Singer Melissa Etheridge and others speak out in favor of legalizing marijuana

Rock singer Melissa Etheridge says she used medicinal marijuana while recovering from breast cancer and supports California’s Proposition 19, the November ballot initiative that would legalize pot.

Etheridge said as she underwent chemotherapy she was given a choice of using 10 drugs with various side effects or a "natural solution."

Although referring to herself as a medicinal marijuana user, the singer said she would like to see pot become legal because “I don’t want to look like a criminal to my children anymore. I want them to know this is a choice that you make as a responsible adult.”

Etheridge joined actors Danny Glover and Hal Sparks and former LAPD Deputy Chief Steve Downing, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and activist Sarah Lovering at a news conference at Cafe Was in Hollywood to announce their support for Proposition 19.

The ballot measure would allow adults 21 and older to grow and possess marijuana and would authorize cities and counties to approve cultivation, sale and taxation.

The news conference was organized to promote the initiative and draw attention to BuddhaFest, which aims to raise awareness about marijuana. The festival, with entertainment on 10 stages, starts Saturday at noon and lasts until 2 a.m. at Los Angeles Center Studios in downtown L.A.

-- Ann Simmons

Comments

[Chris]

Marijuana only offers good to the world, why hasn't it been legalized yet?

[TheBigPicture]

If she doesn't want to look like a criminal anymore, She should Stop Smoking Illegal Drugs...It's that simple...
Even the Med Marij is illegal Federally...

[Legalize]

Time to stop government intrusion into our lives. Send the message. Legalize it now.

[tulsadave]

Dopes advocating the legalization of dope.

[jack]

hey smallmindedpicture:

what laws are you breaking? there are so many of them.

[Jeff]

How much longer are we going to waste valuable resources on policing a substance that cannot be policed? Marijuana is a drug that (like it or not) is part of our society. Just as we do with gambling, alcohol, and cigarettes . . Marijuana should be taxed and controlled. Unlike with these other "vices," the proceeds should only be used to fight addiction, homelessness, and the DUI offenses that will inevitably be a bi-product of legalization.

Seems pretty straight forward to me . . . .

[Cann_Do]

Wow, she has a pretty compelling story...

The medical benefits are being formally recognized now, even by US Veteran Affairs- They now have their doctors allow medical marijuana (prescribed by a Non-VA doc) allowed into their patients' regimen. This is the Administrative branch formally recognizing the medical benefits of cannabis.

I hope more celebs come out of the cannabis closet in the next few days!

[Laurette Jennings]

Good for you! Keep up the fight!!

[mansterEZ1]

Two more prominent voices of reason to end prohibition and support freedom of choice. Get on board the train to Omelas.

[Writestuff60]

The cannabis industry as it exists today is a lawless, unregulated, untaxed, underground economy worth billions of dollars. And like illegal immigrants, it's not going away. A vote against Prop 19 is a vote to keep it that way. One thing gays and potheads have in common is that both have lived in the shadows. The difference is that when gays get outed, they may be bullied or snubbed. People caught with marijuana don't get outed; they get busted and sent to overcrowded prisons, ruining their lives and the lives of their families, and forcing the state to release violent offenders early. As with gays and illegal immigrants, it's time marijuana users be allowed to come out of the shadows, and the marijuana industry be integrated into the economy. Vote yes on Prop 19!

[Justin Wilson]

Marijuana should not be legalized. smoking it kills you no matter what. Just because some people say "when have you ever heard of someone dying from weed?" you haven't because its illegal... imagine what you would hear if it was legalized. SAY NO ON PROP 19