Headline Of The Week Weak
"Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?"
What time is it? 4:20! CLICK HERE to read the article accompanying this headline.
[Image via WENN.]
Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?
Could marijuana be the answer to the economic misery facing California? Democratic State Assembly member Tom Ammiano thinks so. Ammiano introduced legislation last month that would legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale — a move that could mean billions for the cash-strapped state. Pot is, after all, California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion in annual sales, dwarfing the state's second largest agricultural commodity — milk and cream — which brings in $7.3 billion annually, according to the most recent USDA statistics. The state's tax collectors estimate the bill would bring in about $1.3 billion in much-needed revenue a year, offsetting some of the billions in service cuts and spending reductions outlined in the recently approved state budget.
"The state of California is in a very, very precipitous economic plight. It's in the toilet," says Ammiano. "It looks very, very bleak, with layoffs and foreclosures and schools closing or trying to operate four days a week. We have one of the highest rates of unemployment we've ever had. With any revenue ideas people say you have to think outside of the box, you have to be creative, and I feel that the issue of the decriminalization, regulation and taxation of marijuana fits that bill. It's not new, the idea has been around, and the political will may in fact be there to make something happen." (See pictures of stoner cinema.)
Ammiano may be right. A few days after he introduced the bill, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that states should be able to make their own rules on medical marijuana and that federal raids on pot dispensaries in California would cease. The move signaled a softening of the hard-line approach previous administrations have had to medicinal pot use. The nomination of Gil Kerlikowske as the head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy may also signal a softer federal line on marijuana. If he is confirmed as the so-called Drug Czar, Kerlikowske will bring with him experience as police chief of Seattle, where he made it clear that going after people for posessing marijuana was not a priority of his force. (See a story about the grass-roots marijuana war in California.)
California was one of the first states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Currently, $200 million in medical marijuana sales are subject to sales tax. If passed, the Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act (AB 390) would give California control of pot in a manner similar to alcohol, while prohibiting its purchase to citizens under age 21. (The bill has been referred to the California State Assembly's Public Safety and Health Committees; Ammiano says it could take up to a year before it comes to a vote for passage.) State revenues would be derived from a $50 per ounce levy on retail sales of marijuana and sales taxes. By adopting the law, California could become a model for other states. As Ammiano put it: "How California goes, the country goes."
Despite the projected and much-needed revenue, opponents say legalizing pot will only add to social woes. "The last thing we need is yet another mind-altering substance to be legalized," says John Lovell, lobbyist for the California Peace Officers' Association. "We have enough problems with alcohol and abuse of pharmaceutical products: do we really need to add yet another mind-altering substance to the array?" Lovell says the easy availability of the drug will lead to a surge in its use, much like what happened when alcohol was allowed to be sold in venues other than liquor stores in some states.
Joel W. Hay, professor of Pharmaceutical Economics at USC, also foresees harm if the bill passes. "Marijuana is a drug that clouds people's judgment. It affects their ability to concentrate and react and it certainly has impacts on third parties," says Hay, who has written on the societal costs of drug abuse. "It's one more drug that will add to the toll on society. All we have to do is look at the two legalized drugs, tobacco and alcohol, and look at the carnage that they've caused. [Marijuana] is a dangerous drug and it causes bad outcomes for both the people who use it and for the people who are in their way at work or other activities." He adds: "There are probably some responsible people who can handle marijuana but there are lots of people who can't, and it has an enormous negative impact on them, their family and loved ones." (See pictures of Mexico's drug wars.)
In response, retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, a longtime proponent of legalization, estimates that legalizing pot and thus ceasing to arrest, prosecute and imprison non-violent offenders could save the state an additional $1 billion a year. "We couldn't make this drug any more available if we tried," he says. "Not only do we have those problems, along with glamorizing it by making it illegal, but we also have the crime and corruption that go along with it." He adds, "Unfortunately, every society in the history of mankind has had some form of mind-altering, sometimes addictive substances to use, to misuse, abuse or get addicted to. Get used to it. They're here to stay. So, let's try to reduce those harms and right now we couldn't do it worse if we tried."
The Welcoming Committee Does A Little Decorating For Nadya
Jessica Simpson Is A CUNTry Singer!
YES, CANNABIS CARD ALL THE WAY.
I 'VE BEEN A CARD CARRIER SINCE 04,
ROLLIN ONE AS WE SPEAK!
LIGHT IT DON'T FIGHT IT!
Leave it to weed!
Word em up! California, here I come!
