California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said during a news conference today that “it’s time for debate” on the issue of legalizing marijuana. Even though he doesn’t support the idea of legalization yet, it’s a first step. The governor was asked about a recent Field Poll showing that 56 percent of registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to increase California’s revenue.
Remember pot-friendly State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat who introduced a bill that would legalize cannabis for recreational use, rather than just medical purposes? Well, he says taxing marijuana could bring in well over a $1 billion to the state of CA. Well, Schwarzenegger warned against making harmful decisions just for the sake of raising money. He said some other nations have had negative experiences.
“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,” Schwarzenegger said.
In case you don’t know, Schwarzenegger is an ex-smoker who has a casual attitude toward marijuana. He was filmed smoking a j in Pumping Iron and told the Brit version of GQ in 2007, “That is not a drug. It’s a leaf.” Right now he seems to be an impressive smokesperson spokesperson for the legalization movement.
I totally agree with legalizing it and taxing it. Not only will CA gain $1 billion in revenues they would also gain.about $15 billion from the taxes not being spent trying to keep marijuana off the streets, but only if they completely legalize it!
Aside from all the medical and pharmaceutical benefits of THC, ordinary Industrial Hemp is one of the most versatile cash crops on the planet, totally ignored.
When the dust settles on Grand Theft, Planet, the plant will be instrumental in the creation of resource-based economies.
We need to legalize too end the billions of dollars of try to stop something that been going on for yrs and doesn’t ever seem like there a never ending supply and there so many ppl out there make some much that it redickuless and that spending so much on im always broke cuz hell im tell u a oz of bud doesn’t ever last me two week so have to buy another one it over two hunders $$$$ a month man this weed keep me broke because it so damn expensive too buy from a dealer. So many ppl rap about some many ppl who are doing it that jail will be all fill up i hate paying for some in jail just because they got busted for pot in not a drug not even a noaracotic cuz it not even man made so when cop ask do u have any drugs are noaracotic i have too say no cuz it not drug or a noaracotic