Feinstein, Baca to Co-Chair Fight Against Marijuana Legalization

Two prominent California names will co-chair the campaign against Prop 19, the ballot measure that would legalize marijuana in the Golden State, the prop's opposition announced today. And it didn't take long for the two, both Senator Dianne Feinstein and L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca, to get to work on the issue.

"California will not see a single positive result if Proposition 19 passes," said Feinstein in a statement. "It is a poorly constructed initiative that will cause harm to Californians on our roadways, and in our schools, workplaces and communities. I look forward to working with Sheriff Baca to ensure we defeat Proposition 19 in November."

But is that just rhetoric? As the Congress Blog at The Hill notes, "(T)he measure would not change existing laws that prohibit driving under the influence of drugs or that prohibit possessing marijuana on the grounds of elementary, middle, and high schools," according to the state's Legislative Analyst's Office. It continues to say that "(E)mployers would retain existing rights to address consumption of marijuana that impairs an employee's job performance."

Also, Baca, speaking about the medical marijuana-related triple murder in West Hollywood, said “the medicinal marijuana program that voters authorized years ago has been hijacked by underground drug dealing criminals who are resorting to violence in order to control their piece of the action,” according to the LA Times.

So what will he say if marijuana is legalized? Would it be hijacked by underground drug dealing criminals or by corporations?

Previously: Feinstein Joins Ranks of Politicians Against Legalizing Pot