Proposition 19

Field Poll: Majority of Californians Favor Legal Weed. OC? Not So Much

A tip of the hat to Michael Goldstein, scribe of the Weekly's Toke of the Town newsletter, for this scrap of good news: According to a recent Field Poll, 54 percent of California voters support legalizing marijuana for recreational use.Yay! That's a hefty 11 percentage points more than the 43 percen ... More >>

Lou Correa, Attorney General Candidate, Wants Zero Tolerance For Driving Stoners

Orange County's very own Lou Correa, the state senator from Santa Ana, knows a good wedge issue when he sees it, or rather them: stoners. Yes, stoners. Folks smoking marijuana, rather than drunk drivers, or teenagers texting, are the bane of our state's highway system. Why, studies have shown t ... More >>

Forget Medical: Colorado Legalizes Recreational Weed

If there's anything that Californians have learned in the 16 years since voters passed Proposition 215, it's this: medical marijuana is a mess. On the one hand, marijuana has gotten a lot easier to come by over the years. What used to be only available on the street or in a few scattered dispensarie ... More >>

Four Pot Legalization Proposals That Won't Help Orange County

Unlike Colorado and Washington State, where voters have a chance this November to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for consenting adults, California has no such proposal on the statewide election ballot this year. We had our chance two years ago with Proposition 19, but the folks backing i ... More >>

Dana Rohrabacher, U.S. Congressman, Endorses Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act

​Proving the truism that even a broken clock is right once (or maybe twice) a day, U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) is lending his support to a proposed bill that, as its name suggests, would allow state residents 21 years or older to enjoy California's world-renowned marijua ... More >>

He's My Brother, She's My Sister: 'Nobody Dances In This Town'

Mary Bell/OC Weekly​He's My Bother, She's My Sister is comprised of--you guessed it--siblings Rachel (vocals, percussion) and Rob Kolar (vocals, guitar), joined by a colorful group of rag-tag vaudevillian musicians and performers. Upright bassist Oliver Newell sported glitter eyeshadow, grandma gl ... More >>

Jim Gray: Voters Wanted To Regulate Pot Like Wine?

Photo by John Gilhooley​Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, Orange County's favorite anti-drug war crusader, is pushing a ballot initiative for next year that would legalize marijuana for adults in California. Like Proposition 19, which failed at the ballot box last November, his ... More >>

Joe Byron and Joe Grumbine Are Buds

The two thought they were doing the people of Long Beach a favor. Then they became targets in the city's weird war on weed

Legalize Pot, Say Geniuses at Global Commission on Drug Policy

​The Los Angeles Times, and just about every other newspaper that covers world news, is reporting today that the Global Commission on Drug Policy, an influential think-tank made up of world leaders, has just issued a report calling the war on drugs "a costly failure" and calling on the United Stat ... More >>

Bob Marley and His 'Songs of Freedom' Live On, Though He Left Us Far Too Early

The man and his music live on.​On Sunday, Jamaica's favorite son and reggae's greatest torchbearer, Nesta Robert "Bob" Marley, would be turning 66. His career came and went quickly but certainly left a profound impact. Though he passed nearly 30 years ago, his music remains just as popular, his me ... More >>

A Year of Navel Gazing: The Virtual Orange County

Looking back at 2010 on our news blog, one Top 10 List at a time

Rebelution of the Mind

House of Blues New Year's Eve bash features the stoner reggae-rock faves

TGIF: The Vandals, X, Los Lobos, The Angry Samoans, Kottonmouth Kings and More

Myspace.com​It's Christmas time, and that means 'tis the season for a lot of classic punk rock. The Angry Samoans are back to ring in the holidays this Friday night. Playing at the Doll Hut in Anaheim along with The Rocket and Scattergood, the Samoans may be one of the many bands who have gone thr ... More >>

The Year in Pot: Looking Back at Our Top Five Marijuana-Related Stories of 2010

​From the failure of Prop 19 to the various battles between cities and medical marijuana dispensaries fighting to stay open, 2010 was, well, the year of pot. Take a look through Staff Writer Nick Schou's picks for marijuana-related stories of the year after the jump.

