Wanted to hear more student thoughts on Prop 19? The journalism staff contributed quotes and interviews to this story.
Michael Slemon, 12
“I believe it should even though it may not be the best thing, we have the right to make stupid decisions and the government shouldn’t intervene with that.”
Sam Caras, 12
“I don’t know how I feel about it. No matter what it’ll still be used, so I don’t know how things are going to change.”
Alex Root, 11
“Yes [it should be passes]. I just don’t see it as that much of a harm.”
Omar Balderas, 10
“I think it’s great because marijuana is much healthier than cigarettes are, which contain a lot of chemicals. I think it should be reversed; cigarettes should be banned because they cause cancer, while marijuana doesn’t have as many harsh substances.”
Savannah King, 12
“I think it should be legalized, it’s similar to alcohol, they’re basically the same thing. Plus the taxes are good for the government.”
Grace Blakistone, 12
“It’s not detrimental to your health, and it’s a huge waste of money when illegal.”
Jorge Beltran, 9
“I’m not in favor of it. Marijuana just makes you dumb. It’s not good for your health and kills brain cells.”
Sarah Gallagher, 10
“Drug trafficking and trouble people get into are worse than smoking.”
Daniel Alguire, 11
“I think it should pass because it is proven that marijuana is less harmful than cigarettes.”
Dakota Speas, 11
“In the end, I’m ultimately opposed to the proposition. I think it will do people more harm than do good. I’m aware of the argument that legalizing marijuana could generate revenue for the state, but due to the host of health complications to the individual, I don’t think it would be ethical for the state to generate revenue. For instance, male and female infertility can result, and in some cases it might be a gateway drug. The risk is not worth it.”
Tiffany Lamken, 10
“No [it should not be passes] because it’s just really stupid. It’s just going to make it so that people can do drugs a lot easier, and that’s lame.”
Angela Paddy, 11
“I don’t really think prop 19 should be passes because marijuana is wasteful and pointless, and opening it up to the general public is wrong.”
Will Chu, 11
“I do not think it really matters either way.”
Megan Hatfield, 11
“We should not pass prop 19 because society does not need that. Especially not right now, in a time like this.”
Jenai Machhi, 11
“No [it should not be passed] because it is not needed in our society.”
Brenda Salings, 11
“No [it should not be passes]. Drugs are bad.”
Alex Zonich, 9
“It would stop drug killings in Mexico.”
Drew Goldberg, 12
“Medical marijuana should be legalized to help cancer patients. I don’t think marijuana should be easily accessed for anyone though because it would lead to a lot of problems, like dangerous driving.”
Karen Oviedo, 11
“I think it shouldn’t be legalized because a lot of people would be affected negatively and it would worsen a lot of problems that we already have with drug use.”
Manon Woghan, 9
“More people will start to use [pot] because they think that it’s alright.”
Sessy Phillipy, 9
“Everybody will be doing it,” said Phillipy. “It’s really bad.”
Megan Noonan, 11
“I don’t think it should be passed. I think that people would be using it for the wrong reasons.”
Tamzin Elliot, 12
“If passed, there would have to be regulations in public. If you treat it like alcohol, and keep it for ages 21 and older, you can see how good things could come from it. But like alcohol, it would make things more dangerous on the road. You would have to keep really strong restrictions on it. I could see it helping.”
Brendan Carruthers, 11
“I think it shouldn’t pass. Legalization of marijuana will create an entire population who use marijuana. We will have more accidents regarding people who need to focus. There will be higher crime rates which lead to more problems.”
Daniel Podgorski, 12
“I believe it should be passed because it would deter persons who use it as a means of rebellion or as an act of contempt against the law.”
Dylan Payne, 11
“So I’m against the legalization because even thought it will make it legal for people over 21, the people under 21 still get it from sources unexplained… If more people smoke then they will just sit around and there would be no ambitions in the world, and the crime rates would go up.”
Harper Crickmore, 11
“It depends if you need it for medical reasons or something, but it’s sketch.”
Emmy Estevez, 10
“With all the benefits, it makes sense. It would stop the border thing and it would help with crossing the border. It would also benefit the economy too with larger taxes.”
Bria Young, 10
“I guess it makes sense, just because there’s more benefits. Less people will use it illegally.”
Sean Conklin, 10
“If we say no, then everything will be the same, but if we say yes, there won’t be as much drug violence.”
Sam Meier, 10
“If we did pass it, it would save money from people going to jail for marijuana, but it wouldn’t change much else, and maybe give the government more money.”
Claudia Guzman, 11
“I think it’s pointless, people aren’t going to stop. People who are 21 are going to get it and sell it like alcohol to minors.”
Michael Bannock, 10
“It’s a bad choice to use drugs, but it is people’s right. It’s whether or not we want overcrowded prisons or support drug groups. It’s a necessary evil.”
Selena Stribling, 12
“It should be, it is for medical use already so anybody can get a card anyways. Same thing as alcohol, really. Very easy to attain as it is.”
Bridey Hicks, 11
“I think it would lower a lot of chances of getting arrested, there would be less problems.”
Rita Eick, 12
“It can help a lot of people if it is used right.”
Riley Rowe, 10
“No, it shouldn’t [be passed]. It’s going to get out of hand and people will misuse it improperly.”
Wesley Chapman, 11
“It shouldn’t be legalized. Once it is legalized people are going to think it’s okay, and more people will try it and become addicted to it.”
Jesse Trout, 12
“This would increase the driving accidents since it is something you can be under the influence of [easily]. Pot is really addictive, and regular cigarettes don’t affect your thinking ability. And it’s just as harmful as tobacco if not worse. It would actually increase the amount of arrests of driving under the influence. I don’t see people working well under the influence.”
Tammy Collins, 12
“It would give people the ability to run around high. It’s like drinking, you aren’t supposed to be walking around in public drunk. It shouldn’t be a public thing like smoking.”
Erin Rosenburg, 11
“People are going to break the laws anyways and people already go behind other laws and there are parts of the law that people are still going to go around. It’s illegal for a reason.”
Or’el Anbar, 11
“I believe it’s sensible to pass prop 19. Truth is if someone enjoys using marijuana for recreational purposes they will more likely then not use it anyways. Passing prop 19 will just separate marijuana from its overly hyped bad reputation.”
Jake Taylor, 11
“Yes [it should be passed] because it’s good.”
Joe Hamamoto, 10
“Yes [it should be passed] because people already do it.”
Brook Mitchell, 10
“Conditions now shouldn’t be changed. Just like another cigarette, pointless, harmful.”
Melina Selinez, 9
“It should be allowed, people should be able to use it but not abuse it. I don’t think marijuana is bad. Why have it as illegal if people do it anyway.”
Johnny Ford, 12
“I think it’ll bring down crime rate. It’s no as serious of a drug as crack. You can over dose on alcohol, but that’s legal.”
Austin Stubbs, 11
“It should be legalized because it’s not a drug. If alcohol and tobacco are legal then marijuana should be too. America is contradicting itself for allowing alcohol and tobacco.”
Abbey Novak, 9
“It will be easier for some kids to get it, and that’s not a good thing.”
Annie Goodstein, 9
“It might reduce the use of it because there’s no thrill of the chase involved.”
Keaton Crow, 9
“It’s a terrible drug and should not be legalized.”
Lexie Marty, 11
“I don’t really know why, but it should be legalized.”
Kyle Thompson, 10
“Yes [it should be legalized] because it can be used for good, not just drug abuse.”
Evan Eichenberg, 11
“It’s good in one way, but bad in another. The reality is everyone does it, so in that sense it wouldn’t make a difference and it will boost the economy because of the money it generates. Overall the positive sides outweigh the negative. It would be a good idea for now, and if it doesn’t work out it can always be made illegal again.”
Maia Rosengarten, 11
“Prop 19 should be passed because unlike with cigarettes, there aren’t any health risks. It isn’t very hard for people to get marijuana illegally, so if people want to, they do already. Legalizing marijuana won’t make people who aren’t interested in smoking suddenly interested in it, so the only thing that would really change is the government making revenue from taxes.”
Allison Flores, 12
“I think that the whole thing is kind of like drinking, you know it’s out there, just don’t be stupid with it.”
Yesenia Mentado, 12
“People are probably just going to use it for teh wrong way and not the right way, so I am opposed [to prop 19].”
