Freedom For All Citizens

What It Takes With the Right Hand – It Gives With the Left

The government's position on legalization of marijuana is confusing at best. Some would argue that it is shockingly duplicitous. In California in November, the government is preparing to completely legalize marijuana for recreational use by adults. In anticipation of the expected outcome, the state Senate has voted this week to reclassify possession of weed of quantities less than an ounce as an 'infraction' rather than a 'misdemeanor'. Woohoo. Huzzah. Ring the bells of joy! Oh wait... What if the law doesn't pass in November? Well then what really just happened was that this was a cost-cutting exercise by the government and not at all a tip of the hat to what we think will be future reality in California. Take a look at their statements. First, Mark Leno (D-San Francisco): "All this bill does is call it what it is--an infraction," he tells the Sacramento Bee. "It doesn't change the penalties." Then he goes on to say that: "Our courts are clogged, and it's a "waste of time" and resources to try someone for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana." Folks that is the whole point of this. If you are charged with possession of less than an ounce as a misdemeanor, you get to go to court to defend yourself and probably win with the way the public is sympathetic to 'the cause' right now. Well, with this legislation, they simply take away that chance! You'll need to pay your $100 fine or do your community service and/or jail time without trial!

Of course, the other scenario that could happen is that November comes and the legislation passes and we all rejoice and move to California. But then what is the purpose of this new law? It's almost as if they were ensconcing in letter the only option - the law not passing in November. It sounds like they're telling us they're so confident that pot won't be legalized in November, that they're already updating laws about it that respond to possession as a crime. It really is just a carrot being dangled in front of a horse. The government taking away with its right hand what it has given with its left.

Of course, the Feds still don't understand the concept of the States as they continue to raid legal pot dispensaries across the country.