Marijuana Legalization Is the New Stimulus Package

In 1996 California became one of the first states in the nation to legalize medical marijuana. There is currently 200 million dollars worth of medical marijuana sales that are subject to sales tax. Marijuana is the state of California's biggest cash crop, bringing in an average 14 billion dollars a year in sales. There is currently a bill being passed through California's state legislature by Tom Ammiano that would bring in an additional 1.3 billion a year in revenue for the state. Ammiano's bill states that California should legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale. With unemployment down right now, this would create a new industry to bring new jobs to be filled, which would ultimately stimulate California's economy. Legalizing marijuana and thus ceasing to arrest, prosecute and imprison nonviolent offenders could save the state of California over 1 billion dollars a year. Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray states that "We couldn't make this drug any more available if we tried. Not only do we have those problems, along with glamorizing it by making it illegal, but we also have the crime and corruption that go along with it. Unfortunately, every society in the history of mankind has had some form of mind-altering, sometimes addictive substances to use, to misuse, abuse or get addicted to. Get used to it. They're here to stay. So let's try to reduce those harms, and right now we couldn't do it worse if we tried"(Gray).

First off, I see Judge James Gray's point with legalizing marijuana. It's always going to be in circulation and it makes one seem "cooler" to use if it's illegal. Especially with young adults who are looking for more acceptance among peer groups. On the contrary I still do not believe that it should be made completely legal for any use other than medicinal purposes. I think that the state should make other new stimulus packages to recessitate the failing economy. I do not think we should sink as low as to legalize marijuana to gain the state some extra cash. Giving in on the legalization of marijuana might lead to the state giving in on legalizing even more dangerous drugs just to earn more tax revenues. If the state needs money that bad maybe they should have a feed the children type concert to raise money for the state government...they could call it feed the Californians!




Stateman, Alison. "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?." Time 13 March 2009: n. pag. Web. 15 Apr 2010. .