Come on Texas…………………………..
this is what AMERICA needs, to legalize… it will create jobs.. bring the economy more money.. the police will spend less trying to catch "abusers" of the law… and they can focus more on actual crimes
Sorry Stoner's It will never Happen…
Legaliiiiiize it babyy!!
think of it this way: it will put all those drug dealers out of business.
THERE WILL BE LESS PEOPLE ON SECTION 8 & WELFARE USING FOOD STAMPS AT WALMART WITH TONS OF BLING, 3 CELL PHONE LINES AND DRIVING MAYBACHS … LMAO ….
ROB THESE PEOPLE OF THEIR BUSINESS AND FORCE THEM TO ACTUALLY CLAIM AN INCOME, TAX IT, AND BOOM ECONOMY PROBLEM SOLVED LOL.
I don't smoke, but I bake it in brownies! I think it is an awsume idea!
YESSSSSSSSSS FINAfuckALLY YOU SEE THE TRUTH! POT SAVES AMERICA…
YESSSSSSSSSS FINAfuckALLY YOU SEE THE TRUTH! POT SAVES AMERICA…i can see the headlines now
This is bullshit! We need to find other means for fixing the economy, not ones that kill people. I don't care how many people get jobs, marijuana isn't the answer.
I just notice the weed leaf pic is next to eye drops, heehee, serious growing weed will help our economy !
THAT WOULD BE A BIG HELP TO CALI BUT YOU'D HAVE TO LEGALIZE IT FIRST AND THE SHIT STORM THAT COMES WITH THAT BATTLE WILL BE WORTH WATCHING!
bout damn time!!!!!!
I have been saying this for years. Legalize it and tax it, and you will make a fourtune!!
Marijuana should be legal. it's no worse than alcohol or the dozens of pharmaceuticals that get you way more fucked up and are hella easy to have legally prescribed to you by an doctor.
its about time dudes! We think its a dope idea!
ya hear that newwww yooorrrrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk?????????????
roll roll roll ya joint
twist it at the ends
spark it up
get fucked up
pass it to a friend
This news is like, two weeks old. But I think it's an effin FANTASTIC idea. It's practically legal already. We are in such a bad way in Cali!
Look Miss. IAmASweetWalrus. What kind of retardo are you to think that this kills people?
Tobacco, Alcohol, Cigarettes KILL people not weed!
Girl.. get your shite straight and do your research before posting stupid comments.
AHHH!!! Now that i got that out of my system!!
Legalize WEED!!!
It will make everyone get along.
Everything is going to be alright.. everything is going to be alright… LONG LIVE BOB MARLEY!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus –
You need to learn your fact before you start talking…no one has EVER died from weed!!!!.
Mind altering my ass!!
MAYBE IF POT WAS LEGAL WE COULD FINALLY SEE PEACE AND INTELLIGENT IDEAS. CONSERVATIVES JUST HAVE NO IDEA. IT DOESNT EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE EVILS OF ALCOHOL AND SCRIPTS.
IT IS IN A LEAGUE ALL OF ITS OWN. AND I BELIEVE IN MY LIFE TIME I WILL SEE IT BECOME LEGAL IN NJ.
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – weed doesnt kill ppl sweetheart…marijuana deaths per year are a reaported 0, as it has been alwyas. More ppl die a year from caffiene or asprin overconsumtion. Do a little Research, Search Dr. Melanie Dreher, you'll be amazed.
YA CANABIS
Look Miss. IAmASweetWalrus. What kind of retardo are you to think that this kills people?
***** Tobacco, Alcohol, Cigarettes KILL people not weed! *********
Girl.. get your shite straight and do your research before posting stupid comments.
AHHH!!! Now that i got that out of my system!!
Legalize WEED!!!
It will make everyone get along.
Everything is going to be alright.. everything is going to be alright… LONG LIVE BOB MARLEY!
IAmASweetWalrus NEEDS TO DO HER RESEARCH!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – HEY DUMBASS, MARIJUANA HAS NEVER KILLED ANYONE. DON'T BE AFOOL.
If the Gov found a way to profit AND appease the religious right they would have packs of doobies behind the counter at 7/11 tonight
Re: Fabulousity –
I agree, 100%! And I'm not even a user…
ITS ABOUT TIME!
Rip off a Pot dealer and see how fast Weed will get you killed
Re: Fabulousity – agreed if for no other reason than it would free up resources for more important shit than to fill the prisons with the "ever threatening pot smoker" ’cause we all know how dangerous they are to national security.
it certainly makes sense to make money off of it rather than throw money at it fighting it. As long as gov't has been fighting it, the drug is still the largest cash crop in California. You do the math, we cannot afford to keep fighting it and the so called "wars" are the result of making the drug "criminal" Let there be peace pipes on earth!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – Since when does marijuana kill people?
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – Honey your the second stupid person to say that shit in the last 2 months. NO ONE HAS EVER DIED OR CAUSED HARM WHILE THEY WERE HIGH ON SAUCE!! I've been a die hard smoker for 6 yrs everyday all day baby!!! puff puff Give!!! I haven't died yet!!! Bitches!!
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH US
We CAN CHOOSE OURSELVES IF SOMETHING WE TAKE IS BAD FOR US, go capitalism!!! FREE MARKET
Amsterdam's philosophy was that if you sell it in cafes it keeps the dangerous dealers off the streets. People who smoke pot are way less likely to come in contact with more hard-core drugs when they go to cafes. Which is why Holland's herion prob hasn't gone up unlike everyone else
it takes money fron teh dangerous dealers
Are you all claiming that not one single person has been killed because of marijuana? What about accidents that only occured because the person was under the influence? What about deaths linked to the distribution of pot?
And according to the BBC News site "Smoking pure cannabis is more harmful to lungs than tobacco, a health charity is warning.
A study by the British Lung Foundation found that just three cannabis joints a day cause the same damage as 20 cigarettes. "
So, don't call her stupid for not checking her shit. Weed is not harmless.
yes it can, but nobody wants to pay taxes for wacky !!! - i'd rather hit up the homey in Silverlake!!!
legalize that shiz!
Crip hop, we break it up
We drop it on the table and we rake it up
we put it in a paper and twist it up
and put a lighter on that bitch and get fuuuucked up!
legalize all drugs, why should lawmakers dictate what we do to our own bodies? If I overdose, eat myself to death on big macs, or die in a car crash for not wearing a seatbelt- that's my responsibility and my choice.
Why doesn't the government legalize it? It helps so many people
medically deal with pain, glaucoma, etc.
YES YSE YES, BRILLIANT IDEA, bring it to massachusettes
looks like i'm moving west for a job!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – last time i checked marijuana doesn't kill people. so LEGALIZE IT
IMASWEETWALRUS,
Weed is the answer, you ignorant whale.it actually has helped people, aka medical marijuana.
Legalize that shit bitches
Re: NYCluvsPrz –
I think youve been watching a bit to many of those silly truth commercials
Re: cowsgomoo23 – silly above the influence commercials i think you mean. but yeah i agree, smoking ciggs is nothing like smoking weed. Cigarettes have like terrible toxins and shit put in them when weed is all natural baby. granted the smoke is prob not the best thing for you but these days weed is the least of your worries. SO my advice to all is to smoke up
doooooooo ittttttttttttttttttttttttt
werd werd fluxy, good call :]
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – Since when does pot kill people? You can't overdose on it. It's less damaging than alchohol! You get in way less bar fights.
Doesnt anyone realize that mariujana can rescue the entire NATIONS economy? It would create so many job, eliminate a lot of crime. NO ONE has EVER died from it, you'd have to smoke your body weight's worth within an hour. IMPOSSIBLE.
It helps with MULTIPLE health issues. For me, it helps with my migraines, nausea (I cant eat most of the time), back pain, arthritis. WHY IS IT STILL ILLEGAL?!? Can anyone give me a reason besides "its bad"? NO! You cant! Because every "reason" why its still illegal has been completely disproved by SCIENTISTS.
The only reason those laws even came into being is because of some stupid "Marijuana Stamp" they made back in the early 1900's, making it impossible for anyone to get it. The police chief who decided on that crap only did it to seem like he was actually doing something about the crime rate. Its absolutely R-E-T-A-R-D-E-D.
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – No one has EVER died from it. Idiot. Why dont you try reading sometime? I mean besides that bible-thumper BULLSHIT your parents make you read.
It should be legalized….more than 85% of the United States admits to using or being ok with marijuana, so making legal will not have huge affects…the same people will be smoking the same amount. Medical marijuana is so important, it has helped my dad deal with his cronic back pain without the use of highly addictive pain killers. LEGALIZE IT!!!!
duh! i've been saying this for years. helps the economy, decreases crime, creates jobs, better's people - maybe more people will replace alcohol w/marijuana - what a wonderful world this would be:)
Fuck yea,i would go to Cali and buy…EVERYONE would.Tax us I dont give a fuck,just let us smoke it…legally!
Oh, I would also like to say that ZERO people have ever died from using marijuana…. 500,000 people die a year from abusing alcohol (this fig does not include drunk driving accidents) and 140,000 people die a year from smoking cigs and both are legal… there is no reason for it to be illegal.
