California marijuana debate

[Dimmauk]

Schwarzenegger welcomes debate over legalizing pot
Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Tuesday he welcomes a public debate on proposals to legalize and tax marijuana, which some suggest could provide a lucrative new revenue source for the cash-strapped state.

The Republican governor, whose term in office expires at the end of next year, was asked about the idea of treating pot like alcohol at an appearance in northern California to promote wildfire preparedness.

"No, I don't think it's time for that, but I think it's time for a debate," he said. "And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision."

The former Hollywood actor, who has admitted smoking marijuana in the past, cited his native Austria as a country where "they want to roll back some of the decisions that were made in European countries."

He said a decision to legalize marijuana, which has been outlawed in the United States since 1937, should not be made on the basis of raising revenues alone.

Schwarzenegger's comments come days after a statewide Field Poll found that 56 percent of California voters support the idea of legalizing cannabis for recreational use and taxing its proceeds.

A bill introduced in the state Legislature by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a Democrat from San Francisco, would do just that -- permitting taxed sales of marijuana to adults while barring sales to or possession by anyone under age 21. A similar regulatory structure already exists for alcoholic beverages.

Ammiano said his proposal would generate up to $1.3 billion in revenue for the state, which faces another multibillion-dollar budget shortfall just weeks after a landmark deal closing a $42 billion deficit.

He and others who support legalizing pot say such a move also would improve public safety by redirecting law enforcement efforts to more serious crimes and would end environmental damage to public lands used for illicit cannabis cultivation.

But in 2004, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have eased rules on how much medical marijuana patients can possess in California.

Voters in California, the nation's most populous state, became the first to approve the use of marijuana for medical purposes in 1996, putting the state at odds with federal law.

Under the Bush administration federal agents stepped up raids against medical marijuana dispensaries in California and other states that have passed similar laws.

But U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that the Justice Department under President Barack Obama has no plans to prosecute such dispensaries in those states in the future. However, Obama, who also has acknowledged smoking pot in his younger days, recently dismissed the idea of legalizing marijuana on a national level.

(Editing by Dan Whitcomb)


http://www.hardtimes.ca/files/images/ArnoldHigh.jpg

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I think this is would be a great step forward.

[Norelco]

There's no debate. Weed is awesome. Fact.

[Day]

God if they do this they better fucking do it right.

[Takedown3]

There's no debate. Weed is awesome. Fact.

holy mackerel

[Dench]

I'd go visit California immediately if they took care of this.

[CrosisX]

I heard about this weeks ago and honestly it would be a great idea if done correctly. Though the aparent rumors of the price for an oz of weed if it became legal would kill the street price. In NY its like 130/oz but the purposed price in CA would be 60/oz

[Killgannon]

I'd go visit California immediately if they took care of this.

I'd consider moving there. Super consider it, hell I'd probably do it, we have AT&T in cali, so I'd just need to find a job there and transfer :D

[Killgannon]

I heard about this weeks ago and honestly it would be a great idea if done correctly. Though the aparent rumors of the price for an oz of weed if it became legal would kill the street price. In NY its like 130/oz but the purposed price in CA would be 60/oz

its already cheaper on the west coast anyway. its 120/oz here in indiana for crappy mid grade poop garbage, which govt regulated stuff shouldn't be

[Dimmauk]

The main problem would be people buying in California, and selling it somewhere like New York. I had some friends that used to do this. They would buy cheap weed, then drive to New York and sell it for double.

[Day]

The main problem would be people buying in California, and selling it somewhere like New York. I had some friends that used to do this. They would buy cheap weed, then drive to New York and sell it for double.

The only problem here is that they aren't driving to VA =(

[grantlogan]

California is already bursting with welfare recipients and illegal immigrants, we don't need an influx of pot-heads...

[Day]

California is already bursting with welfare recipients and illegal immigrants, we don't need an influx of pot-heads...

Nice sterotype, strawman, and blanket statements all in one.

Here's a tip: The potheads are already there and have been longer than the internet.

[grantlogan]

It's still true.

[Dimmauk]

California is already bursting with welfare recipients and illegal immigrants, we don't need an influx of pot-heads...

WUT?

http://boxothoughts.files.wordpress....smoke_ms_5.jpg

[grantlogan]

What? You're telling me that there's already pot smokers here? I don't believe it.

[Dimmauk]

What? You're telling me that there's already pot smokers here? I don't believe it.

Nah, its a pic from the 70s of everything you described.

[Max™]

Dave's not here man, go away.

[Quixon]

Obligatory....


http://www.bjornk.com/mbd/files/medi...y/legalize.gif

[Hitoshura]

Definitely happy to be living in California. Even if this is years from now, I want it to happen. Can you imagine buying a pack of joints? Seriously, I wonder how much they exactly plan to charge. If it will cost more than getting it nowadays on the street.

[Cream Soda]

Even if it becomes legal, can u still get a job with it? For example, my brother has a prescription for medical weed, and his company policy still doesn't allow him to use it and he has to "beat" the drug test each time.