Tuesday, November 8th 2016 was indeed quite a day. We got a new President, and we got the right to recreational cannabis in California (via Prop 64). What’s more, Massachusetts and Nevada followed suit, with Arkansas, Florida and North Dakota conceding medical marijuana.
When California joined the movement it became possible to share a joint along the entire U.S. west coast. This will put pressure on dissenting states, and ultimately on Washington whence a decision must ultimately come. Some folk who spent time in jail may be thinking of recourse.
Tuesday’s decision is only fitting for the Golden State, where the first medical marijuana approval passed two decades ago. Los Angeles Times reports that law enforcement does not necessarily see cause for merry making, and plans to monitor implementation of “substandard advertising restrictions and lack of prosecutorial tools for driving under the influence of marijuana closely”.
“We are, of course, disappointed that the self-serving moneyed interests behind this marijuana business plan prevailed at the cost of public health, safety, and the well-being of our communities,” Chief Ken Corney, president of the California Police Chiefs Association continued. Perhaps someone should point out to the honorable gentleman that this is, if anything truer of alcohol.
Most Californians supported the campaign that was largely bankrolled by New York hedge fund billionaire George Soros, and former Facebook President Sean Parker. As far as we are aware, both gentlemen are awash with wealth and most unlikely to have “self-serving moneyed interests” in the California cannabis trade.
Chief Ken Corney’s boss, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom was at odds with him. He argued that the “war on drugs” was a total failure and “disproportionately hurt minority residents and wasted law enforcement resources”
He announced the end of the war on marijuana on Tuesday night. “I think it will have repercussions internationally, particularly in Mexico and Latin America. And there are a million people who tomorrow can begin the process of clearing their records.”
We are hoping that Chief Ken Corney’s response was just sour grapes, and that his Association, together with the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and the Peace Officers Research Association of California will have the grace to implement the will of Californians.
There is only one winner in a poll, as Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton ably demonstrated. There is a time to take sides, and there is a time to move on.