Michael Smith, a 20-year-old student at Long Beach City College who plans to become a nurse, said marijuana had been a gateway drug for friends who continued to ecstasy and Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug.

So these friends of yours don't drink alcohol? I bet they don't because people who consume alcohol don't do illegal drugs.

That's weird. I saw a poll just the other day that said just the opposite. And according to another site it said the pro side was gaining slightly: 48-41. I wonder if MSNBC is getting pressure to be on the con side?

Here is a link to another site that has another poll:

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2010/sep/30/prop_19_52_latest_poll_californi

Proposition 19, California's "tax and regulate" marijuana legalization initiative, is winning, according to the latest poll results. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released Thursday had support for Prop 19 at 52%, with 41% opposed and 7% undecided

The People of Commifornia cannot afford for this proposition to slip through their fingers. I have a sneaky feeling that if it garners enough votes to pass it will literally save Commifornia from the brink of destruction. Ultimately, others states will see the potential revenue it brings in and will eventually follow suit.

WARNING: Legalizing marijuana has been shown to produce serious CA$$$$H FLOW and revitalize the economy in the state of California.

Those who oppose the most are those in Humbolt county--since it would hurt the illegal growers.

Pot should be legal in all states--reason it's not is because it can be grown by anyone free.

If a legal company can't make money on it--it will remain illegal.

No additives or anything extra needed other than soil, water, sunshine.

Would sure help economy and hurt all the gangs and illegals that bring it in.

Wait guess thats reason #2 --can't hurt illegals because that would be illegal??

Someone who is willing to try xanax is very likely to also try marijuana. Not everyone who smokes weed is gonna be poppin' pills.

This bill is not only beneficial to California's economy, it can help get rid of gang violence too.

What harm could it possibly do that alcohol has not already done? Initiate abstract thinking? Promote peace? Cut back dependence on pharmaceuticals? I think I'm starting to get it......

All this hullabaloo over a non-toxic, beneficial plant.

California is dope.

Weed, a gateway drug. right. Lets see, people start with weed then move on to harder drugs, they think there wont be any addiction, because THC doesn't cause a physical dependancy. So with that way of thinking, weed is seen as a gateway drug. Thats the wrong type of thinking though, people take drugs because they want to experience a different consciousness. Marijuana is just the first one most people try because its so easy to get. One phone call and 10 dollars, bam, it's in hand. Stop talking without processing the statement in your brain first. If people want to do drugs, they are going to do drugs. Marijuana isn't nearly as bad as alcohol or cigarettes. I still have yet to meet someone who has been physically and psychologically destroyed by marijuana usage. I've seen hundreds destroyed by alcohol and the cancer caused by tobacco products. So go ahead and legalize it, make people buy a permit to allow them to grow it, and all will be good in this country. The economy could only benefit from the legalization. Head shops and glass blowers would have so much more business, money would flow from everywhere. College students wouldn't be so stressed out from classes if they head back to their houses or apartments and smoke a joint. The average life span would increase because stress levels would drop. Heart attacks would be less common and blood pressure lower. Marijuana, the solution.

Moral Authoritarians are afraid we will behave as badly as they do when we smoke pot. If you have a mental illness, marijuana should not be recommended. To all others, we should have the freedom and liberty to choose what we smoke and don't smoke.

Wow! What happened? A couple of days ago prop 19 was leading in the polls 52% to 41%. I guess the drug cartels can breath a sigh of relief now. Oh well...

LOL big money at work again! We must stop the legalization of pot it will kill the drug companies profit margin make way for better rope and leaving people far to relaxed. But it's ok to get hammered and drive home or become as I call it, "Mr. Charming," after to much booze! Lets face it big business doesnt want this to pass thus the greasing of MSNBC's hand with some $$$$ is their only logical way of fighting this movement of freedom. The train is coming boys and you can't stop it HA HA!!!

