California to Vote on Legalizing Pot

In November, California will vote on whether to legalize marijuana,
thanks to a voter ballot initiative that passed inspection by state
election officials on Wednesday. If passed, the initiative would
legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by people over age 21
and allow people to grow small amounts of marijuana at home for personal
use. Cities and counties would gain the right to pass laws allowing
commercial distribution to adults 21 and older in accordance with local
regulations. Activists say that legalizing and taxing marijuana sales
would provide income for the state and free up law enforcement resources
currently dedicated to tracking down otherwise law-abiding citizens. The
rule has a chance of passing – an April 2009 field poll found that 56
percent of Californians favored legalizing pot for social use and taxing
its sales. Not everyone is on board, though: California Mothers Against
Drunk Driving say that the legalization of marijuana could cause
impaired driving and its attendant fatalities.