Marijuana activists seize on California fiscal jam
With California teetering perpetually on the edge of financial ruin, marijuana activists have seized the moment, claiming that legalising and taxing pot could help bail out the cash-strapped Golden State.
But critics are slamming the proposal, saying the social costs of a free-smoking state far outweigh the money it would bring in, and that a promised windfall from taxing marijuana sales couldn't possibly plug California's massive budget gap.
Voters are likely to confront the issue next year. Marijuana advocates say they have collected more than enough signatures, over 680,000, to qualify for November's ballot with a proposal to make California the first US state to legalise possession and cultivation of pot for recreational use.
Passage remains far from certain, even in socially permissive California.
Fifteen years after Californians led the nation in approving the use of cannabis for medical purposes, fierce political debate is raging over a recent mushrooming of medicinal pot dispensaries in Los Angeles and other cities.
In northern California towns like Arcata and Eureka, where pot has long been part of the social fabric and local economy, illicit growers have reportedly stepped up production to meet rising demand generated by the proliferation of clinics around the state of 38 million.
'PROHIBITION IS CHAOS'
Under the latest initiative, simple possession of an ounce (28.5 grams) or less of marijuana, currently a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $100 fine, would be legal for anyone at least 21. It also would be lawful to grow limited amounts in one's own home for personal use.
While sales would not be legalized outright, cities and counties could pass laws permitting commercial distribution subject to local regulations and taxes. Retail sales would still be limited to an ounce for adults 21 and older.
A Field Poll in April found 56 percent of California voters favor legalizing recreational marijuana and taxing it as a new revenue source to ease the budget crunch.
The state tax board found that California could collect $1.4 billion a year in taxes from a legalization bill proposed by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat.
He backs the referendum as a prelude to his own statewide bill, saying that outlawing pot has proven a failure.
"Prohibition is chaos, and at least with regulation you have some control," Ammiano said.
But critics warn that the social harms of legalizing cannabis -- from declines in work production and academic achievement to a rise in traffic and job accidents -- would likely trump any economic benefits.
"The carnage in this country due to alcohol and tobacco use is enormous," said Joel Hay, professor of pharmaceutical economics and policy at the University of Southern California. "Why we would want to increase the use of another product that creates this kind of damage is hard to fathom."
Hay questions the accuracy of revenue projections for Ammiano's bill, based largely on a 2006 Harvard University study that valued California's annual marijuana crop of an estimated 3.9 million kg at $13.8 billion a year.
'DEALING WITH CONSEQUENCES'
"I don't know that their numbers are correct. But whether it's a billion or a half billion (dollars in revenue), that number will be swamped by the cost to the state of dealing with all the consequences," Hay said.
The tax board's estimate assumes marijuana's street price would drop by half if legalized but that demand would rise.
Still, the $1.4 billion in revenues projected for the Ammiano bill would make only a small dent in California's budget shortfall, estimated at $21 billion for 2009-10.
Supporters say many of the benefits of legalizing pot are harder to quantify. They argue that ending prosecutions of marijuana possession would free up strained law enforcement resources and strike a blow against drug cartels, much as repealing prohibition of alcohol in the 1930s crushed bootlegging by organised crime.
Stephen Gutwillig, California head of the Drug Policy Alliance, said current law "makes criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens."
State figures show misdemeanor marijuana possession arrests topped 61,400 in California last year, he said, up 127 percent from 1990, while arrests for all other crimes fell 40 percent.
The ballot measure's leading advocate, Richard Lee, owner of several marijuana-related businesses in Oakland, also said legalisation could be for California what gambling long was for Nevada -- an added tourist attraction.
Lee argued that if alcohol, which he calls "a more dangerous drug" than marijuana, can be taxed and regulated by the government, "we can surely do it with cannabis."
But veteran political consultant Steve Smith said Lee's measure had an uphill fight.
"What you like to have going in is 60 percent support, because the high point of a proponent's campaign generally is when they start," he said. "If they're in the mid-50s, they have a chance of passage but it won't be easy."
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k. CAMILLERI
Dec 18th 2009, 18:35
In conclusion to all this, the people who sell the drug should be certified by the Government and the police should be more strict on who is dealing the drug so all people who are dealing the drug in an illegal way should be given a harsher punishment which means we will not find people being jailed for a copious amount of years for a single JOINT hence wasting the time of both the police and the court administration when they could be concentrating on worse cases. As also mentioned previously by other people the drug could be taxed which means the government will be able to reduce other useless taxes.
k. CAMILLERI
Dec 18th 2009, 18:31
Well Said..... C Borg adding to that There has never been a recorded case in the world of an overdose with the use of Marijuana. Secondly if Marijuana is tolerated like it is in Amsterdam, crime rate will decrease because the drug can be found easily hence it won't be interesting for people to abuse of. As mentioned previously by Mark Anthnony Vella, alcohol gives you worse of an effect than smoking marijuana hence it will not cause the fatal traffic accidents that alcohol has caused in the past. If marijuana is consumed not for medical reasons than yes it is bad but this is suppose to be a free country so we can choose what we want to do if legalize or tolerated, though it has its medical advantage for example helping to cure Asthma.