Info can be found from the documentary called 'The American Drug War'
'Super High Me' is also very informative and has a lil humor too!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus –
Are you serious?? WHen's the last time you heard of someone O.D. from pot??
Of course it can.. it can save the whole economy.. its a multi-trillion dollar a year business.. they'd be stupid not to.
Re: Fluxy780 – Stimulate my mind So I TOKE IT UP!!!!! Dats right
Honestly, Marijuana is better then alcohol, any pain killer pill that you would take. It is not addictive, you can drive while under the influence(unless your smoking something laced or crazy). It is not a bad herb/drug. It makes you relaxed and happy. Ask any police office, when's the last time they went to a domestic violence or any fight for ppl under the influence of marijuana. You won't! Their calls that they get are drunks or ppl high off meth and crap. Potheads in general are not violent. I am a pothead and proud of it. I am an active member of my community. I am a hard worker and purchased my first home at the age of 20. ….bottom line is I think it would be great to legalize. We'll spend less money going after ppl who smoke pot, stop tearing apart families , create jobs, and make money off of it.
yes, it can help this shit economy. but the government are a bunch of assholes and they KNOW marijuana is just fine, BUT with all money put into the anti-marijuana campaigns, if they legalized it, theyd look like hypocrits and WE CAN'T HAVE THAT! fuck it.
i love maryjane
So if we legalize it yeah sure it'll help the economy but what message are we sending to generations exactly? Yes we'll sell something that kills you as long as we make money off of it. That's so fucked up.
I think Cypress Hill explained it best that no one has ever died or od'd from Marijuana. So hell yeah, I think it's a great idea! Why was it illegal in the first place?! I am planning on moving there this year so I hope they go through with it!!!! Puff, Puff, Pass!
Re: IAmASweetWalrus –
You realize its impossible to OD on marijuana right? You are more likely to kill yourself with tylenol or water.
Re: pinkhotluv – Agreed! LOL!
I agree we should make it legal! Long live bud!
Re: alideperu –
We sell cigarettes, fastfood, alcohol and over the counter medication that kills people everyday…marijuana is essentially impossible to overdose on unless you had artificial means, and its links to cancer is equatable to that of cigarettes at worst, and might not even be as bad, but laws banning research on this leave us in the dark.
The country tried prohibition before, and they failed then, like they are now.
What kind of message do we send to kids if we tell them that other drugs are legalized because of past politics, and less harmful drugs which false propaganda was spread about, and have doctors and scientist ready to put their reputation on the line in its safety of use defense?
Like I said when poor Michael got berated, we need to just legalize this money making machine named marijuana!
Re: NYCluvsPrz – that girl said weed kills you not people under the influence kill others, dumb ass!!! She is stupid and so are you!!! read what people put before you make remarks like that!! Everyone said there are no records of people dieing from it.
Re: alideperu – Pot kills people?? haaaaaahaaaaaaaaaa, I might die from laughing at that statement. Pot doesn't destroy your liver like alcohol does. Pot doesn't cause lung cancer like that crap they put in cigarettes does. In fact, many researchers now believe that the THC in pot blocks the enzyme activity that converts chemicals from smoke into the cancer promoting stuff. Ban alcohol and cigarettes and legalize weed - this country would be much better off. The pharmaceutical companies will never let this happen, though - they don't want doctors prescribing weed instead of anti-depressants and pain medicine.
Has anyone noticed that this is in the Visine aisle? Hmm…red eyes from smoking too much pot? Reform CA laws!
I know some farmers in Indiana that would love this opportunity.
2 minutes to 4:20 Peace out.
Re: hazel08005 – I like this girl…I am just like you and I still do everything I want in my life, have money, a car, and a job and I smoke weed. But I would never smoke it then go to work, I do it on my own time responsibly.
Re: alideperu –
pot doesn't kill.. why do you think all of the states are legalizing MEDICAL MARIJUANA. I'm an epileptic and marijuan helps my migranes/headaches. I also have lymes disease and this helps w/ my aches and pains. It also helps my upset stomach from all the damn medication i have to take. YOu honestly think alcohol , oxycodine, percocet are better. Shit kids can buy mouthwash and get high, they can get paint and get hight. Pot does not kill my dear.
Re: xoxo –
It's my nightly thing. I don't drink or take pills, i smoke bud. Guess what , I've had the same job for 5 years. I have two step kids on honor roll and they are wonderful beautiful kids. I'm not some bum, ya know!
xo
Re: hazel08005 – It my way of sleeping I really cant sleep at night without it and my boyfriend uses it like you do, he has some kind of disease in his stomach that no one can help him with so he smoke weed.
