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."
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Seriously though…that is some serious desperation if they're actually considering this. I think the "war on drugs" was lost anyway but if they legalize this then how soon until all recreational drugs are legalized? It could open an ugly Pandora's box.
In the immortal words of Luniz…
player, give me some brew an I might just chill,
but I'm the type that likes to light another joint like Cypress Hill
I steal doobies
spit loogies
when I puff on it,
I got some bucks on it,
but it ain't enuff on it
go get the s the t-i-d-e-s
never the less,
I'm hella fresh,
rollin joints like a cigarrette
so pass it cross the table like ping pong,
I'm gone,
beatin' my chest like King Kong,
it's on!
Woot!
blah… they've been saying this type of stuff for years and nothing ever comes of it.
It's been my biggest wish since I was in my early teens to be able to just go to the corner store and buy an ounce of pot. It'll never happen though.
The least they could do is allow it's use for other materials. There's next to no active drug in hemp and it would save millions of trees.
Maybe the Govenator (ie self proclaimed herb lover) will do something to save the bankrupt state before leaving office! How about decriminalize and taxation! That would be a lot smarter than trying to fight a losing battle. Think of the cash flow potential.
Oh god California, i'm out here in michigan - just wanted to thank all of you guys out there….soo true how he put it "How California goes, the country goes" and THANKS FOR THAT! How come they seem more open to new ideas and way of living life?!
Too bad it'll take so long, but i trust the new and improved outlook on marijuana use will move east…Keep it up guys!
Re: alideperu – …They legalized alcohol an cigerettes!! Those kill people.. too much prescription drugs kill people..WEED does not an its not harmful.. YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY never smoked before cuz it's always idiots like you that never tried saying it does this an it does that to you!! An you have no idea!! Get a clue
i think they should leagalize it! in my opinon alcohol is way worse than smoking weed! i could drive stoned anyday but i wouldnt dare drive drunk…..
Re: IAmASweetWalrus – how does pot kill people????
Re: IAmASweetWalrus –
Are you fucking stupid, name a time where weed has actually killed someone ?
It's a herb, not fucking cocain.
If anything, I'd say alcohol is much more worst then weed.
Re: leafcake – they "stuff babies" because it IS ILLEGAL, shit. Think about what You wrote - if it was legal there would be no more creative ways to smuggle because smuggling would not be needed…… "huge human rights violation it imposes
I don't smoke the stuff, but if it will bring in extra revenue why not? Sounds like people are buying it anyway, why not tax it?
What I don't understand is WHY is a state that has so many wealthy citizens and brings billiions in revenue from dairy products and fruit, to say nothing of having one of the highest gas taxes, etc…BE ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY?
I live in S. Ca and I just don't get it.
Re: Kimmers –
lol your welcome!
yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !
brilliant !
…….and kick a few of those funds to finance a free drug treatment center for people who get hooked on real drugs.
Hope it happens and Washington follows. California's tourism would definitely increase!
that would be great…. I am soon to be in cali annyway….whooooo hooooo
God, I hope not.
Then everyone else will legalize it..
Even Conservatives LOVE WEED. I'm ALL FOR legalizing Marijuana. Never the hard stuff like coke, herione, etc. (that stuff will steal your soul) but weed - yes. I've never seen a stoner punch a cop (I have seen drunks do this.) Stoners don't crash - we just miss our exits! I also gave up weed for LENT - and it was fine - I have to honestly say, I DO FEEL better - but look forward to getting incredibly stoned!
Re: JringoX – I really don't see that happening. Do you really think that the gov't will allow the "good shit"? No. People on the streets will still be selling better stuff and where do you think they get it? Im 100% sure that the gov't will regulate the kind of weed it gives to people and it will be anything but the good kind.
Its like porn, porn is legal but that doesn't mean all porn is legal (Child Porn). So the people that want child porn go about in illegal activities. The same will happen with pot, since there are different kinds and what not and the gov't wont allow all of it.
Its naive to think legalizing pot will fix all of the problems. It will create more problems if anything else. DUI's for being high, influx of children trying out pot because mommy does it etc. Its bad enough we have alcohol and cigarettes.
And though some of you claim pot allows you to work better and it effects you in a positive way, sadly that can't be said about everyone. I personally know some people that quit their job and lived in their car because they just wanted to sit at home and smoke and they could only think about the next hit. I am sure he wasn't the only one.
This could also create jobs for many and keep cash in our country that often ends up in mexican drug lords bank accounts.. as well as reducing court costs, police costs,dea ,and prison costs… then there is the wonderful hemp plant that can be used for many purposes… its time to go green
Legalizing pot in california can only do good. No one has ever died from marijuana use, it will boost california's economy, it'll cut down on cost of police and dea raids etc., it will cut down on crime…
I mean there really are no negatives. So to anyone who thinks thats not the case, youve probably never smoked pot and you dont understand the drug and how beneficial it is towards many different things.
Hells yeah!!
Its common since!
And for all you people who think marijuana really fucks your body up, then you realllllllly need to do some research on it.
1. Prohibition
2. Pursuit of happiness
3. Pot is the plant of life
=]
P.s. Fuck you conformist!!
-joop!