Here's what I support. I support this because it's a good start. It's something all the people of California could get behind, not just a select group with their own interests at heart. It's based off of what has been successful, and what we need to get proper support. Most important, it's practical and reasonable. I will just do an outline, not full legal wording so simpletons such as Ernest can understand it.
1) This is for the purposes of legalization the recreational use of cannabis. Medical laws are excluded from these regulations. Nothing supersedes a doctor's orders.
2) Allow all citizens of California to posses and grow cannabis for personal consumption. Legalize a grow area of 100sq ft, 99plants, and possession of up to 8lbs at your home. Legalize possession of up to 1lb on your person.
3) Allow citizens of California 19 years old and up to have safe access to acquire cannabis. Legalize dispensaries operating as a collective or cooperative either for profit or not-for-profit. Collectives and cooperatives may operate as store front dispensaries, delivery services, bakeries/cafes, or farmers markets. Collectives are limited to one commercial location. No one may have a controlling share in more than one collective.
4) If your personal grow exceeds your personal requirements you may put it up for sale on consignment at the collective of your choice. (for legal purposes, it must be consignment sales so you're not operating an unlicensed business.)
5) Legalize and permit commercial growing. Permits will be granted through the state in a process similar to forming corporation where everyone can access them. Permit costs will remain below $5000. Commercial growing will be limited to 2k feet per grow. One person can not hold more than one permit nor be involved in a company or multiple companies holding more than one permit.
6) Outlaw the taxation of medical cannabis. Tax recreational sales of cannabis at 9%. No further taxation through congress is permitted without an additional ballot measure where 2/3 of Callifornians agree to the tax.
7) All revenue created by the recreational cannabis tax will go directly to the local schools in that collective's county. Counties that do not allow or take measures to prevent collectives from opening will not receive tax revenue from cannabis. Counties that encourage collectives receive the greatest benefits.
8.) State and local government employees including law enforcement are prohibited from cooperating or sharing information with federal police in cannabis related cases.
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Under this set of rules Californians would be allowed to possess, cultivate, purchase, and consume cannabis legally.
A tax rate is set because if you do not, congress will do it for you and their tax will be much worse.
Commercial sales/cultivation is addressed because if you do not do it through a voter initiative, Richard Lee types will lobby congress to set the rules for you. They will attempt to set up monopolies. By addressing it in a voter initiative congress can't over rule that. Another voter initiative would be required to change the rules. Under the system I proposed pot walmart type chains would be illegal. Massive scale farming would be illegal. The purpose of this is to set up an environment where citizens can open their own businesses and do well, but no cannabis billionaires or Phillip Morris type corporations can dominate the market. This will create a lot more middle class/upper middle class jobs where people can make a decent living.
The tax is an incentive for non-smokers. A reason for them to support legalization. The taxes will be distributed locally, not state wide so Californian communities will benefit more by accepting and encouraging legalization.
It is fair, it doesn't leave anyone out in the cold, and it is realistic enough so where the majority of Californians could support it. It is not an ideal law. It is just one everyone can be content with and still have a legitimate chance of passing.
I just got that feeling that I'm leaving out major parts of what I had in mind be I can't seem to remember what they are. Oh well, you get the idea.
