This is how a revolution starts, said Daniel Pasko under the cover of Arcata’s giant redwoods. “It starts with a few people talking under a tree. A true ‘grassroots’ movement.”
On March 14, a rainy Saturday, Pasko met his brother Michael and friend David Acord to discuss the legalization of one of Humboldt’s favorite plants, Cannabis.
California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano recently introduced AB 390, a bill that would strip away the penalties on the cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis for adults 21 and over. The bill hopes to regulate cannabis much like alcohol and tobacco creating a tax that would bring in an estimated 1.2 billion dollars into the California economy.
Pasko said the new bill is a complete 180 from the attitudes of the past 70 years. “We’re gonna go from being the villains to the heroes. In a society where caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol is legal, how do you draw the line?” he asked.
“I’m against the legalization of all drugs. But we are not talking about drugs, we are talking about marijuana.”
Although AB 390 is written to legalize marijuana and create a tax to boost California’s economy, it is not written to provide a marijuana free-for-all. Ammiano did add a few stipulations in the bill in order to address these concerns:
• First, you will have to buy a license to grow and distribute cannabis for an initial first-time fee of no more than $5,000 and a yearly renewal of no more that $2,500.
• Cannabis may not be consumed on the premises of where it is grown or sold.
• Growers must provide adequate security.
• All employees must undergo criminal background checks.
Jack Nelsen, an agent for Humboldt County’s Drug Task Force, doesn’t see how you can legalize cannabis and tax it in California when it will remain illegal at the federal level. He said most of the cannabis grown in Humboldt goes to Southern California, or even out of state. Because it will still be illegal in every other state a black market will still exist, explained Nelsen.
“To legalize it here would open the floodgates,” he said, adding that he would be “shocked” to see any number of growers pay the tax required to grow and distribute.
There are still many questions to be answered: Who will actually pay the California government their taxes? What in a background check could disqualify a potential grower?What will be the consequences for those who do not get a license, sell cannabis across state lines and perpetuate the existence of the black market?
As AB 390 presents a basic framework to address some of these questions and takes a serious look at legalizing cannabis, it is not anywhere near the final draft. As it works its way through legislation the bill may undergo several changes. Acord organized the meeting with the Pasko brothers to recruit volunteers for his Yes On AB 390 group, and sent an email to Matt Bunch, one of Ammiano’s aides, to try and get some clarification on the bill.
In the e-mail Bunch wrote, “We do anticipate amendments to many provisions of the bill, but it would be premature to anticipate what those amendments might look like. The regulatory process that would occur after this bill is passed would establish what can and can’t be considered.”
Bunch also stressed the long road this bill will travel before making its way to the governor’s desk, where it could still be vetoed. “It could take two years to reach the governor’s desk,” wrote Bunch.
With a steep hill to climb to reach legalization, Acord is doing what he can to rally supporters. But in the rain and muddy redwood field, on the first day of spring break, there were few initial volunteers.
Acord knows that he is just “preaching to the choir” here in Humboldt County, but he feels that there are many ready to join his voice. In the meantime, he said there are movements all around California.
“It’s a game of connect the dots right now,” he added.
Acord has a Web site, www.ab390.vze.com, where he plans to map areas of the state that need support or volunteers. The Web site also has a link to the full wording of the bill.
He urges people who are interested in supporting the bill to write letters to your local assembly representative, senator and the governor asking for their support. On his site there is a link to a letter generator where all you need to do is enter your information, and the generator sends an e-mail to your representative.
“Nothing beats a personal letter,” said Acord.
With the annual 420 Fest coming up, Acord hopes to have another meeting to get volunteers to run a table.
“With the way people’s attitudes are changing, marijuana will be legal and soon,” said Acord.
35 comments
I hear masturbating makes my palms hairy
you could not be more wrong about everything. First off Marijuana does NOT kill. Alcohol kills. In fact there are more than 100,000 alcohol related deaths a year. Do you know how many Marijuana deaths occur every year? ZERO. Look it up. Second not all people who smoke Marijuana try other drugs. I am living proof of that and I personally know many others. Third I'm a college grad and will soon be going to Law School and I got a 170 on my LSAT. I am a very motivated stoner and damn proud of it. Hey look at Michael Phelps! Anyway just because you don't like Marijuana doesn't mean you can spew off a bunch of lies that don't make sense. You are making a general argument, poor one at that.
I will grant you that there are some pretty stupid weed smokers out there, who wrap themselves up in not only marijuana but all sorts of drugs. But who's to say that's anyone else's choice. It's their choice to make not yours, not mine, not the government's. We live in America dammit, the free country, people should be able to do to themselves as they please. Even if it means ruining their lives or becoming like Bill Gates, because you know what? That's capitalism. You make yourself what you want to be. SO don't talk to me about Marijuana being the worst evil in the world; people who ruin their lives do it themselves . I smoke marijuana and I'm turning my life into something that will help people and benefit society, and my occasional blunt won't destroy what I'm trying to do.