C.Borg
Dec 18th 2009, 16:28
@ MAV
Just because something is legal it does not mean you have to take it by force. Alchohol is legal but I do not consume it because it makes me sick. What you should be calling on is a better education for your kids in order to grow up and make their own desicions on what is wrong and right for them. Education and not prohibition is the key! And you tell me what good has the war on cannabis brought along? Thouasands of deaths, black market, harder drugs being consumed because they are more easily found and cheaper then cannabis, overcrowded prisons etc etc. This for a simple plant.!!!! Everything has its disadvantages if it is abused, just like coffee, chocolate and food!
Cannabis is not only for getting high! There are hundred of uses for this sacred plant including medicine, fuel and fabrics and yes it could be taxed and give a country some good news re its financial situation.....heh but malta is ok financially hux :)
D Cardona
Dec 18th 2009, 15:59
@Mark Anthony Vella
I never heard of a car crash cuz ppl where high. I never heard of a weed overdose.
There are people dying cuz they take anti-spasmodics, anti-emetics, anti-psychotics, anti depression pills, anti narcolepsy pills, anti erectile dysfunction pills, excessive alcohol and painkillers - i never heard of someone dying cuz of weed
check this link - http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=145
TOTAL DEATHS FROM 17 FDA-APPROVED DRUGS = 10,008
TOTAL DEATHS FROM MARIJUANA = 0
Mark Anthony Vella
Dec 18th 2009, 15:40
@ D Cardona
That's exactly why we don't need another way of abuse in our country with all the alcohol and tabocco related fatalities. Your point just proves that what i said is right! Just imagine the fatality rate increase in road accidents due to Marijuana and the increase in health fatalities as well.
Reason it up and be responsible.
Additionally, the drug war never goes as planned because most of the countries where drug lords trive have corrupt goverments officials that help them out. The drug lords and their army have no rules of engagment while the National army and Swat teams have civilized rules of engagment to avoid uneccesary fatalities and innocents being killed.
D Cardona
Dec 18th 2009, 15:18
@Mark Anthony Vella
you can get all those you mentioned by drinking alcohol and/or smoking tobacco, so there's nothing new.
Mark Anthony Vella
Dec 18th 2009, 14:55
I take it that none of the people below are parents!
What about the negative effects which far more surpass the positive ones?
Distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)
Problems with memory and learning
Loss of coordination
Trouble with thinking and problem-solving
Increased heart rate, reduced blood pressure
Hallucinations
Delusions
Impaired memory
Disorientation
Daily cough and phlegm production
More frequent acute chest illnesses
Increased risk of lung infections
Obstructed airways
this was just to mention just a few...........
The drug has many physical and psychological effects including loss of short-term memory and respiratory related illnesses. Additionally, we have enough accidents as we are, let alone if people would be driving stoned and do not mention Taxes because i'd rather pay more than have drugs legilized in the country where my kid will grow up!
Roberto Angelone
Apr 13th 2012, 19:35
hmm...apparently this parent in the link below has a different stance on those so-called erosive side-effects of Cannabis you quoted...(& this is just one of the many examples i.e. it's not a one-off thing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX-1D1-AADs
D Cardona
Dec 18th 2009, 14:31
AMEN
C.Borg
Dec 18th 2009, 13:38
When will our country come to terms and consider such changes in laws?? That would be a good day for Malta!!
Legalize the substance that has the least fatalities = 0!!!!
k. CAMILLERI
Dec 18th 2009, 10:59
Even cops say legalize Marijuana why? Check out this website: www.leap.cc (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) maybe legalizing Marijuana would be something out of the ordinary but we're in the 21st Century and things change.....and WE have to change with it to resolve it.
I say: DRUG ABUSE is BAD......... BUT THE DRUG WAR IS MUCH WORSE!
D Cardona
Dec 18th 2009, 10:04
Reasons why Marijuana should be legalized:
1. Legalizing drugs would make our streets and homes safer.
2. End prison overcrowding.
3. Drug legalization would free up police resources to fight non-drug related crimes against people and property.
4. Unclog the court system.
5. Reduce corruption of officials.
6. Legalization would save tax money.
7. Legalized drugs would cripple organized crime.
8. Legal drugs would be safer. Legalization is a consumer protection issue.
9. Legalization would slow the spread of AIDS and other diseases.
10. Legalization would halt the erosion of other civil liberties.
11. Legalization would stabilize foreign countries and make them safer for residents and travelers.
12. Legalization would repair U.S. relations with other countries and curtail anti-American sentiment around the world.
Please choose the reason of your report below: