Imagine if you will, amongst all of the other challenges we face in California, the first step to legalizing mind altering drugs all in the name of regulation, control and taxation. And if Proposition 19 should pass are the voters of California willing to take the next logical step and de-criminalize the manufacture, possession, distribution and use of any other mind altering drugs? Are you willing to continue to pay for increased health care costs and public safety costs for those who abuse drugs and commit crimes because of addiction? Are you willing to place yourself, your families and your children at risk? If your answer is no, then I urge you to vote “no” on Proposition 19.

We continue to struggle with the challenge of reducing traffic related deaths due to those who drive under the influence of alcohol. We certainly do not need to add the additional public safety burden of driving under the influence of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana will no doubt increase the number of unnecessary and tragic deaths due to “drugged driving”, something we are already seeing at DUI Checkpoints. Drivers roll through checkpoints not under the influence of alcohol, but marijuana and they are quick to show the officer their medical marijuana card as if to somehow justify that it’s OK to drive while impaired. Legalizing marijuana is simply bad for public safety! Because of Proposition 215 (The Compassionate Use Act) along with unscrupulous medical professionals, more and more young people without any diagnosed medical condition are signing up to use marijuana under the protection of bad legislation. Proposition 215 allows “patients” with a valid doctor's recommendation, and the patient's designated Primary Caregiver, to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use, and has since been expanded to protect a growing system of collective and cooperative distribution.

Why are we introducing more mind-altering substances into our communities and making it easier for our young people to become addicted? Studies have shown that marijuana use among youth correlates with lower academic performance in school, not to mention the fact that marijuana is nothing more than a gateway drug to other forms of addiction. Legalizing marijuana is simply bad for our youth!

Proposition 19 will jeopardize your safety, federal funding for California businesses and create an enormous bureaucracy that will tie the hands of employers state wide who comply with and provide a drug-free workplace. Proposition 19 prevents employers from taking any disciplinary action against employees who come to work under the influence of marijuana. It allows commercial truck drivers, public transportation operators, doctors, nurses, heavy equipment operators, bus drivers, police officers, deputy sheriffs, firefighters and others whom the safety of the public depend upon, to be under the influence of marijuana while performing their duties. Do you really want a deputy sheriff who is under the influence of marijuana to respond to your call for help? Legalizing marijuana is simply bad for public safety!

Marijuana production and distribution is already big business in California, most of which is controlled by the drug cartels in Mexico. Legalizing marijuana won’t change that and if anything will increase demand benefiting an already violent drug trafficking organization. Marijuana and methamphetamine are poisoning our communities and destroying our quality of life all because our elected representatives and leaders refuse to secure our borders.

We are allowing this poison to come into our country and fuel an already expanded market place for controlled substances. Drug and alcohol abuse in any form has a direct connection to property crimes, crimes of violence, domestic violence and other crimes all of which affect our quality of life. It’s time to stand up and defend our great nation from those who would profit by victimizing the very people who work hard to protect it, you and me. Legalizing marijuana is simply bad for California! Californians certainly don’t need anymore bad legislation, regulation and unfunded mandates. As your Sheriff, I urge you to join me along with the California State Sheriffs’ Association, the California Police Chiefs’ Association, the California District Attorneys’ Associations, the California Chamber of Commerce, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, community leaders and numerous other organizations and reject Proposition 19 as false and misleading legislation that is bad for all of us.

Adam Christianson is the Sheriff of Stanislaus County










 

By Sheriff Adam Christianson.