I hate when people only think stoners are lazy losers not true!!! Well some are but they were probably like that before the weed just made it worse haha
You know how much pot can kill you? About two tons falling off a skyscraper.
this would be a smart thing to do.
there's nothing wrong with weed!
Re: NYCluvsPrz – LIFE is not harmless
Yes, CA needs to legalize. Forget trying to suppress what cannot be suppressed! You cannot tell people what they can and cannot put into their bodies. Legalizing it would boost the bankrupt CA economy. Secondly, the raids would stop, which in turn mean less $$$ being spent by the feds to detain people who sit AT HOME to smoke a bowl or two? Or 3? THEN… all that $$ should then be used to EDUCATE children and help put people in rehabilitation. Spread the word that marijuana is for adult consumption only! Teach children that when they're of an adult age, they will have the choice of whether to stay away or not. Show them what the harms of dealing with alcohol & cigarettes & drugs. If you tell them NO, they'll find a way to say f-you and they'll do it anyway. Its dumb to think that we're trying to hid these things from kids, but they'll find out anyway… and when they do, you better hope that you've sat them down and talk to them about LIFE, sex, drugs… and a bit of rock and roll! \m/ We need to be filling our jails with murderers, pedophiles, rapists, and nut jobs who are out on killing sprees.
The Prohibition didn't work and making marijuana illegal still doesn't stop people from using it. The morality police are losing their "war"… EDUCATE people so they're not running their mouths spitting out lies about something that comes from nature and is not MAN-MADE! Like pinkhotluv says = LIGHT IT! DON'T FIGHT IT!
if they legalize weed, not only will it help the economy, but it will make america chill the fuck out!
Weed kills people?? LMAO… that is to funny if it kills you everyone in Amsterdam should be dead… I think it's a great idea Amsterdam is doing good and making money… why can't we.
Re: dannyboy12345 – Because if you don't have health insurance and have a heart attack due to excessive big mac eating, then the tax payers will have to foot the hospital bill. Same with not wearing a seat belt and overdosing on drugs. As a taxpayer I certainly don't want to foot the bill for moronic choices you made.
For the idiots saying legalize it because it eases pain, well medicinal marijuana is already legal in CA.
Though I agree pot in itself doesn't kill people, the process does. Same with all drugs. So many people around the world have been victims of drug trade. Babies being murdered and stuffed with drugs, etc. I can't support drug use for the huge human rights violation it imposes.
Yes cigarettes are more toxic, but it doesn't alter your thinking and judgment the way pot does. Alcohol sucks too, but we've tried the banning of that and it caused chaos.
It is definately TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! Marijuana should be regulated like alcohol. What an adult does in their own home is their own business. I don't want my doctor high or drunk when he or she is cutting me, but what they do when they go home is up to them/us. Just because you blow some doobage just not make you a criminal.
We could wipe out the ENORMOUS national debt if they would just legalize. Somebody you know smokes pot guaranteed and they function just fine. =D
we will have more jobs for illegals…
To the tard that says Marijuana kills people: YOU ARE A RETARD! Marijuana is safer than alcohol. It's completely ridiculous that something that grows naturally is illegal.
legalize it. regulate it. tax it. All the sudden, a lot of problems just dissapear. No more Mexican border issues, more agricultural jobs in the US, etc.
I'm all for it!
The Pill pushing companies will not allow WEED to go legal. Weed was smoked years ago and no one had a problem with it until the Holly-Than-Thou fucks decided they knew better, just like the DEMOCRPS do.
If only in Maine! Well, we usually adopt any law that Cali passes, so who knows, and as with Maine so goes the nation…
Re: leafcake – you are uneducated about everything aren't you? The whole point is to close the black market and stop any kind of violence involved. People would be better off if people like you smoked a doob once in a while! It has helped me better perform at my job at a gov't facility, I am their best worker , High all day long! I am intelligent and Happy, so don't knock the weed!
Oh, HELL yea. I'd move back to Cali so fast…..
anyone notice that the the ad in the picture is right by the Visine?
its all about peace love and harmony
weed is the way to go
ps-they are already taxing weed in cannabis clubs
ive had my card for a long time
and last year they started taxing it.
Marijuana should have been legalized years ago…
haha
… now excuse me while i go smoke a bowl while the phelps
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – so sad your brainwashed by the mainstream american media and you probably voted for bush when he was ur pres.
O.M.G. O_O
Are they gonna raise the tax on junk food while they're at it too??