The economy is going to pot — at least in the state of California.
A California state assemblyman, Democrat Tom Ammiano, recently proposed legislation that seeks to legalize marijuana. It’s an effort that he and many across California hope will ease the state’s dire financial crisis.
Financial experts estimate the legalization of the illicit drug could add an additional $1.3 billion to the state’s yearly revenue.
The state has had to cut billions of dollars in state programs and services. The revenue from legalizing, selling and taxing pot could alleviate many of those costs.
Currently, marijuana is California’s biggest cash crop. The drug produces more than $14 billion in sales annually just in California. The state’s next biggest commodity, milk and cream, produces $7.3 billion in sales.
The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act, the official name of the legislation, will likely not be voted on until next year. Even still, both sides have started their campaigns.
The Marijuana Policy Project recently sponsored commercials advocating the decriminalization of pot in California. Some networks refused to air the commercials.
“We are astonished that three major California TV stations chose to censor a discussion that Governor Schwarzenegger has said our state should have on an issue supported by 56 percent of voters, according to the field poll,” said Aaron Smith, the project’s policy director in California.
“The 2 million Californians who use marijuana in a given month deserve to have their voices heard — and their tax dollars should help solve the fiscal emergency that threatens our schools, police and parks,” Smith said.
Political commentator Glenn Beck has come out in support of legalizing marijuana across the country.
“I think it’s about time we legalize marijuana,” Beck said during his TV show on Fox news.
“We have to make a choice in this country. We either put people who are smoking marijuana behind bars, or we legalize it.”
Joel W. Hay, professor of pharmaceutical economics at University of Southern California, is an opponent to the movement, citing the negative affects of such substances on society.
“It’s one more drug that will add to the toll on society,” Hay said. “All we have to do is look at the two legalized drugs, tobacco and alcohol, and look at the carnage that they’ve caused.”
BYU students from California are also split on the issue.
Maryvonne Whitworth, a senior from Valley Center, Calif., said she doesn’t support legalizing marijuana.
On the other hand, Katelin Goings, a senior from California studying advertising, said she isn’t opposed to the legalization of pot.
“I don’t have a problem with it,” she said.
In her view, it’s less harmful than legal substances like alcohol.
“I feel like they’ve been trying to legalize marijuana for years so this is just another excuse for them to try and get it legalized,” Goings said, referring to the state government’s argument for increased revenue from the sale and taxation of marijuana.
She said she also thinks the legislation has a chance of being passed because of the high acceptance of marijuana in California.
“I know some people that really like to smoke weed,” she said. “Which, I mean, to each his own, right?”
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