Thaindian News

By Gina Gomez
Nov 3, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Proposition 19 has been drawing national and international attention as California attempted to become the first state in nation to legalize marijuana-related activities. However, yesterday all the hopes and dreams of Proposition 19 supporters were crushed when the proposal was rejected by 57 percent against 43 percent in favor of it. However, the supporters believe that this was their first step of legalization of marijuana and in 2012 also they would raise the issue during election.

Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance said in his statement that in-spite of its defeat Proposition 19 has elevated and “legitimized” the “discourse” around marijuana policy like never before. For the Prop 19 supporters, the war is still on and they are optimistic about it as they think that they have brought this marijuana legalization to the highest level. Ethan Nadelmann, one of the staunch supporters of Proposition 19 said in his statement that this is for the first time “major elected” officials, civil rights activists and also labor unions have come together to endorse this marijuana legalization measure and now their only concern is how to legalize marijuana in the state.

The media outlets are of the opinion that for the opponents of Proposition 19, legalizing marijuana would be a threat to public safety, it would not generate tax revenue and also it would violate drug free workplace rules, federal laws and most of the decorums of the state. White House drug policy director Gil Kerlikowske seemed happy when he heard that Proposition 19 has been rejected. In his interview to a reputed media source he said that President Barack Obama’s administration has opposed marijuana legalization as research shows that marijuana is “associated” with addiction, mental illness, accidents, to name a few.