mrjizzbomber wrote:Yes, but you have to understand... these comities and assemblies have no real legal power. All it means is, a group in the government has said the law is something that is worth looking at.
Its like getting an indictment from a grand jury. All they're saying is, 'this case is worth having a trial over'. Yeah, sure, its a step in the right direction... but don't get too excited. Not yet.
Even on the state level, you have to wait for actual legislation for any real 'good news'.
- The Bomber
While AB390 passed the first committee, it died because there wasn't enough time for it to go to the Public Health committee, where from there it would've progressed to vote by the full assembly. Whether or not it would've passed there is speculation; it's going to be re-introduced for this legislative session by Tom Amiano this year, though.
While you're right, these committees themselves don't make the laws, they approve the legislation before it gets voted on. AB390 IS legislation, it just hasn't made it to vote yet. We'll see later this year if it does.
However, this may not be relevant, as California is an initiative state. Well, what's the significance of that? Richard Lee (I believe that's his name) has spearheaded an effort to put marijuana legalization on the popular ballot for this November. That's the same way Proposition 215 was passed--the first medical marijuana law--and there are far more than enough signatures to get it put on the ballot. The latest polls in California also show that the majority of people support legalization, and they'll get a chance to voice that opinion in November.
Does this mean that California will legalize? Well...who knows? It all depends on who shows up to vote in November. However, California isn't the only state pushing for legalization, and we may see it happen in the near-ish future.
While federally, this type of thing would not be acceptable, that's not the point. If the feds came down on states that have enacted these laws, you'd see an even greater national discussion of our failed prohibition on marijuana. Once that happens--once people start to question it on a massive scale--then you will see the beginning of the end.
Marijuana is probably the only illegal drug suitable for widespread recreational use. However, the end of the Drug War starts there--what we will see from the death of marijuana prohibition will be able to transfer to other drugs. Obviously, we don't want to make heroin legal for recreational use, but a change towards health-based regulation will become more and more plausable.
I'm hoping that this War on Drugs is starting to show signs of strain. We have far too many people in prison for crimes that are of harm to anyone but perhaps the person indulging in that "crime". This is a violation of our constitutional rights, and a failed policy. The War on Drugs is a a futile war on an issue that can be more easily dealt with when people realize that regulation is the better alternative.