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Yes on 19 Marijuana Legalization Campaign Poster from 1972. (Bolerium Books/LA Weekly)
While California confirmed its state’s marijuana legalization initiative would be on the November ballot months ago, today the state assigned proposition numbers to this year’s slate of initiatives. Get used to hearing about Proposition 19, which is where you’ll get to vote to legalize marijuana in California.
The state restarts the counter for proposition numbers every ten years, last doing so in 2008 (hence why the gay marriage initiative was Prop 8). While it’s inevitable proposition numbers will be reused, the LA Weekly notes a strange coincidence in the legalization initiative’s number. When pot legalization was on the ballot in 1972, it was also Proposition 19.
The Secretary of State’s office says it was a coincidence. But you can’t put anything past the people who named the state’s medical marijuana bill SB 420.
Anyway, if you still have your Prop. 19 buttons and posters, you won’t have to go buy new ones.
As you can probably tell, Prop. 19 failed in 1972. In fact, it wasn’t close. According to Ballotpedia, the measure went down by a vote of 66.5% to 33.5%. We’ll see in November how much attitudes have changed in the intervening 38 years.
The latest LA Times poll found 49% of Californians support marijuana legalization, with 41% opposed in May. Earlier that month, the Public Policy Institute found the state evenly split, with 48% supporting to 49% opposing.
I just really hope this year’s campaign can produce some equally awesome posters like the one here from the 1972 Prop 19 campaign for legalization.
Pot isn’t the only issue on which Californians will vote in November. Jon Walker has a rundown of the 10 initiatives on the ballot for Golden State voters.
23 Comments
Well, the symmetry with 1972 is nice, but Prop20 would have been nice as well.
“Vote For Twenty” has a certain ring to it.
I guess maybe there’s a joke somewhere about needing one fewer, because pot’s “so much stronger now” than previously.
That’s hilarious. 20 would’ve been a great number for it.
20 is almost 25 which is a quarter which is half of an eighth. Almost works.
Alcohol is regulated, controlled and taxed.
Why not marijuana?
Suppose that thousands of people made or ordered
500 labels with the above message and placed
them on gas pumps, ATM machines and outgoing
mail boxes, shopping carts and parking meters.
500 labels can be purchased for $4.95 plus $2.00
shipping from a company that advertises in Sunday
newspapers.
And how sad is it that we’re still fighting this battle nearly forty years later?
You want people to be busted for vandalism?
This is way off topic, but did anyone else notice there were no American flags present at Obama’s recent press conference on the Deepwater Horizon disaster? In place of the flags on both sides of the podium were gold columns with chandeliers atop. Directly behind the podium was a gaudy yellowish gold drape. In this video you can see the column on the right. I can’s locate the photo I saw a few days ago, but there is an identical column on the left.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPzcGw40D2g&feature=related
I researched to find out if the American flag had been absent at any other formal press conference and found no such incidents.
I know there must be some symbolism with those columns. Ideas, anyone?
While I’m off topic; has anyone else noticed all the light blue and orange that has been showing up the past few years on screen sets & corporate logos? Media stenographers are more often wearing light blue or orange neckties. Even Air Force One is no longer navy blue; it’s light blue. The mascots for the London 2012 Olympics are Wenlock and Mandeville. One is orange and white. The other is light blue and white.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/7740806/In-pictures-London-2012-Olympic-mascots-Wenlock-and-Mandeville-are-launched.html
Ironically, many dispensaries in CA are promoting a no vote – taxes too high.
(Alcohol anyone?) I don’t much care about the taxes, I’d like to come out of the dark ages. I have children in their 20′s. I don’t want them or their reasonably responsible pals to GO TO JAIL because their inebriant is not the one favored by the law of the land.
And California is the state that rejected marriage equality; with the help of the proH8 Mormon funding.
The alteration of this prohibition is inevitable, but not necessarily immediate, unfortunately.
I have confidence the revolution’s going to come down big time when people are worried about sticker vandalism. Lordy.
Geez, put some stickers on stuff, kirkmuse! It’s a great idea! That reminds me of the 70′s!
Isn’t there an international treaty that criminalizes marijuana throughout the world? Is there any place on earth where it is truly legal? I expect that the feds will continue to bust people for marijuana, regardless of the state laws. Is there any support in congress for rescinding the treaty?
I would have to oppose this law if I lived in California.
Read it and see why: http://calpotnews.com/government/ballot-initiatives/full-text-of-regulate-control-and-tax-cannabis-act/
Thing is, it simply shifts criminal enforcement to petty dealers and people with children! The cops won’t be throwing away their battering rams, and people with children will be at risk of years in prison if they smoke a joint with the kids in the house. Vote for this law, and you will be sanctioning that. You will also be perpetuating the lie that dealing this herb is some kind of evil and sanctioning criminal penalties with your vote.
Nobody wants legalization more than I do – but haven’t you noticed that we have had 40 years of this kind of “liberalization” of pot laws – and more people are arrested, imprisoned, and cycled through the “justice” system all the time. The only real liberalization I have seen in that time is medical MJ.
Just sayin…
Read the proposition.
Fellow readers, if you’d like to VOTE on any upcoming related opportunities on this, here are the links to REGISTER TO VOTE in a few of the states with mj laws on the ballot in November. And while we’re talking, tell people to be on the watch for the “October Surprise”, some trumped-up bad “news” about marijuana that will be intended to persuade voters at the last minute. Register to VOTE and tell your friends to not fall for the “October Surprise!”
(Remove the spaces in the w w w portions of the link and then paste the link into your browser)
ARIZONA citizens can register to vote at http://w w w .azsos.gov/election/voterregistration.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 3, 2010.
CALIFORNIA citizens can register to vote at
https://w w w .sos.ca.gov/nvrc/fedform/ Just fill out the form and mail it in!
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 17, 2010.
COLRADO citizens can register to vote at http://w w w .sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ . There’s a link in the “Voter Information” section. Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 1, 2010.
GEORGIA citizens can register to vote at
http://w w w .sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/voter_reg_app.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 4, 2010.
KANSAS citizens can register to vote at
https://w w w .kdor.org/voterregistration/Default.aspx
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 16 or 17, 2010.
MAINE citizens have to register in person; you can read about it at http://w w w .maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html
In Maine, you can apparently register all the way up until election day, so Maine citizens, let’s turn out to vote!
MICHIGAN citizens can register to vote at
http://w w w .michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-50050_50420-175878–,00.html
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 1, 2010.
MINNESOTA citizens can register to vote at http://w w w .sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=204
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 10, 2010.
MONTANA citizens can check their registration status and find other information at https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/ or get the voter registration form at http://w w w .co.yellowstone.mt.gov/elections/ (sorry, I couldn’t find a state-wide site for this. I hope this gives you a good starting point, Montana!)
NEVADA citizens can register to vote at
http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=76
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 12.
NORTH CAROLINA citizens can register to vote at
http://w w w .sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=23
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 7, 2010.
OREGON citizens can register online at
http://w w w .sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 16.
SOUTH DAKOTA citizens can get the voter registration form online at
http://w w w .sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 10.
WASHINGTON citizens can register online at
http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/voterinformation/Pages/RegistertoVote.aspx
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 4, 2010.
Other states: Google your State name and the phrase “voter registration” to find out how to REGISTER TODAY so you can VOTE in NOVEMBER
I may be a day or two off on some of the registration dates, so (1) get this done early and (2) even if you get this info on or after the dates I’ve listed, go ahead and try to register. This is our chance to make a difference!
Go online right now and get this one behind you, and you can vote in November!
Safer than aspirin; less addictive than coffee.
Register. Vote. Change things.
marymccurnin-
A quarter is two eighths, not a half of an eighth. A half of an eighth is a sixteenth. Just an old math teacher chiming in.
Fellow readers, if you’d like to VOTE on any upcoming related opportunities on this, here are the links to REGISTER TO VOTE in a few of the states with mj laws on the ballot in November. And while we’re talking, tell people to be on the watch for the “October Surprise”, some trumped-up bad “news” about marijuana that will be intended to persuade voters at the last minute. Register to VOTE and tell your friends to not fall for the “October Surprise!”
(Remove the spaces in the w w w portions of the link and then paste the link into your browser)
ARIZONA citizens can register to vote at h t t p ://w w w .azsos.gov/election/voterregistration.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 3, 2010.
CALIFORNIA citizens can register to vote at
h t t p s://w w w .sos.ca.gov/nvrc/fedform/ Just fill out the form and mail it in!
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 17, 2010.
COLRADO citizens can register to vote at h t t p ://w w w .sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/ . There’s a link in the “Voter Information” section. Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 1, 2010.
GEORGIA citizens can register to vote at
h t t p ://w w w .sos.georgia.gov/elections/voter_registration/voter_reg_app.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 4, 2010.
KANSAS citizens can register to vote at
h t t p s://w w w .kdor.org/voterregistration/Default.aspx
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 16 or 17, 2010.
MAINE citizens have to register in person; you can read about it at h t t p ://w w w .maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voterguide.html
In Maine, you can apparently register all the way up until election day, so Maine citizens, let’s turn out to vote!
MICHIGAN citizens can register to vote at
h t t p ://w w w .michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-50050_50420-175878–,00.html
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 1, 2010.
MINNESOTA citizens can register to vote at h t t p ://w w w .sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=204
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 10, 2010.
MONTANA citizens can check their registration status and find other information at h t t p s://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/ or get the voter registration form at h t t p ://w w w .co.yellowstone.mt.gov/elections/ (sorry, I couldn’t find a state-wide site for this. I hope this gives you a good starting point, Montana!)
NEVADA citizens can register to vote at
h t t p ://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=76
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 12.
NORTH CAROLINA citizens can register to vote at
h t t p ://w w w .sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?id=23
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 7, 2010.
OREGON citizens can register online at
h t t p ://w w w .sos.state.or.us/elections/votreg/vreg.htm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 16.
SOUTH DAKOTA citizens can get the voter registration form online at
h t t p ://w w w .sdsos.gov/electionsvoteregistration/registrationvoting.shtm
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 10.
WASHINGTON citizens can register online at
h t t p ://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/voterinformation/Pages/RegistertoVote.aspx
Registration for the November 2, 2010 election appears to be open until October 4, 2010.
Other states: Google your State name and the phrase “voter registration” to find out how to REGISTER TODAY so you can VOTE in NOVEMBER
I may be a day or two off on some of the registration dates, so (1) get this done early and (2) even if you get this info on or after the dates I’ve listed, go ahead and try to register. This is our chance to make a difference!
Go online right now and get this one behind you, and you can vote in November!
Safer than aspirin; less addictive than coffee.
Register. Vote. Change things.
Wrote it wrong. Phooey
25 which is a quarter and an eighth is half of a quarter (or something like that.) It wasn’t the math that got me it was the language. duh.
I would not support full legalization except when it is coupled with clear restrictions on smoking in public (and around kids and pets and anyone else who doesn’t get a say) consistent with what is happening for cigarette smoking. My stance is that your rights to ingest whatever you want end where you force me to ingest it too, which is to say, bake all the brownies you want but don’t blow smoke in my face.
With the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries on every other corner here in Boulder has come an increasing disregard for existing smoking restrictions and common courtesy. My experience is that just as cigarette smokers do, pot smokers also behave as though their smoke doesn’t exist once it leaves their lungs. When legalization can be accomplished without increasing violations of my airspace I’ll be more amenable.
Slight correction. The original prop 19 did not legalize marijuana. It decriminalized marijuana, and that’s a big difference. Unfortunately, legalization is more likely to succeed. Decriminalization would be preferable.
Why?
Isn’t this an attempt at nullification?
There is a federal law making marijuana use/sales/have illegal.
Why would we want to go back to the pre- civil war days? That war was fought and lost- the federal government won.
Change the laws in washington.
It’s too bad the people who are going to vote against it don’t know how to use the internet.
mmcc, good question. imo, decrim equated to recognising that growing weed deserves the same non-legal status as growing a garden.
legalization equates to control and taxation.
peas!
That will never happen. So, we start in the states. The federal government is run by the most right wing pols ever. The states are a little more manageable. If you want something done in Washington, DC you will get the opposite of your intention.
Well, it says right on the proposition that it will be prohibited to smoke/consume pot in public places or around minors.
Check it out: http://calpotnews.com/government/ballot-initiatives/full-text-of-regulate-control-and-tax-cannabis-act/
Also, how often do you walk by someone smoking a cigarette and that person deliberately blows smoke in your face? (that is a rhetorical question because that NEVER happens. Unless your community really dislikes you.) In addition, you can’t blow smoke in someone’s face from eating a brownie. That probably isn’t how you intended that comment to come across, but it sounded ignorant and I couldn’t help myself from saying something.