Coalition of healthcare, labor & law enforcement organizations and leaders join to oppose California's recreational marijuana ballot measure

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A broad coalition including the California Police Chiefs Association, California Hospital Association, California Teamsters, California State Sheriffs' Association, California Peace Officers Association, Los Angeles Police Protective League, the Small Growers Association, and Democrat and Republican elected officials is launching its opposition effort against the proposed Adult Use of Marijuana Act to legalize recreational marijuana. The opposition campaign will wage a robust effort through November and will lay out a multitude of loopholes that concern even those generally supportive of legalization. 

A recent white paper by the San Diego District Attorney's office points out, "The initiative allows persons convicted of dealing large amounts of controlled substances such as heroin, methamphetamine or cocaine to become 'legal marijuana dealers.' There is nothing in the initiative that will prevent anyone with a prior conviction involving dealing any drug (Cocaine, PCP, Heroin, Methamphetamine, etc.) from getting a license..."

"Current law prohibits convicted meth and heroin felons from being involved in medical marijuana. But this new initiative will specifically allow for convicted major meth and heroin dealers to be licensed recreational marijuana vendors in California. You have to question proponents in terms of placing personal wealth and corporation profits ahead of community well-being," stated Chief Ken Corney, President of the California Police Chiefs Association.   

Wayne Johnson, longtime strategist leading a coalition of healthcare, labor and law enforcement organizations in opposition noted, "Why on earth would anyone propose this? They were repeatedly warned that they were creating this loophole and they did it anyway. Their motives are absolutely questionable." 

Internal polling conducted by the opposition campaign indicates that California voter opinions on legalization of marijuana have not changed much since Proposition 19 was defeated in 2010 by 7 points. A similar measure in Ohio was overwhelmingly defeated by voters this past November as well. 

Further, California voters need only look to recent reports by research institutions like the University of California, San Francisco that cite "minimal protections for public health", contained in this proposed initiative. (Link to the UCSF report HERE).

SOURCE Coalition for Responsible Drug Policies