Senator Supports Campaign to Defeat California's Marijuana Legalization Initiative

The Los Angeles Times reported that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) supports a campaign to defeat her state's controversial marijuana legalization ballot measure, Proposition 19. Feinstein called it "a jumbled legal nightmare that will make our highways, our workplaces and our communities less safe."

The prominent Democrat, first elected to the Senate in 1992, signed the ballot argument against the initiative. Roger Salazar, spokesman for Public Safety First, said the opposition committee sought Feinstein's support.

"She's one of the most respected figures in California," he told the newspaper. "She has a great history with law enforcement and dealing with this type of issue. We're looking at a bipartisan effort."

Proposition 19 would allow adults 21 and older to possess, grow and transport marijuana, and would allow cities and counties to regulate and tax commercial sales. Most of the state's top elected officials and candidates for statewide office — from both major parties — are against the initiative.

In deciding to oppose the measure, Feinstein cited a recent report from Rand Corp., the Southern California-based research institute. The report concluded that about the only certain effects of the measure was that the price of marijuana would plummet and consumption would increase.

"In addition, there are too many unknown factors related to law enforcement and public safety," Feinstein told the Times.