California: Legalize It
What do you do when you’re a state faced with crippling financial problems and a populace smart enough to support legalizing recreational marijuana use? You take steps to legalize marijuana for recreational use!
From the New York Times:
Tax officials estimate the legislation could bring the struggling state about $1.4 billion a year, and though the bill’s fate in the Legislature is uncertain, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has indicated he would be open to a “robust debate” on the issue.
The Governator has made a bunch of mistakes during his time in Sacramento. But the man is more pragmatic than most politicians.
I’ve discussed both the harmful effects of the War On Drugs and the potential financial windfall available upon legalization many times at JonahKeri.com.
Kudos to California for making significant strides. Recent legislation tells us that the state wasn’t quite ready to become a gay-loving commune of hippie love just yet. That’s unfortunate.
But it could soon become a pot-smoking commune of hippie love. And that’s a great start for civil liberties lovers.
Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, End the War On Drugs!, Marijuana legalization
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29 October 2009 at 12:13 pm
Awesome! It only sucks that you need to have financial reasons to realize this.
BTW: Can you rename L. A. to New New Amsterdam then?
29 October 2009 at 12:32 pm
Agreed that there are plenty of good reasons to legalize aside from financial. But sound policy enacted in desperate times still counts as sound policy.
Especially given all the colossal errors our political system continues to make on a daily basis.
29 October 2009 at 6:00 pm
A million times yes. I actually don’t think the financial windfall would be *that* great for legalized marijuana (though every little bit of money helps), and I kind cringe at the idea of creating an industry that will be dedicated to creating stoners… but, whatever, I’m being nitpicky. Obviously I’m all for it. I hope they would also legalize the ability to grow you own.
The law enforcement unions will be up in arms in opposition, though, so I’ll remain skeptical of anything happening. But I can cross my fingers.