Opinions

Our View- Prop. 19 should not be fought by Obama adminstration 

Voter turnout among 18 to 29-year-olds is generally a low number and fluctuates depending on the election. The percentage of youth voters has slightly increased over the years, but it has never passed the highest rate of 55.4 percent in 1972, when 18-year-olds were able to vote in the presidential election for the first time. The second largest youth voter turnout was during the 2008 election of Barack Obama, where 66 percent of the votes from the that age group were in favor of Obama.

This year’s upcoming November election is expected to have an increase in young voter turnout because of the California measure to legalize the cultivation, possession and transportation of marijuana. In fact, votes from youth will be crucial for the bill to pass.

The bill would allow anyone 21 or older to legally possess an ounce of marijuana and be able to grow the plant in one’s own home.

Proposition 19 is the driving factor that is motivating certain young people who normally have no interest in politics to vote. In turn, since they will already be at the booths Nov. 2, they are more likely to cast their vote for a new governor and other measures in addition to Prop 19.

Not everyone is in support of legalizing marijuana, though. The controversial bill equally draws arguments from its supporters and critics. The Obama administration, specifically Attorney General Eric Holder, “strongly oppose” the measure.

On Oct. 13, Holder wrote a letter to former heads of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration expressing his apprehension toward the bill. He stated that the bill will delay efforts to “target drug traffickers who frequently distribute marijuana alongside cocaine and other controlled substances.”

He also went on to say that even if it is allowed under state law, the federal government will continue to “vigorously enforce the [Controlled Substances Act] against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use.”

It is this type of thinking that clearly overlooks the concept of state’s rights.

It’s the same concept that the founding fathers of this country made sure to include so that the federal government would not be able to interfere with the interests of the people.

The meaning of a democracy is not that we are just a government for the people, but also by the people. It is the right of the people to be able to decide on laws and their choice be implemented.

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle announced his support of Proposition 19 earlier this month. “The War on Drugs has created tremendous damage in California and throughout America, and this will help stop that damage,” explained Hinkle.

On top of that, the Libertarian Party stands for the “the repeal of all laws creating ‘crimes’ without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.”

Decriminalizing the use of marijuana would curb the amount of drug violence that occurs and it would help bring in tax revenue.

The use of medical marijuana is already legal with a license in the state of California and passing the recreational use of marijuana would be the next step for the plant.

We have our own response to Attorney General Holder’s statement that “even if the bill passes, nothing will change.” When the bill passes, things better change.


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