Legalizing Marijuana for all of California? Schwarzenegger says: 'Time for Debate'

[Rusty]

From the LAist
By Zach Behrens in News on May 5, 2009 2:34 PM



It looks like Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken the debate over marijuana to whole a new level, the Sacramento Bee reports:

The governor was asked about a recent Field Poll [.pdf] showing that 56 percent of registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenues for cash-strapped California. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has proposed legislation that would legalize the drug for recreational use, rather than just medical purposes. "Well, I think it's not time for that, but I think it's time for a debate," Schwarzenegger said. "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it. And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?"

It's funny how the need for government revenue can so easily change policy, or at least beget serious discussions.

Last summer, a petition floated around trying to get that very debate put on one of the state's ballots. So far, no news on that front, but this looks like it will cure that effort.

[Panama Girl]

Well, why do you think tobacco is still legal?

It's all about them taxes, baby.

[jtan]

Natherland or use to call Holland is legal to smoke pots there... The country seems to be ok. I am not a smoker and not a fan of smoking anything but I say why not! So far, banning creates more problem and drive up the pot price and thrive the black market and gangs...Legalize will make it cheap and may drive black market out of the business.
Smoke at your own risk

[Naomi]

I never realy liked pot but have nothing against (except when my 9 yo neice is caught smoking it ) I say it is a no brainer

[Missy]

I say go ahead and legalize it, but that will make my company beef up their "Random Drug Screening" to daily..

[Kid Lester]

You either want the tax money that pot smokers are willing to provide, or you don't.

People are still gonna smoke pot. By the millions, they are. So you can refuse their money on principle, or take it and put it to good use. Either way, nothing is going to be done to change the fact that pot is everywhere. Believe it.

[Missy]

Thats the thing u know how much money they could make by making it legal and taxing it,the only thing my dad is looking forward to about retirement, is smoking pot without drug tests, he tells me all the time, "Keep good contacts for me ,im going to need them in a few years"

[jtan]

I never realy liked pot but have nothing against (except when my 9 yo neice is caught smoking it ) I say it is a no brainer

9 year old smoking won't be the reason whether it should be illegal or not. That's parents duty to make sure they don't get into it...I don't think 9 years old can different between legal or illegal...
I don't like people smoking and throwing butts all over place...But again whether it is legalize or not...somebody gotta smoke...