Long Beach Medical-Marijuana Activists Sue the City

Anthony Gayle and Ryan Pack hope to make the city dismantle its cannabis-collective law

The Other Bong Drops as Supervisors Formally Ban Medical Marijuana Shops in Unincorporated OC

​As expected, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to formally ban medical marijuana dispensaries, pot-delivery services and any sale or distribution of cannabis within unincorporated Orange County.As with the preliminary hearing on the ordinance, Supervisor Shawn Nelson cast the ... More >>

Ziggy Marley's 'Wild and Free Singles'

ziggymarley.com​Following the 2009 release of his children's album "Family Time," reggae musician Ziggy Marley is making music "wild and free" these days. A new series of singles randomly composed by the singer-guitarist are being released on his website as mp3 downloads with absolutely no cost to ... More >>

Are Medical Marijuana Dispensaries a Convenient Target Now That Prop 19 Failed?

Illustration by Jay Brockman​Yes, short-term memory is challenging for many of you. But try extra hard thinking back to the not-so-distant past when marijuana legalization in California seemed to be a lock. Alas, Prop 19 was smoked in the statewide election earlier this month.Is it possible that t ... More >>

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Prop 19 Backers Set Sights on 2012

​Backers of Prop 19 say they will return . . . in two years."We plan to continue this discussion," spokeswoman Dale Jones said at a news conference in the Yes on 19 campaign's downtown Oakland headquarters. "There's a seat at the table for 2012," she confided. "This is not a matter of if, but when ... More >>

A Night to Dismember the Democrats

Election 2010: Scenes from some of the few races where Dems didn't get tsunami'd

Election 2010: Gustavo Drinks Through the Election, Or: Trashing the Dems and Bashing Whitman

​Updated throughout the day, with the freshest post on top. Click after the jump for vignettes on Barbara Coe, Loretta Sanchez, Meg Whitman, and Borat!Midnight. Drink of choice: Alka-Seltzer...my pockets hurt. Loretta Sanchez has pulled away by thousands of votes, but we'll wait until the official ... More >>

[UPDATED:] Election 2010: Coker is Spun, Polled, Teabagged

​1:28 p.m.: Orange County agreed with state voters on most ballot initiatives, although more of us did want to keep choking on polluted air until the unemployment rate drops and most like the state budget approval process to remain fucked-up, thank you very much (probably because many are philosop ... More >>

Election Aftermath: Songs for Stoners, the Tea Party and Losers Everywhere (Plus a Duet by Will Ferrell and Manny Pacquiao!)

​ If you're as bleary eyed (and dismayed) as I am from watching last night's election results, you're probably not doing a victory dance right now. So long, Prop. 19! (See you in 2012?) So long, Prop. 23! Well hey, at least we're still a blue state, unlike Illinois and Wisconsin--even though the l ... More >>

[UPDATED:] Election 2010: 4:20 Alert! Where's the Prop. 19 Party?

​UPDATED: With most current updates at the top. 10:30 p.m.: Okay, it's official. The Register is smoking some serious chronic. First they report that 60 percent of OC's conservative electorate wants to legalize weed. Now, the Reg is reporting that Republican senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina is p ... More >>

INFOGRAPHIC: Your Guide to Prop 19

Jay Brockman/OC Weekly​For all you unmotivated pot-heads waiting til the last minute to get the facts on Proposition 19, this just in: The election is tomorrow. Take a look at this trippy infographic designed by Jay Brockman. It'll fill you in on everything you need to know about the issues surrou ... More >>

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Who is Today's Celebrity Endorser of Prop 19?

​A national figure gave a ringing endorsement this morning to Prop 19, the Nov. 2 ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana in California. No, this is not a reference to George Soros, the multibillionaire liberal sugar daddy who this week announced he was donating $1 million to help pass Pro ... More >>

Marijuana Legalization Debated at CSUF, Local Christian College and Newport Beach Hotel

​Recent polls show marijuana legalization will go down in flames in California on Nov. 2, while some interpreting those surveys claim many voters saying no to pollsters will punch yes to Prop 19 once inside the voting booth, paving the way to victory.The votes of undecideds will be critical. Fortu ... More >>

Top 5 Songs to Celebrate Prop 19 (If It Passes)

Jorge Negreros​With just days away until the Nov. 2 elections, Proposition 19--the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act--is trailing badly according to a recent Los Angeles Times/USC poll. The survey found likely voters to oppose it by a wide margin of 51 percent to 39 percent. Prop. 19 bac ... More >>

Prop. 19: More Than a Nickel Bag of Opinions

Six leading OC medical-marijuana and pot-legalization advocates leave no turn unstoned in examining the ballot initiative

Doug Benson, the Most Motivated Stoner Since Cheech and Chong

​In my mind, comedian Doug Benson is the most motivated stoner to come along since Cheech and Chong. With a new comedy CD/DVD called Hypocritical Oaf (in stores now) and a Comedy Central show (The Benson Interruption) hitting Comedy Central on Nov. 4, Doug's flame is hotter than a Zippo lit bong b ... More >>

Kush Bowl Is a Stoned Groove

[Hole In the Wall] Yes, they have dish called the Wake 'n' Bake. But it's actually good!

