As voting day gets closer, and support for the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Prop. 64) has begun to see a slight dip in the polls — from a high of 60% approval to about 55% currently — it’s worth seeing who’s behind the measure, and who isn’t.
Those leading the charge for legalization include Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who spoke for more than an hour on the subject to the Press Democrat (whose editorial board opposes the measure) along with tech billionaires and those wanting to end the prohibition of marijuana.
Leading those against the Proposition: Rep. Diane Feinstein, many municipalities, law enforcement associations and, perhaps most vocally, growers worried about increased competition, permitting, and government red tape.
When it comes to financing, however, the Pro camp are far ahead, raising more than $18 million compared to the $2 million raised by those opposing legalization in California.
PRO:
Individuals
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D)
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-2)
New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, 2016 Libertarian presidential candidate
California Democratic Party
Sean Parker, founder of Napster and former president of Facebook
David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap
Troy Dayton, Founder of Arcview
Troy Vaughn, Pastor, President & CEO of Christ-Centered Ministries
Patrisse Cullors, Co-founder of Black Lives Matters
Groups
California Peace and Freedom Party
Santa Monica Democratic Club
Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club
Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club
Democrats for Equality
Democrats United for a Progressive California
California Young Democrats
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
MLK Legacy Democrats
San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee
Adelante: Latino Democrats United
Brownie Mary Democratic Club
Organizations
ACLU of California
California Academy of Preventive Medicine
California Cannabis Industry Association
California NAACP
Cut50
Equality California
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Harm Reduction Services
HealthRight 360
Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Justice Not Jails
Los Angeles Community Health Project
Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP)
Marijuana Policy Project of California
Moms United to End the War on Drugs
NORML
Our America Initiative
Our Revolution
Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing
Progressive Christians Uniting
Project Cannabis
Project Inform
Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
William C. Velasquez Institute
Youth Justice Coalition
Law enforcement organizations
Blacks in Law Enforcement of America
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
National Latino Officers Association
Unions
California Nurses Association
United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
ARGUMENTS
Supporters make the following arguments in support of Proposition 64:
- The proposition has specific safeguards that would protect children while allowing responsible adult use of marijuana.
- The proposition would incorporate best practices from other states that already legalized marijuana use and would adhere to recommendations provided by California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy.
- The proposition would generate tax revenue and decrease law enforcement costs, providing funding for things like afterschool programs, drug prevention education and drug/alcohol addiction treatment, law enforcement training and research on impaired driving, and other programs.
- The proposition would prevent legislators from using generated revenue for their pet projects.
- The proposition would provide an environment where marijuana is safe, controlled, and taxed.
- The proposition would decrease black market and drug cartel activity.
CON
Congress
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)
Sen. Joel Anderson (R-38)
Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-5)
Sen. Jim Nielsen(R-4)
Rep. Catharine Baker (R-16)
Rep. William Brough (R-73)
Rep. Jim Cooper (D-9)
Rep. Matthew Harper (R-74)
Rep. Young Kim (R-65)
Rep. Tom Lackey (R-36)
Rep. Melissa Melendez (R-67)
Parties
California Republican Party
Libertarian Party of California
Municipalities
Apple Valley City Council
Calipatria City Council
Citrus Heights City Council
El Cajon City Council
Escalon City Council
Kingsburg City Council
Mission Viejo City Council
Oceanside City Council
Rancho Cucamonga City Council
San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Scotts Valley City Council
Whittier City Council
Solano County Board of Supervisors
County and City Officials
Bill Horn, Supervisor, San Diego County
Susan Peters, Supervisor, Sacramento County
Glen Bozar, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Upland
Rich Kinney, Mayor, City of San Pablo
Violeta Lewis, RN, Mayor Pro Tem, City of La Puente
Dennis Michael, Mayor, City of Rancho Cucamonga
Kevin Muldoon, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Newport Beach
Ray Musser, Mayor, City of Upland
Andre Quintero, Mayor, City of El Monte
Sal Alatorre, Lynwood City Council Member
Jim Davis, Sunnyvale City Council Member
Dean Grose, Los Alamitos City Council Member
Kristal K. Jabari, San Marcos City Council Member
Sharon Jenkins, San Marcos City Council Member
John Minto, Santee City Council Member
Dan Reid, Lawndale City Council Member
Cathy Schlicht, Mission Viejo City Council Member
Debbie Stone, Upland City Council Member
Bernadette Suarez, Lawndale City Council Member
Carol Timm, Upland City Council Member
Alan D. Wapner, Ontario City Council Member
Joe Angle Zamora, Santa Fe Springs City Council Member
Sheriffs
Tom Allman, Sheriff, Mendocino County
Doug A. Binnewies, Sheriff, Mariposa County
Edward Bonner, Sheriff, Placer County
Tom Bosenko, Sheriff, County of Shasta
Bill Brown, Sheriff, Santa Barbara County
Rick Di Basilio, Sheriff, Calaveras County
Adam E. Christianson, Sheriff, Stanislaus County
Mike Downey, Sheriff, Humboldt County
Steven L. Durfor, Sheriff, Yuba County
Steve Freitas, Sheriff, Sonoma County
Bruce Haney, Sheriff, County of Trinity
Sandra Hutchens, Sheriff-Coroner, Orange County
Jon E. Lopey, Sheriff, Siskiyou County
Bill Lutze, Sheriff, Inyo County
John McMahon, Sheriff, San Bernardino County
Margaret Mims, Sheriff, Fresno County
David Robinson, Sheriff, Kings County
Keith Royal, Sheriff, Nevada County
Martin A. Ryan, Sheriff, Amador County
Tim Standley, Sheriff, Sierra County
Rick Stevens, Sheriff, Alpine County
Donny Youngblood, Sheriff, County of Kern
District Attorneys
Tony Rackauckus, District Attorney, County of Orange
Mike Ramos, District Attorney, County of San Bernardino
Jeff Reisig, District Attorney, County of Yolo
Anne-Marie Schubert, District Attorney, County of Sacramento
Groups
Auto Club of Southern California
California Hospital Association
California Association of Highway Patrolmen
California Police Chiefs Association
DUID Victim Voices
Fight Crime, Invest in Kids California
Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs
California College and University Police Chiefs Association
California Correctional Supervisors Association
California District Attorneys Association
California Narcotic Officers Associations
California Peace Officers Association
California State Sheriffs’ Association
Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana
Community Action, Service & Advocacy
Community Alliance for Healthy Minds
International Faith Based Coalition
Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers
Los Angeles Police Protective League
National Network of Youth Ministries
New Dawn Construction Company
North Coastal Prevention Coalition
Organization for Justice and Equality
Palomar Health Communities Coalition Escondido
Peace Officers Research Association of California
Riverside County Law Enforcement Administrators Association
Riverside Deputy Sheriffs Association
Safety Wellness Advocacy Community Coalition
San Diego School Boards Association
Santee Solutions Coalition
Smart Approaches to Marijuana of Northern California – SAM Action
The Small Farmers Association
Vista Community Clinic
Weed for Warriors Project
Individuals
Steve Dodge, CEO of the Humboldt Growers Collective
Hezekiah Allen, Executive Director of the California Growers Association
Arguments
Opponents make the following arguments in opposition of Proposition 64:
- The proposition would result in more highway fatalities and more impaired driving.
- The proposition would allow marijuana growing near schools and parks, and would erode local control.
- The proposition would increase black market and drug cartel activity.
- The proposition would allow marijuana smoking advertisements to be aired.
- The proposition would hurt underprivileged neighborhoods.
- The proposition would put small marijuana farmers in northern California out of business.
