Efforts to legalize pot in the Golden State are so familiar as to seem both quaint and ripe for action at the same time. Come Nov. 2, voters will cast their ballots again on a proposal to legalize marijuana for recreational use in California. Despite recent polling, which generally shows an uphill battle for legalization, the discussion surrounding Proposition 19, also called the “Legalize, Control and Tax Cannabis Act,” is different than fringe legalization debates in years past, and this campaign is possibly more realistic because of it. This time around, it’s not about hemp or personal freedom or medical use; it’s about money. California lawmakers and voters could be more willing to expand their minds if it means shrinking the state’s massive $20 billion budget gap.

santacruz.com