Prop 64 Marijuana Legalization Part 1

California could be following the steps of other states and legalize recreational marijuana, but what effects will it have on the residents of the Imperial County?

With only one week left. I spoke with Mayor Jason Jackson, who is in favor of no on prop 64 because of the results of other states who have legalized the drug.

“You look at Colorado,you look at Washington, tremendous social issues that also attach a big price tag to it.” Jackson says.

According to the Independent Legislative Analysts office, if the prop were to pass, they would expect an annual revenue that would eventually reach over one billion dollars. Imposing a fifteen percent tax on all marijuana sales. Marijuana Business would start opening across the state allowing adults over twenty one and older to purchase, carry up to an ounce of weed and even allow residents to plant up to six pot plants for personal use, with counties having limitations.

Jackson says,”You’re talking about store fronts, you’re talking about home delivery, you’re talking about mobile delivery products that you know meeting at 7-11. On the street corner, maybe across the school maybe, and so you’re really talking about opening your self to a lot of issues, it could create a potential type of violence”

However, for a volunteer at a San Diego Marijuana dispensary, he sees the complete opposite.

“We see more parents, nurses, people that work for the city, teachers, we get every type of people, not just people on the street. Business people, lawyers that come into the dispensary. it’s an open community you know?”

Prop 64 says it’s still illegal to drive impaired and to smoke weed in public, but it’s still raising concerns after seeing the results of states that have already legalized the drug. Heather Trapnell, a district attorney from El Centro, says all the issues other states have been having since legalization will make it’s way to California if passed.

” The related marijuana traffic deaths have gone way up, they don’t have a good standard to measure the level of marijuana for driving arrest like they do for alcohol and the hospitalizations of children who have been poisoned by marijuana have gone up significantly . Those are all consequences that we believe will be making our way to California.” Trapnell says.

Mayor Jackson agrees, saying it’s not worth the risk of passing the prop.

“If all the negatives cost money, and there’s many many negatives, then it offsets the only one positive that they really have, and that’s revenue.So I think that’s why we have an issue.”

The initiative would give sixty percent of funds to youth substance abuse prevention, treatment, and education. However, the chance of marijuana having more accessibility, there’s the danger of a minor getting a hold of it, leading to long term health complications. Substance Abuse Counselor, Bonnie Walter, says marijuana could have long lasting effects and slow down brain development for minors.

“As a Department we tend to see marijuana being treated more in younger ages like middle school or highschool. Marijuana has a component that is called T-H-C that is basically the high that they experienced when they smoke marijuana or consume it.Now days one of the pressing issues that is something that calls our attention in Prop 64 is that T-H-C levels are actually increasing in amount and so we can see products up to twenty six percent of T-H-C which is an incredible amount which could have very long lasting effects on their cognitive abilities, their performance in school,slows their reaction time, and it might definitely lead to experimentation to other drugs. ” Walters says.

For some daily users, marijuana actually makes them feel better. An El Centro resident smokes often to release anxiety and stress.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been through a lot of stress, a lot of depression, I go through anxiety during the day, thoughts in my head that shouldn’t be there. So, when I smoke, it helps me to relax, to be stress free, it helps me to be myself. To be normal.”

If Prop 64 does pass, will it be the new normal? Will it open more problems that put us at risk? On Thursday, November 3rd, I will take a closer look on the major concerns the community of El Centro has, and how the prop could benefit the state and Imperial Valley all together.