Signatures to be Gathered For Another Initiative to Legalize Marijuana

Following an analysis that determined the state would get revenues from sales taxes on marijuana, Secretary of State Debra Bowen gave permission Thursday for an initiative petition to circulate.

The analysis found there was potential net annual tax revenues in the low hundreds of millions of dollars related to the production and sale of marijuana and industrial hemp, a portion of which is required to be spent on marijuana-related research and other activities.

If approved, the initiative would allow hemp and marijuana use and its possession, cultivation, transportation and distribution.

The measure would also require the Legislature to adopt laws to license and tax commercial marijuana sales, allow doctors to approve or recommend marijuana for patients, regardless of age, limit testing for marijuana for employment or insurance purposes and bar state or local aid to enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

Valid signatures from 504,760 registered voters -- 5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the 2010 general election -- must be submitted by Feb. 24 to qualify the measure for the November 2014 ballot.

A similar measure to legalize marijuana, Proposition 19, was rejected by voters by a margin of 53.5 percent-46.5 in the November 2010 election.

--City News Service