​A retired Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief, a previous San Jose chief of police and a former superior court judge from Orange County have all signed the official ballot argument in favor of Proposition 19, California’s statewide measure to legalize, tax and control marijuana.

“Outlawing marijuana hasn’t stopped 100 million Americans from trying it,” says the pro-legalization ballot argument from the veteran law enforcers. “But we can control it, make it harder for kids to get, weaken the cartels, focus police resources on violent crime and generate billions in revenue and savings.”

“We need a common sense approach to control marijuana,” the argument reads.

The signers, Los Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Stephen Downing (Ret.), San Jose Chief of Police Joseph McNamara (Ret.) and Judge James Gray (Ret.) are all members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition ( LEAP ), an international organization of police, prosecutors and judges who are working to change failed marijuana laws.

The three signatories are among dozens of California police officers, judges and prosecutors who are actively campaigning to help voters understand that the current prohibition on marijuana represents a grave threat to public safety by empowering the violent cartels and gangs that control the illegal market, according to Tom Angell, media relations director with LEAP.

A CBS-5/Survey USA poll out this week shows Prop 19 leading 50 percent to 40 percent among likely voters.