Pubdate: Sun, 08 Mar 2009
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Donna Tam
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?161 (Marijuana - Regulation)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Marijuana - Popular)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION SUPPORTERS SAY BILL COULD SAVE BILLIONS

Supporters of a bill to regulate marijuana for recreational use are 
saying the bill would help close the gap on California's continual 
budget deficit.

The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, introduced by 
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, last month, is meant to 
regulate marijuana like alcohol and tobacco by permitting taxed sales 
to those 21 and older.

According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana 
Laws, or NORML, the bill could generate more than $1 billion in tax 
revenues and reduced enforcement costs. The bill would create a 
structure where producers or distributors would have to pay a $50 per 
ounce excise tax, or about $1 per joint.

Ammiano's spokesman Quintin Mecke said the bill is the first of its 
kind, but the concept behind it is not a new one, especially with the 
gaining momentum of states legalizing medical marijuana.

"The attitude in general across the country and many states has 
shifted in regards to medical marijuana," Mecke said. According to 
the NORML, 13 states have legalized medical marijuana since 1996.

Mecke said marijuana has already become a $14 billion industry in 
California, and it is time to focus on keeping the industry under 
control and making it safe.

Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said he supports the 
bill, but doesn't know if it will garner enough support to pass.

"I think there is a strong argument that responsible adult behavior 
should not be a crime ... we allow adults to drink and many can't be 
responsible and fair enough -- we punish them," he said.

Gallegos said the bill would have a huge impact for the county in 
terms of crimes associated with the black market sales of marijuana.

"It would probably reduce the value of marijuana pretty 
significantly, so we'd probably see a reduction if not a complete end 
to the ancillary crime associated with marijuana," he said.

In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force 
referred a total of 394 cases to the District Attorney's Office, 
Gallegos said. Out of those, 356 were filed and 28 were rejected. The 
year's case load left 108 defendants convicted so far, but not all 
the cases have been resolved yet, he said.

Gallegos said each case takes half an hour just to review, so the 
numbers illustrate how much time and resources his officer spends on 
marijuana-related cases.

He said he hopes the bill will get rid of the ambiguity of 
Proposition 215 laws and redirect funds towards more regulation.

Mecke said the bill won't abolish Proposition 215 altogether, but 
would instead allow medical marijuana to be exempt from the tax 
system in order to protect patient access.

Former Assemblywoman Patty Berg of Eureka had talked about 
introducing a similar bill while in office, but said she couldn't 
take on another issue. When reached at her home in Eureka, Berg 
applauded Ammiano's efforts.

"I think the time has come. I did in fact want to carry that bill. 
I've supported medical marijuana since it's been law and I just think 
what Tom (Ammiano) is doing is the right thing," she said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom