Backers of legalizing marijuana in California are counting on support from young voters

Recent polls have shown support for Proposition 19 slipping. Backers of the measure that would legalize marijuana in California are counting on young voters for success.

 But that could be a problem. On the eve of Tuesday’s election, a noon rally on the UC Berkeley campus -– just three BART stops north of the Yes on 19 headquarters -- was a decidedly low-key affair.

 A dozen demonstrators waved signs in support of the measure. A young blonde in tie-dye tossed a “Yes on 19” frisbee in the autumn sunshine. A half-dozen journalists looked on. And scores of students wandered by, unmoved.

 “Every single person here has to make a commitment,” begged Kat Murti, Bay Area regional director for the Yes campaign, her multicolored dreadlocks swinging. “For the last 73 years, cannabis has been an illegal substance.... Everyone here knows someone who uses cannabis!”

 Vote, she said, so jobs will be created. Vote, she said, so cops can spend their time chasing murderers and rapists instead of nonviolent smokers who enjoy a little weed. Vote, she said, just vote.

 Across Sproul Plaza, Zainab Hossainzadeh was unimpressed by both the issue and the demonstration. Sitting at the Muslim Student Assn. table and reading Studs Terkel for class, the 19-year-old sophomore said she does vote but hadn’t thought much about how she’d cast her ballot this time.

 She watched the pot proponents saunter up to the microphone and beg for votes. She listened to speakers’ claims: “Cannabis seeds are a great food, high in Omega 3 fatty acids!” She shook her head at the sign-waving rally and smiled.

 “It is very small,” she said. “Especially for Berkeley.”

 -- Maria L. LaGanga in Berkeley

Comments

[sarahtress]

"Begged" for votes? Were they on their knees, hands clasped together?

I hope Ms. LaGanga can do a better job of staying impartial next time.

[Kate]

How is it that government agencies long ago decided to put all their eggs in the man-made global warming basket?

Why have the movers and shakers around the world ignored natural climate change — even going so far as to claim it does not exist?

The only reason I can think of again goes back to their elitist beliefs and desired policy outcomes. The belief that a better-educated few should be allowed power over the less educated masses.

That government knows better than the people do.

Tomorrow’s election is widely viewed as a referendum on the proper role of government in people’s lives. There is no question that the founders of our country intended there to be maximum of freedom on the part of individuals and the states, while placing strong limits on the role of the federal government.

Just read the Declaration of Independence if you want to see how pi$!ed off the settlers of the original colonies became at the King of England over his intrusion into their personal affairs.

And global warming legislation is now quite possibly the best opportunity the governments of the world have to increase the role of government in people’s lives.

[LaughAtPanic!]

And the L.A. Times is still resorting to propaganda, lies, and scare tactics in yet another failed attempt to brainwash voters and further their own prohibitionist agenda. Very lame. You call this fluff piece NEWS?

Supporters of proposition 19 don't want to be judged by prohibitionists on the telephone. Therefore many yes on 19 voters will not tell the truth to live pollers. This also helps explain why in automated polls, the yes on 19 campaign leads by a landslide. Lastly, these field polls only represent a small fraction of all voters, making their collective significance quite small.

The L.A. Times, in many other so-called "news articles", is also trying to ingrain the federal governments threats into the minds of voters. Scare tactics. If it is voted in, then it is the will of the people. Last time I checked, our government is of the people, for the people, and by the people. Those people are us voters. Therefore, eventually even the federal government will be forced to back off. Point is, Eric Holder's press release has had zero impact on swaying pro 19 votes.

The L.A. Times has been putting out fluff pieces against prop 19 from day one. Face it L.A. times, the majority of your readers are YES ON PROPOSITION 19! And... THIS ALSO, IS NOT NEWS!!!

[GotToLegalizeIt]

"Everyone here knows someone who uses cannabis!" Uses?

"Vote, she said, so cops can spend their time chasing murderers and rapists instead of nonviolent smokers who enjoy a little weed." The cops have made it clear. They'd rather bust nonviolent people for smoking pot than "spend their time chasing murderers" -- and they'd rather not risk losing work, regardless of what the right thing to do is.

[donfitness]

I'm too stoned to find my polling place.

[Paleta Fresca]

Of course pot should be legalized and controlled, same as cigarettes, same as alcohol. As a matter of fact, alcohol is far more dangerous and contributes to many more deaths and the general ill health of Americans.

[James Jackson]

The writer searched and found a Berkeley student apathetic to Proposition 19. Slight effort would have revealed a real voter. The comments of an unhip obvious noncitizen, out-of-the loop, a plastic and undead nerd, mean less than nothing to most of us, but a great deal to the LA Times. We clearly see the LA Times' journalistic standards in this article, written as ordered by the editor in one last effort to discredit and trivialize Proposition 19. It won't work. The writer could find only one still-warm body to state nothing positive for this important, history-making proposition that will eventually affect all Americans' freedom and self-determination.

Now, all you living and voting Americans, don't forget to vote Yes on Proposition 19.

[Janice Murry]

Young people are the only hope, most people 30 and above understand the dangers and risk associated with this foolishness. And, many young people are coming to terms with it as well. Nothing works out the way those advocating any issues according to plan.

All the promises of 2008, have not been leveled, and you cant get a fresher recollection than that.

They said it would be regulated and controlled 15 years ago, and everyone understands how that worked out.

They claim it will stay out of the hands of kids under 21, well most of the people they target to vote yes, are under 21, and it seems almost laughable, seeing that everyone over 21 can have a garden at their homes?

It was not well thought out, and only ones really supporting it is those looking to make big bucks off of it.

[Jacpb]

I'm 18, I'll be voting "NO" on 19. It won't pass and even if it does the federal gov't will step in and pay our state to get rid of it. End of story.

[Andrew]

We need to wash the prohibitionist blemish off the American Flag and it is up to the 18 to 30 year old voters to usher in the 21 century beginning in California. Vote Yes on Prop 19

[Nick from Sweden]

I´d would like to have som kind of statistics of Deaths/year by alcohol contra Cannabis

[Kirill]

@Jacpb
It has about a 50% and it's not certain that the feds would step in. If you agree with it vote yes.

[Ron]

Look I am sixty plus years old and never tried cannabis, but was fooled by the lies promoted by our government and funded by the Corportocracy. I will vote yes to Prop 19. Folks this not a health issue, for if it was Alcohol would be on the ballot for removal since it is far more destructive than cannabis.
Take your country back from the greedy Corporations and set a goal to grow hemp to replace hydrocarbons and lethal chemicals used in the manufacturing of paper.

[Sir Vipe]

Young people don't vote, this will not pass, and I agree with statements below: police would rather bust pot smokers than chase violent criminals.

I used to be for this a while back, now I don't want it. I already have an inordinate amount of stoned idiot skateboarders kick flipping all over my city. I personally despise smoke of any kind and don't want to be around smokers. Back in the 80's I used to get stoned to the point of complete incapacitation, unable to walk, and having to drive. This stuff is very powerful and not to be taken lightly. I've seen it ruin lives, destroy careers, take people down hard. This is not good for us, we should be passing laws for better, healthier foods, nutrition education and recovery programs.

[Sir Vipe]

Ron: Hemp is already in production for use as fuel, clothing and in many foods. The male plant is used for many things, this is a vote to legalize, basically, getting high. THC is a powerful drug, it has nothing to do with corporation, fuel, food, etc.

This demonstration had a dozen stoners that just want to get high.

It's done. This will not pass. Good.