Auto Club Urges a No Vote on Proposition 19

Proposition 19 - Legalizes Marijuana Under California But Not Federal Law And Permits Local Governments To Regulate And Tax Commercial Production, Distribution, And Sale Of Marijuana

Proposition 19 would make it legal for adults 21 years and older to possess, grow, and transport small amounts of marijuana. Local governments could decide whether or not to allow marijuana to be sold in their cities, and sales could be regulated and taxed. Proposition 19 would not alter statutes forbidding persons from being impaired while driving or bringing marijuana to a school. Proposition 19 does not change federal laws that outlaw marijuana.

Supporters of Proposition 19 include California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), the California NAACP, and the Oakland city council. In their view, laws criminalizing marijuana have failed and need to be reformed. They also say marijuana has fewer harmful effects than legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes, and that legalization could generate millions of dollars in taxes.

Proposition 19 is opposed by law enforcement, civic, and governmental organizations such as Coalition for a Drug-Free California, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the California Narcotics Officers Association, and the California Police Chiefs Association. Signers of ballot arguments against Proposition 19 include U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, district attorneys from Los Angeles and San Francisco, and the president of the California State Firefighters Association. They say it’s a bad idea to expand the use of another dangerous product, and that costs generated by additional substance abuse would exceed any new revenue that legalizing marijuana would generate.

The Auto Club opposes Proposition 19. We believe the measure will likely increase the availability and use of marijuana, which will lead to increased drugged driving and related traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries.

For more information on Proposition 19, please see the following links:

To review the “Quick Reference Guide” prepared by the Secretary of State, including the full text of Proposition 19, click here - http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/19/

For a summary and analysis of Proposition 19 from the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide, click here - http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf/english/19-title-summ-analysis.pdf

To review the pro and con arguments and rebuttals from the Secretary of State’s Official Voter Information Guide, click here - http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf/english/19-arg-rebuttals.pdf

For more information from the Yes on 19 campaign, click here - http://www.yeson19.com

For more information from the No on 19 campaign, click here - http://www.noonproposition19.com/