Pubdate: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 2009 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1 Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Author: Pamela Biery RESOLUTION FOR 2010 California has the chance to enter the New Year with a resolution that would change California and America. A single resolution that would produce enough income to balance California's budget, empty overcrowded prisons and courtrooms and create funding for much needed education, social and infrastructure programs. In the true spirit of New Years' resolutions, California can live more honestly with itself by legalizing something so common and such a huge source of entrepreneurial capitalism that the current laws make our state look like a guest in denial on Dr. Phil. It's time to make marijuana legal, ending a counter-productive, hypocritical process, which criminalizes citizens from all walks of life while communities benefit from the influx of unregulated marijuana agribusiness cash. The November 2010 ballot will include an initiative that would allow local governments to oversee and regulate cannabis cultivation, distribution and sales, while determining how cannabis can be bought and sold within area limits. PAMELA BIERY Felton (Santa Cruz County) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D