Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/17283
6A – Daily News – Monday, October 4, 2010 Opinion The ‘buzz’ about Proposition 19 D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Under current state law, the possession, cultivation, or distribu- tion of marijuana generally is ille- gal in California. Possession of less than one ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, while selling marijuana is a felony and may result in a prison sentence. In November 1996, vot- ers approved Proposition 215, which legalized the cultivation and possession of marijuana in Cali- fornia for medical purposes. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005, however, that federal authorities could continue to prosecute Cali- fornia patients and providers engaged in the cultivation and use of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite having this authority, the U.S. Department of Justice announced in March 2009 that the current administration would not prosecute marijuana patients and providers whose actions are con- sistent with state medical marijua- na laws. Proposition 19 changes state law by legalizing the possession and cultivation of limited amounts of marijuana for personal use by individuals age 21 or older, and authorizing various commercial marijuana–related activities under certain conditions. Nonetheless, these marijuana–related activities would continue to be prohibited under federal law and it is not known to what extent the federal government would continue to enforce them. Currently, no other state permits commercial marijua- na-related activities for non-med- ical purposes. Under the measure, persons age 21 or older generally may possess, process, share or transport up to one ounce of marijuana; cultivate marijuana on private property in an area up to 25 square feet per pri- vate residence or parcel; possess harvested and living marijuana plants cultivated in such an area; and possess any items or equip- ment associated with the above activities. The possession and cul- tivation of marijuana must be sole- ly for an individual’s personal con- sumption and not for sale to others, and consumption of marijuana would only be permitted in a resi- dence or other "non–public place." The smoking of marijuana in the presence of minors is prohibit- ed. The measure also sustains existing laws that prohibit driving under the influence of drugs or that prohibit possessing marijuana on school grounds. Any person age 21 or older who knowingly gives marijuana to a person age 18 through 20 could be sent to county jail for up to six months and fined up to $1,000 per offense. Prop 19 allows local govern- ments to adopt ordinances and reg- ulations regarding commercial marijuana–related activities— including marijuana cultivation, processing, distribution, trans- portation, and retail sales. Howev- er it does not permit the transportation of mari- juana between Califor- nia and another state or country nor permit sales to persons under 21. Whether or not local governments engaged in this regulation, the state could, on a statewide basis, regulate the com- mercial production of marijuana. The state could also authorize the production of hemp, a type of marijuana plant that can be used to make products such as fabric and paper. Prop 19 requires that licensed marijuana establishments pay all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and fees currently imposed on other similar businesses. In addition, the measure permits local governments to impose new gen- eral, excise, or transfer taxes, as well as benefit assessments and fees, on authorized marijuana–related activities. The purpose of such charges would be to raise revenue for local govern- ments and/or to offset any costs associated with marijuana regula- tion. In addition, the state could Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point impose similar charges. Prop 19 could result in savings to the state and local governments by reducing the number of marijuana offenders incarcerated in state prisons and county jails, as well as the number placed under county probation or state parole supervision. These sav- ings could reach several tens of millions of dol- lars annually. The mea- sure would result in a reduction in costs for enforcement of mari- juana–related offenses and the handling of related criminal cases in the court system. Proposition 19 is carefully crafted to decriminalize personal marijuana use and pro- duction so those over 21 years of age may decide if it is something they wish to consume. By so doing it enhances freedom of choice, engenders respect for the law, protects children, regulates marijuana use and production, and significantly reduces burdens on our police, justice, and correction- al systems. Vote YES on Prop 19 to halt victimless crimes. Richard Mazzucchi can be reached at living-green@att.net. