It seems that, ultimately, whether or not California decides to pass its nationally anticipated Proposition 19 will come down to money. The Golden State expects to earn over a billion dollars if and when they tax the regulated substance.
It seems to us that such thinking is a fair and reasonable incentive to finally legalize the "drug." But we are interested, as New Yorkers, to see how it turns out for California, as the proposal remains in the air before the November vote.
If California turns out to be a successful control experiment, its success may prove a viable catalyst for the remainder of the United States to follow suit.
New York State is still years behind California in terms of how liberally it views the prospect of state regulated and taxed marijuana, as the drug's interstate trade remains a federal crime.
And people here have tired from the same argument: over whether or not marijuana is unhealthy or morally acceptable. And it has finally come down to more practical means of compromise, as the implications of marijuana legalization are far less costly than its monetary benefits are plentiful.
Showing less promise for decreased crime than it had originally expected, Proposition 19 could still contribute to creating more jobs and, possibly, more taxes, as liberal intrigues flock to the state in order to exercise a new freedom.
But, acknowledging the unforeseeable negatives that may come with legalization, we can only hope that things do not get out of hand. We cannot claim to know that Californians will not abuse their new right to possess marijuana for personal use.
But we can assume that legalization will not promote use far past its current rate of consumption in California, where possessing marijuana is as severe a crime as a speeding ticket, and we can certainly expect a multitude of parameters for what is considered responsible use of marijuana.
Probably, private companies will continue to drug test their employees for marijuana, as professionals who work with children and heavy machinery will still be expected to stay sober for the entirety of their work day. We can expect that marijuana will follow the same professional policy as on-the-job alcoholism.
Some people fear that marijuana will be made readily available to children with the new law, but for many secondary school age children, it is easier to obtain a bag of marijuana at school than to somehow purchase alcohol at an establishment.
Perhaps the proposition will ultimately decrease the amount of adolescent smokers, if personal identification is heavily scrutinized at a taxpaying establishment, where employees will suffer the same wrath for underage sale of marijuana as the same offender suffers for selling alcohol to a minor.
So, it would be unreasonable to think that California will turn into some lawless Fiddler's Green if Proposition 19 passes, but it would also seem unbalanced to assume that the new freedom will not come with some form of unexpected consequence.
Again, we are eager to see what happens. Safe in New York from the drawbacks, yet its potential benefits within eyeshot, the proposition will be as exciting a time here as on the west coast.
