With all the hoopla in California about CCRI, other initiatives are getting precious little press. Two that deserve more attention concern the legalization of marijuana. One allows for medical use with a doctor’s prescription; the other essentially opens the doors for free toking. Now, if you drug-war hawks out there are worried that one of these might pass, rest easy: The potheads have been trying to get both on the ballot since 1970 with no success. This year, though, after a medical-use bill passed the state legislature twice, only to be vetoed both times by Gov. Pete Wilson, they really think they have a chance.
But things aren’t going all that well for them. At a recent rally in Los Angeles — on the grounds of the Federal Building, ironically, which is required by law to allow non-profit groups to assemble there — fewer than 100 people showed up and hardly anyone stayed for long. The reason? The rally was billed as a free concert, with bands performing all day, but apart from the bongo drums, stony silence reigned. One of the organizers admitted that the sound equipment had never arrived, probably because the guy who was supposed to bring it in his van stopped en route, got stoned, and fell asleep. This is a dopey way to run a campaign, fellas.
