An initiative to legalize marijuana in California has collected enough signatures to get the issue on the 2010 ballot.

The collection of signatures was managed by a professional signature-gathering firm and obtained 680,000 signatures, 57% more than the 433,971 that were required.

If passed, the legislation would allow cities and counties to adopt their own laws that would allow marijuana to be grown and sold.  They would also be able to impose taxes on the production and sales of the legalized marijuana.  Under the law, those over 21 years old would be allowed to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow it in a 24-foot area for personal use.

A poll taken in April found that 65% of California voters support the legalization of marijuana.

Medical marijuana is already legal in California and the Obama Administration, which oversees the DEA and other federal law enforcement agencies, has said that it will not go after medical marijuana providers or users that follow state law.

California was the first to outlaw marijuana in 1913.  It was the first to approve medical marijuana in 1996.  Will it be the first to legalize and decriminalize marijuana?

(via L.A. Times Blogs)

Tags: California, Medical Marijuana, Obama Administration