Children Become Centerpiece To Both Sides Of Campaign To Legalize Marijuana
While proponents of legalizing marijuana promise a well-regulated system that protects young Californians, opponents say the measure is being used to expose kids to harm for the sake of raking in billions.
Sacramento Bee:
When Pot Is Legal, How Do You Convince Teens To Abstain?
From the start, the campaign to make California the fifth state allowing adult marijuana use has sought to reassure skeptical parents by emphasizing safeguards to prevent those under the age of 21 from partaking. The first sentence of proponents’ case in a state voter guide promises Proposition 64 will create a well-regulated system “while protecting our children.” ...The initiative that will go before voters in November would block selling or advertising pot near schools and youth centers, mandate child-proof packaging, allow for stripping licenses from businesses that sell to people younger than 21 and use the green revenue stream to fund youth prevention and programming. (White, 8/2)
In other news —
The Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Medical Marijuana Businesses Gain Access To Wider, Non-Residential Swath Of City
The Santa Rosa City Council declared Tuesday that medical marijuana support services such as testing labs and oil extraction businesses can legally be located in certain nonresidential areas of the city. The move, which takes effect immediately, opens up significant new areas of the city to the medical cannabis industry, as long as they follow a host of other regulations. (McCallum, 8/2)