California lieutenant governor: ‘Do the damn right thing’ and legalize marijuana

[Playinghardball]

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday called on politicians to be honest about legalizing marijuana, claiming many lawmakers and officials secretly opposed the drug’s outlaw status.

“I am sick and tired of politicians saying one thing in private and saying another in public,” he said on HuffPost Live. “Love me or hate me, I can’t participate in that. I didn’t on gay marriage, and I watched as so many politicians, particularly in my party, said I’m with you on gay marriage, and then years went by and they were still arguing for second-class citizenship of the gay and lesbian community.”

Newsom claimed the same was true of the war on drugs, which he described as an “abject failure.” He noted that drug prohibition had been particularly harmful to racial minorities, who are imprisoned at a disproportionately high rate for drug offenses.

“It’s time for politicians of all strips to come out of the closet in this respect and say what they think on the issue, do the damn right thing on this.”

Newsom opposed Proposition 19 in 2010, which would have legalized the recreational use of marijuana in California. Last December, however, he declared he no longer supported the prohibition of cannabis.

“These laws just don’t make sense anymore,” he said.

Watch video, courtesy of The Huffington Post, below:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/12/california-lieutenant-governor-do-the-damn-right-thing-and-legalize-marijuana/

[TDale313]

1. Go Mayor McDreamy!

I know, I know... No longer Mayor. But Lt Gov McDreamy just doesn't have the same ring. In any event... Yep, he's spot on.

[Stardust]

4. McDreamy is spot on. He's the perfect guy: Cute, smart and Democrat!

[janlyn]

2. Long uphill battle!!

the quote here: "He noted that drug prohibition had been particularly harmful to racial minorities, who are imprisoned at a disproportionately high rate for drug offenses." provides a clue as to why it will be a long uphill fight!!

Politicians and Corporate collaboration...The number of prisons being privatized has continued to grow!!!

Those minorities are big profits for corporations and therefore profitable for their political bedfellows!!!

[zappaman]

3. Gavin Newsom is the man!

He has my vote for whatever he runs for!

[Hekate]

6. I hope he runs for Governor when Brown retires. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

5. I am liking that guy more and more and MORE.

I have to be honest, when he first hit the scene in San Francisco I thought he was a horrible, blow-dried yuppie sellout being financed by rich folks in the Marina.

But Gavin has displayed some real moral courage; and authority... and I predict he may be a force to be reckoned with in our Party.

At least, I hope so.

[olddots]

7. Hopefully in our life time

none of us are getting younger .

This has SO much to do with the repukes making big bucks from the "war on drugs "

[flamingdem]

8. Too bad the growers advocated against Prop 19

Selfishly wanting more profits for themselves rather than pay tax.

[Paul E Ester]

9. California has mixed feelings about it

The growers don't want it legal. They used to get $4000 a pound. After 17 years of medical marijuana and growers everywhere it's $1500 a pound for high grade. If it was totally legal it might be $500 a pound for high grade maybe cheaper. This would devastate the rural areas of northern california.

Discovery recently had a series called weed country you can watch it online here. The industry is out in the open.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/weed-country

It's amazing, go on google maps. Look at hayfork, ca or garberville, ca from the satellite view. all those clear cut areas with green dots are grows. One area trinity pines (hayfork, trinity co. california) is estimated to have some 20,000 plants in one small area alone.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=hayfork+california&hl=en&ll=40.47513,-123.170262&spn=0.003444,0.006872&sll=37.269174,-119.306607&sspn=14.741442,28.146973&t=h&hnear=Hayfork,+Trinity,+California&z=18

Smokers Calling for a Boycott of Emerald Triangle Growers?
http://kymkemp.com/2010/nov/5/boycott-emerald-triangle-growers/

County limits you to 25 plants...Grow Trees.

[MindPilot]

10. Holy horticulture Batman!

Too bad there is not a category for that kind of agricultural achievement at the county fair; that thing would have a blue ribbon for sure. Maybe someday...

[Paul E Ester]

11. (State) Master Gardener Program Barred from Offering Free Pot Growing Advice

The legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington and Colorado has created a whole host of issues that previously never had to be addressed by those states' governments. One such concern is whether a free, state-sanctioned program called “master gardeners” can be used to help folks learn to cultivate cannabis.

Master gardener programs are run through state universities and made up of unpaid volunteers. The purpose of the program is to impart free agricultural and horticultural advice to the public. There are some 95,000 master gardeners presently operating in all 50 states and Canada – and such free cultivation advice would most likely be welcomed by residents of states that have legalized pot for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Unfortunately, states with such laws have instructed the master gardener program not to assist potential pot growers. After all, the program is federally funded and would be breaking federal law by assisting in cannabis cultivation

In Washington State’s case this only applies to medical marijuana, as state residents are not permitted to grow recreational pot, but in Colorado anyone 21 and older can legally cultivate up to six plants in an area out of public view.

Nonetheless, the state of Colorado warned its employees and members of the program that anyone administering cultivation aid outside the defined scope of their job responsibilities "assumes personal liability for such action."

http://hightimes.com/news/mmiller/8198

[MindPilot]

13. Thanks

I didn't know that program existed.

[Paul E Ester]

15. It's a neat program

My dad is a master gardener in Okalahoma. Talking to the master gardeners in Marin, ca. It wss interesting to see such differences in the same program. Ok master gardeners recommend the typical chemical weed killers and fertilizers. The marin program as one might expect promotes more natural garden management.

They have hotlines you can call with any questions gardeners might have. It's a nice program,

[Le Taz Hot]

12. So, Gavin's just put his hat in the ring

for the governorship. (I have my doubts as to whether Brown will run for re-election.)

[Fumesucker]

14. The drug war is not remotely a failure

It has done exactly what it was intended to do, created a climate of fear and oppression in certain portions of the populace.

[Paul E Ester]

16. and lots of cash for bankers..nt