The Latest: Pot legalization backers tout safety message

SAN FRANCISCO – The Latest on a marijuana legalization initiative proposed for the November ballot (all times local):

3:05 p.m.

Supporters of an initiative to legalize recreational use of marijuana in California say the measure will make it harder for people under 21 to obtain the drug.

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newson, an early and prominent backer of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, says the initiative includes tight licensing, labeling and advertising restrictions to keep anyone under 21 from buying marijuana.

It was among several arguments in favour of legalization delivered by backers of the proposed initiative as they announced Wednesday they had collected 600,000 signatures of registered voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

They had until July 5 to collect a total of 365,880 signatures.

Supporters also said the state will benefit from taxing pot if the ballot measure is approved.

Medical marijuana is already legal in California, which produces more pot than any other state.

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9:50 a.m.

A coalition opposed to legalizing recreational use of marijuana in California is launching a campaign against a proposed November ballot measure.

The group that includes police, unions, elected officials, small growers and hospital officials said Wednesday it will lay out legal loopholes that should concern even those generally supportive of legalization.

Earlier in the day, a coalition that includes former Facebook president Sean Parker and is backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom said it has collected 600,000 signatures, more than the 365,000 needed, well ahead of the July 5 deadline.

An official campaign for the initiative is being launched.

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6:30 a.m.

Backers of a marijuana legalization initiative say they have collected enough signatures for the measure to qualify for the California ballot this November.

A coalition that includes former Facebook president Sean Parker and backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the nation’s leading marijuana advocacy groups says it has collected 600,000 signatures, a lot more than the 365,000 needed, well ahead of the July 5 deadline.

Newsom, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018, and other supporters of the ballot measure known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act plan to launch the official campaign Wednesday in San Francisco.

The measure would allow possession of 1 ounce of marijuana and cultivation of six marijuana plants for adults 21 and older.

The initiative would also place a 15 per cent tax on retail sales of the drug.