BREAKING NEWS–Governor Schwarzenegger Ready to Debate Legalization

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.