With the defeat of Proposition 19 last November, proponents of marijuana legalization and regulation are preparing to mount another initiative. This time the they are attempting to protect the ability of medical marijuana dispensaries to operate in California. Recent Justice Department crackdowns on dispensaries combined with the narrow defeat last November of 53% against and 47% in favor of legalization, has created momentum in the California legalization movement with an eye toward 2012. This new ballot push was announced today at a San Francisco press conference with many of the same players involved who helped put together Prop. 19 - California's voter proposition to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

Many feel that marijuana is now a mainstream issue in the state. Backers of the new ballot think that since Prop 19 the political climate has shifted. They believe that with additional education, voters will embrace regulated marijuana if not outright legalization. And with 2012 being a presidential election year, they are banking on additional voter turn out. There is also a sense of empowerment among advocates in having an existing financial infrastructure to help raise funds.

It still seems that several groups are vying for a leadership role in the campaign such as the Coalition for Cannabis Reform Policy and California NORML. At this point it is to early to tell which organizations will emerge in that role. However it seems that most of these groups are united behind having a state regulatory system that conducts inspections and licensing on medical marijuana growers and resellers. They are hoping for something very similar to what is being done in Colorado.

Federal authorities have gone on a witch hunt against the California medical marijuana industry. With the encouragement of the Obama Administration, California's US attorneys have recently gone on an indictment spree against various dispensaries and growers throughout the state. They have made threats ranging from property seizure to prison time. California must end all ambiguity in medical marijuana laws and help protect its medical marijuana industry against unwarranted federal intervention.