Proposition 19 was a proposition by the State of California that, if passed, would allow people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. Confusingly, these activities would still have been considered illegal under federal law.
The vote on Proposition 19 was held on November 2nd, 2010. A tiny minority of only 3.8% prevented marijuana becoming legal in California. The only Californian adults ineligible to vote were those convicted or on probation for felonies, which, of course, includes anyone convicted of the very crimes that Proposition 19 was intended to eliminate.
Compelling arguments were presented both for and against Proposition 19, and high profile individuals were public of their support of both sides. In the end, Proposition 19 was unsuccessful in legalizing marijuana in California, but it represents a huge shift in public opinion on the acceptability of drug use.
