California's Cannabis Culture

In November 2010, Californians will be voting on whether or not to legalize marijuana for recreational use. If passed, California will become the first US state to end marijuana prohibition.

This is an exploration of California's cannabis culture. It's the story of the people fighting for it, the people fighting against it, the people selling it, the people making it less taboo, and the people who were around when the whole scene started.

*A Film By: Amanda Van West
*Production Assistants: Shawnee Okada and Christina Kho

For more information on the director please visit:
http://amandavanwest.wordpress.com/video-production/

, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, is a California ballot proposition which will be on the November 2, 2010 California statewide ballot. It legalizes various marijuana-related activities, allows local governments to regulate these activities, permits local governments to impose and collect marijuana-related fees and taxes, and authorizes various criminal and civil penalties. In March 2010, it qualified to be on the November statewide ballot. It requires a simple majority in order to pass, and would take effect the day after the election. Yes on 19 is the official advocacy group for the initiative, and No On Proposition 19 is the official opposition group.

Proponents of Proposition 19 argue that it would help with California's budget shortfall, cut off funding to violent drug cartels, and redirect law enforcement resources to more dangerous crimes, while opponents claim that it contains gaps and flaws that may have serious unintended consequences on public safety, workplaces, and federal funding. As of October 2010[update], even if the proposition is passed, the sale of marijuana will remain illegal under federal law via the Controlled Substances Act.

Authorization of criminal and civil penalties * Maintains existing laws against selling drugs to a minor and driving under the influence. * Maintains an employer's right to address consumption of marijuana that affects an employee's job performance. * Maintain existing laws against interstate or international transportation of marijuana. * Every person 18 years of age or older who hires, employs, or uses a minor in transporting, carrying, selling, giving away marijuana, or knowingly sells or gives away marijuana to someone under the age of 14, shall be imprisoned in state prison for a period of three, five, or seven years. * Every person 18 years of age or older who knowingly sells or gives away marijuana to someone older than the age of 14 but younger than 18, shall be imprisoned in the state prison for a period of three, four, or five years. * Every person 21 years of age or older who knowingly sells or gives away marijuana to someone older than the age of 18 but younger than 21, shall be imprisoned in county jail for up to six months and fined up to $1,000 per offense. * Any person who is licensed, permitted, or authorized to sell marijuana, who knowingly sells or gives away marijuana to someone under the age of 21 results in them being banned from owning, operating, or being employed by a licensed marijuana establishment for one year.

The measure's originator is Richard Lee, a marijuana legalization activist and medical marijuana provider based in Oakland. Lee named political consultant Chris Lehane as the head of the campaign to pass the measure.

In order to qualify for the ballot, the initiative needed 433,971 valid petition signatures. The initiative proponents submitted 694,248 signatures, and it qualified through the random sample signature check.

In the 1972 California November elections, a similar initiative to legalize cannabis was on the ballot, coincidentally also named Proposition 19. It failed to pass, with 66.5% voters voting "No" and 33.5%. voting "Yes"

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• thc
• dope
• kind bud
• harvest
• weed
• hippie lettuce
• bay area
• hemp
• cannabis

[drmichel1984]

Just got back from the polls......yea, I voted yes on 19. Thumbs up cause I KNOW you all did too lol :)

[vannerrr]

Btw They blurred his face even though we already saw the weed dealer. LOL

[sirsquiggly]

Stupid dude in the vid said legal weed would increase violence and illegal drugs. MAkes no sense.

[RetroFishman]

Grow it dont buy it unless your a really sick fuck and cant garden.

[CRITIKCK]

Its proven that if you want it illegal for everyone you're retarded..true story.

[axejoker1]

@2020starman, smoke and youll change your oppinion, oh thats right, your an old zombie with no balls, go bow to your master slave.

[heroesandcons09]

No one should have to spend 5+ years in a prison cell for non-violent drug offenses that dealer I highly doubt had any violent activity he simply sold a herb that he grew at home.

[Mikuruification]

@drmichel1984

yet it failed

[hellspawnds]

Shame the voting results came out the way they did. Will there be a new chance? And when

[2020starman]

@2020starman After looking at the presidential candidates for 2012 .. I have change my opinion on legal drugs .. I think Ron Paul makes the most sense .. Let each state govern they're own laws and lets end these stupid war that the tax payers have to support Ron Paul 2012

[twistedkatana1]

@2020starman you need to toke up. only an insane man would say such a thing.

[twistedkatana1]

funny i've had people tried to push all sorts of drugs on me but i've never once budged and took any of them. i know what they do and i know that cannabis is god's medicine for man. its been on this earth longer than we have and our own brains and bodies were built to take in cannabis as a healing agent.