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Observing the passing scenes of life Commentary Memories from a vacation that was too short (aren’t they all?): The days spent at Odell Lake in the Oregon Cascades could not have been more idyllic. The ever- present wind moderated just enough for exceptionally pleasant lakeside sitting, with binoculars and camera at the ready. Great Blue Herons, Ospreys and Eagles traded places and challenged my photographic skills. Visiting friends made during the ski season that lived just out- side of Albany, Oregon was spe- cial for the cooked Ling Cod and Snapper caught the day before in the waters off of Newport. Also, special for their camaraderie and their back yard looking over the South Fork of the Santiam River. An accidental landing at a little RV park and marina on the Yaquina Bay at Newport provided nearly a week of the most remark- able views of coastal nature we’ve ever been blessed to view. The small peninsula on which we parked the motorhome was sharp enough that there was nothing but water and tidal basin to see out all of the windows, much like being on a boat without the rocking. We were doubtful when some- one told us that the waters would recede almost as far as you could see – the bay had the appearance of a medium sized lake. But then by sunset a few hours later, it had receded exposing thousands of acres of mud flats. We were cha- grined to find a "rotten egg" smell wafting from the exposed land but it didn’t last all that long. The major decision of each day was which of the many local clam chowders we would sample and compare. A visit to Newport’s Aquarium was marvelous in too many ways to describe here but we did read about why there was over a 10- foot difference between the high and low tide. It’s called a "spring tide" when there is a new moon, and not due to the season. The pull of the moon when it is lined up with the sun exerts a greater-than- normal pull on the tides, turning the normal 4 or 5 foot drop into an impressive drop of up to 12 feet or more and exposing the floor of the bay for up to half a mile away. Dredging kept a barge and ship- ping channel open to the town of Toledo. Reading the vacation pack of Daily News provided some inter- esting stories, one of which fit right into the issue of the unex- pected costs associated with so- called "green energy." The article was titled "Fairground may get burned by solar hike" and revealed what is being regrettably discovered everywhere well inten- tioned programs to install "renew- able" energy systems take place. The tab for such projects, whether solar or wind, is always and consistently exorbitant, no matter if there are subsidies or stimulus money or tax credits to defray the price tag. The overall cost to individuals, consumers, business or, yes, the Tehama Dis- trict Fairgrounds, is never justified or offset by the supposedly "free" energy being generated. I hope to devote more columns to the sub- ject because it is not at all as it has been represented by "green energy" advocates and PG and E. Those of us who opposed the Bend Nation- al Recreation Area’s inclusion in the National Landscape Conservation System, as proposed by Senator Barbara Boxer, had many reasons, and the majority of citizens who spoke and wrote about the issue were on our side. Some who insisted that the timing of Boxer’s proposal was sus- piciously close to her very tough reelection cam- paign, were criticized for just having animus for the leftwing Democratic Senator. No, we said, it’s not that so much as simply seeing through the smoke screen of her agenda to burnish her rather thin legislative record going into the election. Well, we told you so: the article, "Bend NRA resurfaces," was prompted by the press release from Boxer’s office touting that the "designation would help cre- ate jobs in Tehama and Shasta Counties …" Now, if you don’t recognize the ulterior goal of boosting Boxer’s profile with your own tax money, you just don’t get it. Politicians have been bribing us with our own money forever. If anyone wants to bet their house that environmentalists won’t eventually seek to limit what is done on or around the Bend NRA, please let me know. Many of us just don’t trust these people to abide by their promis- es. Proposition 25 has Don Polson The way I see it been advocated on this page as a wonderful way to help force Sacramento politi- cians to do their job and pass a timely budge by lowering the two-thirds require- ment to a simple majority. We’re told taxes would still not be raised without that high hurdle of a super- majority. However, all is not as it has been represented. More on that next week. The shameless use of an illegal immigrant housekeeper, not by gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, but by liberal Democ- ratic attorney Gloria Allred and the unions backing Jerry Brown, has set a new low in modern poli- tics. Finally, the Coffee Party (tout- ed as the new groundswell of Tea Party opposition) could only muster about 350 "bloggers, col- lege professors and communica- tions strategists" for their conven- tion in September. Rather under- whelming. Don Polson can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@yahoo.com.