Million dollar dope deal

[Gob]

Billionaire investor George Soros has given $US1 million ($1.01 million) to support passage of marijuana legalisation in California a week before the state election, after polls showed the proposal losing steam with likely voters.
“Regulating and taxing marijuana would simultaneously save taxpayers billions of dollars in enforcement and incarceration costs, while providing many billions of dollars in revenue annually,” Mr Soros, chairman of Soros Fund Management, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed article.

Mr Soros donated $US1 million to the “Drug Policy Action Committee to Tax and Regulate Marijuana - Yes on Prop. 19,” according to a filing posted on the California Secretary of State’s website.

Mr Soros’s spokesman, Michael Vachon, confirmed the contribution.

Mr Soros is a longtime proponent of legalisation. He spent $US3m on initiatives that led to the legalisation of marijuana for medical use in the 1990s.

Recent opinion polls suggest, however, that Californians are unlikely to opt for full legalisation – although some commentators have speculated that people may just be reluctant to come out in favour of marijuana in public.

A University of Southern California/Los Angeles Times poll on October 22 showed 51 per cent of likely voters opposed, to 39 per cent in support. A May survey showed backers leading, 49 per cent to 41 per cent.

The Soros donation could alter the dynamic. The donation became public 48 hours after the ‘no’ side began television and radio ads warning that legalisation would be an utter disaster, with truck drivers and hospital personnel doing drugs on the job.

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was high," said one ad.

Proposition 19, a referendum on the November 2 ballot, would make it legal for Californians over 21 to possess and grow pot for personal use.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/billiona ... utostart=1

[oldr_n_wsr]

with truck drivers and hospital personnel doing drugs on the job.

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was high," said one ad.

What a useless argument.

[rubato]

with truck drivers and hospital personnel doing drugs on the job.

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was high," said one ad.

What a useless argument.

Health care workers are more likely to be abusing prescription drugs.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

with truck drivers and hospital personnel doing drugs on the job.

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was high," said one ad.

What a useless argument.

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was drunk,"

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was incapacitated by medication."

"Imagine coming out of surgery and the nurse caring for you was stupid."

[Joe Guy]

Support for California's Proposition 19 appears to be dwindling - News Story.

I have not yet heard any argument against Proposition 19 that makes any sense.

Okay... before anyone else says it...

Maybe it would make sense to me if I didn't smoke pot before I read the opposing arguments...

[Gob]

The arguments against don't have to make sense Joe.

They just need to pander to the prejudices of the "drugs bad" crowd.

[Lord Jim]

I would be somewhat suspect of polls on this one...

I think that like the gay marriage issue, this may be something that a fair number of those answering the polls have some reluctance to tell pollsters their true intentions about...

I think it's going to be very close...

[loCAtek]

Well, there's the issue that the Feds will still prosecute, since State law can't overturn national law. President Obama hasn't directly stated he's against it, but he's made the legal point clear.

Also, KQED radio has been running a segment on the health risks of marijuana, including interviews from a few former addicts. Well done, without getting preachy or shrill.

Forum with Michael Krasny