Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Top 3 Gov Hopefuls Say No, No, No to Legalizing Marijuana

smoking-marijuana-pipe.jpg
Photo by volliem via Flickr
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Come November, voters will have the chance to cast their ballot in favor or opposition of legalizing and taxing marijuana in the state of California. But if you want to also vote for a gubernatorial candidate who will say yes to making pot a cash crop in our struggling state, it's slim pickings.

All three major-party candidates have already publicly expressed their unwillingness to back the legalization of marijuana, explains the Sacramento Bee:
--Jerry Brown (D): "I've already indicated that that's not a provision I am likely to support. I have been on the side of law enforcement for a long time, and you can be sure that we will be together on this November ballot."

--Meg Whitman (R): She is "absolutely against legalizing marijuana for any reason. … She believes we have enough challenges in our society without heading down the path of drug legalization," says a spokesperson.

--Steve Poizner (R): He "feels we need an across-the-board tax cut to reignite our state's economy, not an attempt to smoke our way out of the budget deficit," notes a rep.

Support for LAist comes from

Who's left? Well, that would be Prince Frederic von Anhalt (aka Mr. Zsa Zsa Gabor), for whom legalizing marijuana (and prostitution) are at the core of his campaign: "Marijuana is a big industry already. Let's legalize it, tax it, make some money and put less people in jail."

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist