California Pot Backers Submit Petitions for November Ballot

Volunteers intended to submit about 700,000 signatures collected across all 58 California counties, campaign spokesman Dan Newman said.

The initiative needs about 434,000 signatures from registered voters to make the ballot.

The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults. It also would allow limited growing on private property and permit local governments to decide whether to legalize and tax pot sales.

''Our current laws aren't working. We should have learned from alcohol prohibition,'' said Oakland medical marijuana entrepreneur Richard Lee, the measure's main backer.

The signature were filed as a 15,000-square-foot store stocked with marijuana growing supplies prepared to open in Oakland -- another sign of the mainstreaming of pot in some parts of California.