Vanessa Lee, 9
“I am for it, everyone already does it so let’s use it legally. That way money doesn’t go to drug dealers and marijuana can be taxed to give money to the government.”
Sam Pasko, 10
“That’s going to make life hell. It would basically let people walk around stoned.”
Derek Miller, 12
“I’ve been hearing some bad stuff about marijuana and about what scientists use on that. I disagree that it should be done so that everyone can stay healthy.”
Olivia Goldstein, 11
“I think [legalizing marijuana] would help the economy.”
Paige Kutilek, 11
“I think if it’s legalized, taxing it a lot is important.”
Mary Grethel, 11
“A lot of people would really like the government!”
Kiana McCune, 12
“From what I’ve been told, decriminalizing [marijuana] is better then legalizing it.”
Sarah Little, 12
“There are pros and cons.”
Summer Foster, 12
“It would give the government back money. Better for misdemeanors, more jobs.”
David Ball, 12
“Yes, I think it will calm down all the drug issues. It makes sense and yeah, it should be watched for younger people since teenagers are more susceptible to going crazy. It will help the economy, lots of people spend money on weed, and it’s a good source of revenue. It’s not like we should legalize cocaine or something killing people every year. No one dies from weed unless someone gets shot over it or something. California is more lax and accepting of it since it’s a super liberal state.”
Matt Dalrymple, 12
“Yes [it should be legalized] because the government doesn’t have the right to uphold moreal boundaries and it isn’t worse than other intoxicating elements.”
Blaire Meredith, 12
“It would be really helpful for people who need it for medical reasons. It won’t be shunned. I think it should be legal for the people who need it.”
Haley Jo Lewis, 12
“It would help the government and bring down the crime involved with it.”
Tanya Koralton, 11
“I think yes because people wouldn’t have to go behind other people’s back. It could make money. It could cure the problems of the world.”
Jordan Hardman, 11
“I say yes because it’s more good than bad. It makes everything better.”
Joanna Lamadrid, 12
“It would be harder for little kids to get it because gangs would have less incentive to sell it on the street.”
Michael Meier, 10
“I’m strongly against prop 19. It ruins your school career.”
Nick Fidel, 12
“I think it should be legalized. It should be up to the citizen to decide whether he wants to smoke or not, instead of the government. I think any kind of prohibition will not work. It will just create gang related crimes and there will be more innocent people in jail.”
Beau Davis, 11
“Even though I’m not a user, I strongly believe that this nation would be out of debt much faster if we legalize marijuana. All the jobs for marijuana farmers would help get us out of debt faster. Finally, legalizing marijuana would put a great stake in the heart of the cartel. Which in turn, would decrease violence in Mexico and would relieve some of this strain on border control. In conclusion, the legalization of marijuana would greatly benefit California and the rest of the nation.”
Ryan Kelly, 11
“I’m for prop. 19. I think that if something like alcohol has been legal for so long, that marijuana should be legalized because it’s less dangerous. However, I believe it they think they can keep it under control, they’re wrong. On a happier note, it would create a more relaxed community to chill in.”
Ariel Jones, 12
“I’m okay with it, as long as it’s medical and people don’t go overboard and abuse it.”
Katherine Joplin, 12
“I don’t support it, except for medicinal use. It’s a gateway drug, and I think it would be deprivation of our morals.”
Kyle Shumate, 12
“I agree with legalizing it, because I think people only use it now because it’s illegal and people are rebelling in a way. If it’s legalized, less people will use it and people won’t want to rebel. Eventually society will be accepting of it.”
John Faddis, 11
“People would look at other countries [who have legalized marijuana] and say it’s okay, but in America, I think people will overuse it.”
Huamin Bai, 11
“I don’t really care. It won’t affect me.”
Nick Ryan, 11
“Legalizing marijuana is a good idea because of the taxes. California would also gain a lot of money. If they did, they would get fifty percent of the taxes.”
Kolten Horner, 11
“I think that legalizing marijuana has more positive aspects than negative, you would in effect cut budgeting for police enforcement, make at least a billion dollars in tax revenue, and cut off the drug trade between Mexico and America, also eliminating the major drug wars that have been a large problem in border towns. And besides, have you every seen someonerob a bank or murder another person on marijuana?”