The legalization of marijuana has hit yet another obstacle.
On Nov. 1, San Jose City Council adopted an urgency ordinance prohibiting marijuana usage prior to the upcoming election on Nov. 8.
The ballot includes Proposition 64. If passed by a majority vote, this proposition that would allow adults above the age of 21 to use marijuana for recreational purposes.
The ordinance, however, reestablishes the city’s law that nonmedical marijuana cannot be cultivated, processed, manufactured, distributed, tested or sold. According to CBS SF Bay Area, “the urgency ordinance allows the city to evaluate, reach out to the community and hold public hearings on whether to allow recreational marijuana use if most voters at the polls endorse the proposition.”
According to a KPIX 5 SurveyUSA poll, of the more than 700 voters surveyed, 54 percent said they are voting yes on the proposition.
Prop 64 would allow individuals to have up to 28.5 grams of marijuana, four to eight grams of concentrated cannabis, and six living plants at their home, according to city officials.
In addition, marijuana possession, transportation, purchase, consumption, and sharing of one ounce would be permitted, according to KRON4 News.
The city hopes that, with the ordinance, the circulation of marijuana won’t increase drastically if the proposition is passed.
“This is an effort to hit the ‘pause’ button. We know that the state will come out with regulations if the measure passes. But the problem is they’re not in place on Nov. 9th. It’s going to take several months,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Riccardo in an interview with CBS SF Bay Area.
However, according to Yes on Prop 64 spokesperson Tenoch Flores, the city may not be taking into consideration the unintended consequences of over-regulation.
“To have a complete ban on marijuana sales and commercial availability does increase the likelihood that a black market will still maintain and thrive,” said Flores in an interview with CBS SF Bay Area.
That being said, the state is taking measures to prevent a possible spike in marijuana usage, should the proposition be passed.
According to KRON4 News, “the proposition would create a state Marijuana Tax Fund that would set aside 60 percent of the collected money for youth substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, 20 percent for law enforcement and 20 percent for environmental cleanup and enforcement, according to proponents.”
With the likelihood being a majority of yes votes, the urgency ordinance will control the usage of marijuana until regulations are put into place.