Everyone had better take heed. The people who benefit from keeping MJ illegal are not going down without a fight. Remember, a huge number of them carry guns. If this doesn't pass after all of the press Prop 19 has received, the anti's will have a field day. Every person in Cal, who thinks for themselves, needs to make sure he/she votes 419 that day. If this measure is defeated, it will be a long time before a large portion of the rest of the country will even consider it.

The answer to the drug problem is to end the spectacularly failed costly Drug War. When is the U.S. government going to finally realize that it can't legislate morality? Many people believe the answer to solving our drug problem is to simply tell people to say "no" to drugs but after being in practice for decades now the evidence shows this has failed miserably. People have been doing drugs for thousands of years and it's never going to stop. There will always be people who do drugs and those who become addicted. Didn't we learn from the mistakes of Alcohol Prohibition in the 1920s/30s? It didn't work then, and drug prohibition certainly isn't working now. The failed Drug War has cost the U.S. taxpayers over a trillion dollars and has been in force for over seven decades. And the real tragedy here is all of the violence that has been associated with the Drug War and illegal drug trafficking. Drugs are more readily available and the Drug War has created a black market, gangs in every U.S. state, and powerful violent cartels south of the border and in other countries. The laws have done more damage to this country than the drugs themselves. We have created more criminals out of drug users/addicts who should really be treated as medical patients. Wouldn't we be better off spending the Drug War funding on education, drug treatment and rehabilitation instead of failed law enforcement and incarceration? And not having to build more prisons? We need to reevaluate our position on drug use in this country. I firmly believe we should decriminalize all drugs. Legalize marijuana and regulate it like alcohol in regards to the law, and create an atmosphere that doesn't stigmatize the drug user. I would never advocate anyone use dangerous hard drugs like meth, cocaine, heroin, etc. But the fact of life remains people will choose to use such drugs and become addicted. Countries in Europe have tried different strategies that have reduced the problems associated with drug use. Why can't the U.S. take these same approaches? We should adopt programs for hard drugs (meth, coke, heroin,etc.) like the Swiss heroin program (where addicts can get their drugs from medically supervised clinics) which has shown positive results in reducing violent crime, HIV infections and helps drug addicts to become stable and productive members of society. Locking people up and throwing away the key is not the answer. When someone has a real drug problem and is addicted their main focus will always be to obtain and use drugs, regardless of any law. And putting a mark on someone's permanent record that will follow them for the rest of their lives will only hinder them to become productive members in society in getting jobs, student financial aid, etc. There are many people against legalizing and/or decriminalizing drugs and have expressed many fears and dooms day scenarios but evidence has revealed this would simply NOT be the result. Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2001 and none of the nightmare scenarios touted by preenactment decriminalization opponents have become a reality. And what are the ramifications of manufacturing, importing, and selling the drugs right here in the U.S? Wouldn't that create a new industry? Jobs? Tax revenue? And stop funding the violent cartels and eventually take away their power? These are questions that I think once answered, will solve our drug problems and the days of the Drug War will be history.

As a Limo driver Ive met alot of people and have seen much more than I ever wanted to see. Ive seen people develop a 1200 dollar a day crack habbit, Ive seen them hooked on Percosets since age 12, Ive seen them do Heroin, Cocaine, Xanex, Oxycottons, and combine those drugs with a large amount of alchohol.. Ive seen people drink every night to the point where they collapse, night after night. The real problem in this country is doctors over prescribing pills like oxycotton, making them available for resale. Long term use of drugs like oxy codone and klonopins cause serious mental disorders.. while weed slightly amplifies disorders which already exist, such as depression. When used responsibly at home, it about as harmless as taking aspirin. Some vehicle tests run showed improved driving skills in some cases, versus alchohol.. which in pennsylvania is supplied to us by the state and is a significant part of our courts income. If it is legal for a doctors to ruin a dozen kids lives, and if it is leagal for the state to sell us alchohol, then it should be legal to buy weed in the store. It would excite the economy, which would cause a significant cashflow much like big tobacco. I hear many refer to it as the gateway drug, but after seeing all I have seen.. I must say that a good percent of the hard drug users would quit if weed were made legal. It might be a gateway for some, but it would be the end of the line for most.