Oakland is a pretty progressive city when it comes to pot, what makes you think a lot of California won't be more restrictive? If this bill would have allowed a more free market I probably wouldn't be against it. Go tell the Napa Valley they can only have 4 vineyards and see what happens.
Speculation. I could easily claim the opposite and be just as right. Truth is some counties will pass good laws, others will pass bad ones. But if people stay active on the local level over time, these laws will get better.
Everyone has the right to get a recommendation which will restrict you less than prop 19.
Which is great. And you have that option with or without prop 19.
Some of the biggest. I understand that any reform is a step forward I just don't think this bill is a good starting point because it does not represent the people it represents special interests.
Legalization is doomed without commercial cannabis production. You don't have to like it, but you have to understand that money is what makes things happen here. It's pretty easy for politicians/law enforcement to bust average citizens. It becomes much more difficult when busting those people results in lower income for the local government.
Local government is much more willing to stand by growers/sellers if they are financially benefiting from the process and getting to approve what businesses are allowed.
I understand that it is a fact that some local governments are going to abuse that process, but other local governments will understand that is it much more better for them to allow a lot of smaller grows/dispensaries than a couple big ones.
When you invest your money in the stock market you don't put all your money in a couple of stocks. You diversify, spreading your money out so you can protect yourself in the case of one of those stocks doing badly. This really isn't any different and it will be made very clear once prop 19 passes.
It's a bad plan for cities like Oakland to allow 4 big businesses and shut everyone else out. Those big businesses are going to attract heat from the FED's and have big legal battles that stop production, lowering the amount of tax revenue the city gets.
By allowing more smaller operations rather than a few big ones, cities/counties ultimately get more tax revenue in the long run, and are not impacted as much if one of the businesses shuts down.
Local governments aren't just evil for the sake of being evil. They will see that allowing a lot of small businesses is rather than a couple big ones is in their best interests long term.