Marijuana Legalization Statistics in California "Prop"- Yes on Proposition 19

This upcoming November, California voters will have a chance to vote on the progressive and highly controversial Proposition 19, which aims to legalize the recreational use of Marijuana. The fight has begun to intensify all throughout the US on whether "medical marijuana" should be legal and recently, Facebook, choose to pull internet ads supporting medical marijuana legalization. However, in California, voters are asked to weigh in on an even bigger issue, recreational Marijuana.There are many misleading facts and myths to debunk before the November ballot. So, let's start with facts on mortality statistics in comparison to Marijuana.

1. Tobacco leads to 400,000 deaths a year on average in the US.
2. Alcohol leads to 100,000 deaths a year on average in the US.
3. Caffeine leads to 2,000 death a year in the US.
4. Marijuna has led to 0 deaths thus far in the US.
Sourced from the United States government National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bureau of Mortality Statistics.

But there have to be more reasons to legalize in California and there are!

Billions of dollars in revenue - If passed, the bill aims to create billions in additional revenue to help alleviate a "cash-strapped" state. With unemployment and recession concerns at alarming and unprecedented levels, legalization could be a financial savior to the California people. Marijuana will be taxed of course, and jobs will undoubtedly by created by new business, retail, operations and logistics.

Law Enforcement Resources - Nearly 50% of all drug-related arrests are from Marijuana "possession". Not trafficking, growing or selling, but simply "possessing" marijuana. This is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer resources and money to have law enforcement harass and prosecute pot-smokers for simply recreationally using marijuana. If passed, law and drug enforcement officers can spend time going after bigger fish such as methamphetamine producers, crack cocaine sellers and so on. 100's of millions are wasted each year on futile attempts to continue to prohibit Marijuana usage.

Control Cannabis / Marijuana - Prop 19 aims to allow Californians over the age of 21 to possess 1 ounce for recreational use at home. Prohibition has created a violent and dangerous underground market where only criminals and drug cartels prosper. If regulated legally, underage usage would decrease as would the power and money affixed to dangerous drug cartels. When was the last time a drug dealer tried to sell anyone a bottle of vodka? They don't because there's no market for them. The passing of this bill also protects the rights for medical patients who suffer through the state battle simply to get a pain relieving medicine often prescribed for patients with terminal illness.

Myth : Marijuana is a gateway drug.

Fact : In reality more than 75% of cannabis users have never done other illegal recreational drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, etc. Though opponents try to prove there is a strong correlation of a gateway drug. This is simply not true, because though most heavy drug users have used marijuana, the large majority of marijuana users have not and do not use more illicit drugs.

The Opposition

Though public opinion polls show a near dead even draw with varying fluctuation week to week on whether to legalize or not, there are some more prominent opponents to the legalization of Marijuana in California. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former SF mayor, seeks to co-sponsor a "NO on Prop 19" along with LA county sheriff Lee Baca. Feinstein is notoriously conservative and is well-known for her futile and unsuccessful anti-smut campaign in the early 1970's, which was an effort to prevent SF adult-entertainment entrepreneurs, the Mitchell Brothers from expanding their number of adult movie theaters. Feinstein's movement was widely regarded as a "Big Brother" type censorship of american freedom of speech.

Nearly 40 years later, Feinstein has taken another conservative stance on the marijuana legalization issue and her opponents go on to call her views narrow-minded, short-sided and even "prudish". However, Feinstein is still a very popular amongst California voters and is renowned for her fund raising abilities.