But the ballot proposition raises numerous questions about what life would be like in a freely toking Golden State. After looking into the intricacies of Proposition 19, Surge Desk offers the following primer:
How much pot would a person be allowed to possess?
Up to one ounce, which, as CBS News points out, is "enough to roll dozens of marijuana cigarettes."
Would people be allowed to smoke pot in public?
No. Moreover, the law mandates that pot smokers over the age of 21 would be forbidden to light up in the presence of minors.
If Prop. 19 passes, can Californians drive while high?
No. Police would still be able to arrest anyone driving while impaired.
How much money can California hope to raise by taxing marijuana sales?
Estimates for increased tax revenue range from $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion per year. For a state that has been struggling to balance its budget in the wake of the recession, those numbers are hard to ignore. In addition, the decriminalization of marijuana would free up state resources used to process those arrested for possession.
If passed, how would Proposition 19 affect the price of pot?
According to the Rand Drug Policy Research Center, the price of marijuana could fall by as much as 80 percent if the drug were made legal for individual use. In the classic supply-and-demand formulation, however, a lower price and the erasing of the social stigma would mean that marijuana use is all but certain to increase.
Would the federal government challenge Prop. 19 if it became law?
Though the federal government has allowed each state to determine whether to legalize medical marijuana, it remains to be seen whether it would act against a law that focuses on personal use.
Source: AOL News
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