The Golden State and its Golden Crop

Is there a future for the legalization of marijuana?

Proposition 19, a ballot initiative on November 2, would have legalized marijuana for recreational uses in California for the first time in the nation. Never mind that there is a federal law called Controlled Substances Act, or that Supreme Court has supported this act in accordance with the commerce clause in Gonzales v. Raich. California was the first state to legalize marijuana for medical uses, and it seems like it will march on.

Even though the Proposition was rejected with 46% yes and 54% no, the approval rate was record high when Senate Bill No. 1449, in effect from next year, had already decriminalized possession of marijuana. Indeed, proponents are optimistic in the legalization’s future, believing that a higher turnout of young voters in 2012 Presidential election will lead them to glory.

But how did this complex state that had also passed Proposition 8 reach record high approval on the legalization of pot? It has to do with proposition's strongest argument, billions of dollars every year as tax revenue.

Initiative in California is an exemplary practice of plebiscitary democracy today, along with recall and referendum. However, instead of serving as a tool to deliberate public political opinion, it may simply be demonstrating citizens' discontent in the swamp of bad economy, particularly when unemployment rate in California is third highest in the nation with 12.4%. One might point out that the same discontent made Arnold Schwarzenegger a Governor, and recently pulled down his approval rating as low as his predecessor’s right before he was ousted by recall.

Driven by powerful interest as for the chief promoter of the proposition and medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, the struggle to legalize marijuana for recreational use will not rest. Will golden allure of marijuana attract more Californian tax payers? At the end of the day, it will largely depend on the economy.