Tough-on-crime measure officially qualifies for California's November ballot as rifts in Legislature mount

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A ballot measure to impose harsher criminal penalties for drug possession and theft, altering the controversial Proposition 47 passed in 2014, has qualified for the November ballot.

The measure, however, may be undercut by the California Legislature's Democratic leadership, which is pushing a package of bills targeting the rash of retail thefts across the state.