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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Sunday, March 01, 2009

As good a time as any

An assemblyman in California floated the idea of legalizing marijuana for the tax money.

Financially, it's probably not a bad time for that, especially if you look at the huge police, court, and jailing expenses.

4 Comments:

  • While it is a very good idea, for that very reason there will be no legislature smart enough to pass it.

    By Blogger Lew Scannon, at 10:28 AM  

  • should have been done in the 70s.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:41 AM  

  • Somewhat along these lines, the Administration will no longer raid marijuana dispensaries (medical marijuana).

    The key is the federal government. If a State were to legalise, retailers and suppliers would have to be certified and licensed - if only to collect taxes. This would automatically give the federal government the names and addresses to raid these people.

    Without a statement from the Justice Dept. that federal laws on marijuana would not be prosecuted in any State that legalises (like the medical marijuana situation cited above), no State would be able to take this move.

    So it's up to Obama/Holder to make the first move in this game.

    By Blogger Todd Dugdale , at 11:09 AM  

  • It'll probably never happen in the political near term because 1) There is political hay to be made shouting law and order, and 2) Stoners are a very low voting turnout group.

    ....

    Todd, I saw that. Generally speaking, I'm not an expert enough to wade into drug policy, but I am a believer in controlled marijuana legalization.

    Personally, I don't smoke, but I believe in the economics of it, just in the legal costs of police, prosecution, and imprisonment incurred by the current system.

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 12:43 PM  

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