The Gilroy City Council passed a resolution Monday opposing
Proposition 19, the November ballot initiative to legalize
marijuana in California.
The Gilroy City Council passed a resolution Monday opposing Proposition 19, the November ballot initiative to legalize marijuana in California.
The decision was split 5-2 with councilmembers Dion Bracco, Bob Dillon, Cat Tucker, Perry Woodward and Mayor Al Pinheiro voting in favor to oppose the measure and councilmembers Peter Arellano and Craig Gartman voting no.
According to the resolution, the council opposed Prop 19 due to employers being prevented from taking disciplinary action against employees who come to work under the influence of marijuana.
The city council also stated the passing of Prop 19 would undermine workplace and academic rules that dictate a drug-free environment and potentially lead to a loss of federal grants for businesses, colleges and universities.
The resolution rebutted the argument of Prop 19 supporters have championed – that legalization would bring net revenue increase to the state. The council cited a similar California assembly bill, which was assessed by the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit that provides research and analysis for policymakers, and ultimately showed potential benefits to the state were “illusory.”
