Report From Panel Led By Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom Lays The Groundwork For Legalizing Marijuana In California

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – California has some major questions to answer before it tries to legalize marijuana, that according to a report released by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy.

The panel is led by Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and was formed in October 2013, based on the likelihood that a marijuana legalization initiative would be placed on the 2016 statewide ballot.

The report, released on Thursday, looks at a number of issues that need to be considered in anticipation of a ballot measure, a process Newsom said he wishes could be explored for all controversial ballot measures before they go to voters.

"It's absolutely essential we do this right. It's essential we ask and answer these tough questions," he said.

Among the questions raised by the commission looking? "Does a 25 percent tax work for us? It may work for Colorado and Washington state, but does a 25 percent tax really get rid of the black market," Newsom said. "Does it get rid of the drug cartels, does it get rid of those street corner drug dealers?"

Newsom said perhaps California should start with a lower tax rate.

Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy Progress Report

He said the authors of the measure should also consider how driving under the influence of legal marijuana will be handled, what impact the law would have on medical marijuana, and how to keep kids from using legalized pot.

"We didn't know about the issues of edibles. They're not necessarily regulated, they're not as transparent in terms of what's in them as it should be," Newsom said. "They're being marketed to kids in candy form and the like. That's something as a parent I'm concerned about."

There will be three public forums before the commission issues its policy recommendations in four months.

In:
• Marijuana
• Gavin Newsom
• California
• San Francisco