Weed becomes Decriminalized in California

[mindstate]

(SACRAMENTO) - From California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, on September 30, 2010.

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am signing Senate Bill 1449.

This bill changes the crime of possession of less than an ounce of marijuana from a misdemeanor punishable only by a $100 fine to an infraction punishable by a $100 fine. Under existing law, jail time cannot be imposed, probation cannot be ordered, nor can the base fine exceed $100 for someone convicted of this crime.

I am opposed to decriminalizing the possession and recreational use of marijuana and oppose Proposition 19, which is on the November ballot.

Unfortunately, Proposition 19 is a deeply flawed measure that, if passed, will adversely impact California’s businesses without bringing in the tax revenues to the state promised by its proponents.

Notwithstanding my opposition to Proposition 19, however, I am signing this measure because possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is an infraction in everything but name. The only difference is that because it is a misdemeanor, a criminal defendant is entitled to a jury trial and a defense attorney.

In this time of drastic budget cuts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts cannot afford to expend limited resources prosecuting a crime that carries the same punishment as a traffic ticket.

As noted by the Judicial Council in its support of this measure, the appointment of counsel and the availability of a jury trial should be reserved for defendants who are facing loss of life, liberty, or property greater than $100.

For these reasons, I am signing this bill.

Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger

Fuck this, i'm moving to California....

[Evil_Genious]

LOLLLLLL is this fo'real?

I was just about to reference his classic drags off the cush in Pumping Iron. Arnie said in a later interview when he made it in the states, that if you notice he didn't fully inhale on the drug and it was purely for the movie. I would say he just played his words to what the film showed. LOL.

Anyway, good. Weed is not as harmful as alcohol. Alcohol is only legal because a lot more people like drinking it. In my mind they are equivalent. The only reason they haven't legalised it, when most polishitians have done it. Is because most people are alarmed when they hear weed as it's been criminalised for so long. When they say shit like 'we'll make it CLASS A' it wins votes. So they can boost other areas of tax and win overall with the ultimate. So it's a small price to pay for them.

If controlled, it can be done. Look at Dam. People here are fucking lawless scumbags that's why - you can see that from the way people drive.