California Voters Likely to Support Marijuana

DEREK WU
Staff Writer

The possession of marijuana was once banned in the United States; however, the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana recently gained support from the state of California.

Currently, the recreational sale of marijuana is legalized in Colorado and Washington. New studies by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that smoking marijuana has no significant increase in mortality rates compared to tobacco.

“[Medical marijuana] can help with glaucoma, pain relief for arthritis patients, chemotherapy, relieves stress and anxiety, and also helps people with insomnia to sleep,” science teacher, Scott Stechel said.

A poll conducted by the Tulchin Research showed that about 65 percent of California voters would offer support for the legalization of marijuana. As a result, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom announced that a blue ribbon panel,lead by Newsom himself, would research proposals for safe marijuana use and legalization within the next two years.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we will see an initiative on the ballot either in 2014 or 2016,” executive director of Oakland’s Harborside Health Center Steve DeAngelo said.

Supporters filed the California Hemp Act of marijuana which garnered 750,000 signatures from California voters and will be issued in the 2014 ballot.