Prop 19 Passage May Negatively Affect Mexican Drug Traffickers in Unforeseen Ways

​Mexico's drug traffickers would lose some customers but not much money if California voters approve the marijuana-legalizing Prop 19 on Nov. 2, concludes a study by the nonpartisan RAND Drug Policy Research Center. That's because Californians mostly grow their own already.

OC GOP is the "Marijuana Party": Duane Roberts, Green Party's U.S. Senate Candidate

​That wascally Duane Roberts is at it again.Last time we checked in on the Green Party nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Barbara Boxer and coveted by Republican Carly Fiorina, Roberts was labeling Boxer's party "anti-immigrant."Now, the Anaheim resident is saying the Republican Par ... More >>

2012 Election: Tea Party Out, Weed Party In?

​The California campaign for Prop 19 this November is searching couch cushions for loose change, but that has not stopped chatter to get marijuana-legalization initiatives on more state ballots to drive Democrats to the polls in 2012.

Dueling Sides on Prop 19 Trot Out Research

​As California voters weigh whether to support legalization of marijuana on the November ballot, forces for and against Prop 19 are stepping up the studies, statistics and rhetoric aimed at propping up their respective sides.

Jim Gray, Former OC Judge, Comes Out Swinging in Favor of Prop 19

​A law enforcement group claims passage of Prop 19, the marijuana legalization initiative on California's November ballot, would decriminalize an estimated 60,000 drug arrests made in the Golden State each year.So, who is the face of the nonprofit Law Enforcement Against Prohibition? None other ... More >>

Duane Roberts, Green Party Candidate for Senate, Endorses Prop 19

​As election day nears, we'll be running more and more coverage of what will likely be the most contentious ballot initiative this November: Proposition 19, which would legalize recreational possession and cultivation of marijuana for residents over the age of 21. Or at least that's what supporter ... More >>

South County Cities Go to Pot

​Pot filled two South County city council chambers Tuesday night.That is, separate issues from modern life in the cannabis age were taken up by the city leaders in Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo.

Mickey & Mary Jane Forge "Collective" Understanding at OC Pot Expo

​Odd couple of the weekend: Mickey and Mary Jane. The pair honored their union Saturday at the Anaheim Convention Center, as Hall E converted into a cannabis-centric kingdom of all things chronic. The event was billed as the "Know Your Rights Expo--Orange County's First Medical Cannabi ... More >>

Disneyland Resort District Goes to Pot

​The Happiest Place on Earth, meet The Highest Place on Earth.What is supposedly Orange County's first large-scale marijuana expo opens Saturday morning at the Anaheim Convention Center, which is, of course, directly across Katella Avenue from Disney's California Adventure theme park and the main ... More >>

Facebook: 455 Say No to Legalization, "Like" No on Prop 19

www.noonproposition19.com​Who is behind the opposition to November's ballot proposal of Proposition 19, legalizing, controlling, and taxing cannabis?Well, at a minimum, a whopping 455 supporters on Facebook and the grand total of 77 following on Twitter. Combined, that's roughly 75% of my graduati ... More >>

Pot Tax Weighed in City That Spawned the World's Cannambassador Snoop Dogg

​On the same November ballot that will have Californians decide whether to legalize marijuana, Long Beach voters will decide whether the city that spawned Snoop Dogg should tax recreational marijuana.That's right, not medical cannabis but recreational pot, the kind consumed by the pride of LBC and ... More >>

Feinstein Leads Opposition to Prop. 19, But Sting is For It and Rohrabacher's Not Sure

Illustration by Jay Brockman​Dianne Feinstein, our U.S. senator who is not up for reelection this November, joins Reps. Darrell Issa (R-San Diego) and Lynn Woolsey (D-Marin) and gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman in coming out against Prop. 19, the marijuana legalization initiati ... More >>

Buzz-Killers Claim Pot-Tax Windfall Blows

​One argument in favor of legalizing marijuana in California centers on the massive funds that can be generated for the Not-So-Golden State through taxing and regulating weed.Some go so far as to hail cannabis as the solution to the state budget crisis, which has now been here so long it has its o ... More >>