BEST news for people in California: LEGAL WEED

CNN Video:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/02/24/hln.seg.pot.economy.cnn?iref=videosearch


California would become the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana for recreational use under a bill introduced Monday by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco.

The proposal would regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis - all of which is barred by federal law.

Ammiano, a Democrat in his third month as a state lawmaker, said taxes and other fees associated with regulation could put more than a billion dollars a year into state coffers at a time when revenues continue to decline.

He said he thinks the federal government could soften its stance on marijuana under the Obama administration.

"We could in fact have the political will to do something, and certainly in the meantime this is a public policy call and I think it's worth the discussion," Ammiano said. "I think the outcome would be very healthy for California and California's economy."

A spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Agency in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on the proposal. A White House spokesman referred to a statement on a question-and-answer section of an Obama transition team blog that says the president "is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."

While Californians have shown some tolerance for marijuana, such as use for medical conditions with voters' passage of Proposition 215 in 1996, the proposal will face tough opposition in Sacramento.

A lobbyist for key police associations in the state called it "a bad idea whose time has not come."

"The last thing our society needs is yet more legal intoxicants," said John Lovell, who represents the California Peace Officers' Association, California Police Chiefs Association and California Narcotic Officers' Association. "We've got enough social problems now when people aren't in charge of all five of their senses."

But Ammiano's proposal has the support of San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey, who said the idea "should be the subject of legislative and public debate."

It also has the backing of Betty Yee, who chairs the state Board of Equalization, which collects taxes in California. An analysis by the agency concluded the state would collect $1.3 billion a year from tax revenues and a $50-an-ounce levy on retail sales if marijuana were legal.

The analysis also concluded that legalizing marijuana would drop its street value by 50 percent and increase consumption of the substance by 40 percent.

A spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, which advocates for reform in marijuana laws and is backing Ammiano's proposal, said any expected increase in consumption is a "false notion."

"They are making an intuitive assumption that a lot of people make that really does not have that much evidence behind it," said Bruce Mirken, the group's spokesman, who predicted it could take up to two years before the idea wins legislative approval.

"Don't tell me that doing something like (this) proposal is going to introduce another drug into society. That's a load of bull."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/24/BAO416354C.DTL&hw=marijuana&sn=002&sc=926

It actually may be passed this time, last year it wasn't but this time it could really help out California's money deficit.

WHOOT!

 

i live in california, any buyers? jk. might be a bad idea though

 

Lol wut?

 

I live in cali, so ya that's great. Obviously it won't be available for people under 21, the same rules for alcohol will be applied. But Now you're not seen as a drug addict by common society. And this hopefully will cause a chain of events when other states see how well it goes for us, that will start the legalizing process also.

 

Good news I suppose.
This could influence the fed's view on Marijuana and possibly cause nationwide legalization, and since Canada usually copies the US, it could be a better place here as well.

 

alcohol is easier to get then trying to get fail school. alot of teens will be using it if it is "controlled" like alcohol

 

Same rules for alcohol, and it looks like the charges for possession of marijuana under age will be the same as having a pack of cigarettes or alcohol.

 

Whatever helps the economy right? 1.3B a year? Screw the stimulus...

 

1.3B is probably a minimum, we could be looking at about 14B a year.

And the tax of 50/oz seems harsh, but the price would probably reduce so dramatically that we would still end up paying about half than we normally would for it.

 

Eh, I doubt the bill will actually pass. If it's going to take two plus years to "win legislative approval" there's probably a good amount of opposition. You also have to take into account in two plus years, California may be out of their large deficit. They're only in this for the money, and if they can make ends meet elsewhere, they will.

Sources?

 

there was already legal weed in california u were permitted to grow 1 plant some were, only for medical purposes
AND THIS IS ALL BECUZ ARNOLND SCHWAR. IS KEWL AS FAWK DAWG, AND CALI. IS STRUGGLING WITH $

 

There was not already legal weed in California, there was medical marijuana allowed to those who have club cards (which aren't hard to get at all).

 

If they pass it, its going to be government regulated..just like alcohol.

 

Yup, but that's not a problem. Just look at how well the government has managed to regulate alcohol for minors.

 

Yeah he's right. There's no way they are going to just let it roam the streets freely with minimal to no restrictions on it. There will most definitely be an age restriction and/or minimal places which will sell the product. I do think it might get passed though, California is quite the liberal state, especially including San Fransisco.

 

Heh, this is making me consider college in California

 

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!

 

I'm moving to Cali if it passes

 

I live in California, it's really easy to get even if this is'nt passed.

 

What? Please rephrase that