Californians may not be ready to legalize pot, but they don’t think anybody should be going to jail for using it, either. That’s what extensive surveys say, according to San Francisco political consultant Bill Zimmerman, and that’s why he’s running an initiative to give the people what they want.
On Tuesday, the California Secretary of State announced that Zimmerman’s “Reduced Marijuana Penalties” initiative may circulate. The initiative limits punishment to a $250 fine or community service for possession, cultivation, sale, or transportation of up to two ounces of marijuana. It retains existing penalties for marijuana offenses on school grounds and for offenses involving sale to a minor, employment of a minor in a criminal marijuana enterprise, and driving under influence of marijuana. It makes property forfeiture laws inapplicable to marijuana offenses involving two ounces or less. It also retains laws regarding marijuana in the workplace, driving under influence, and medical marijuana.
Not a reason for jail, say most Californians Credits: EBE file photo 
California cops: addicted to arresting the young and brown for pot Credits: EBE excerpt
The proponents now have 150 days to circulate petitions for this measure, meaning the signatures must be collected by April 5, 2012.
Zimmerman said his group spent a great deal of time and money on public opinion research polling after Prop 19 and found:
