Pubdate: Thu, 14 May 2009
Source: Daily Press (Victorville, CA)
Copyright: 2009 Freedom Communications, Inc.
Contact: http://www.vvdailypress.com/sections/contactus/
Website: http://www.vvdailypress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1061
Note: Editorial appeared originally in The Orange County Register
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? IT'S FINALLY SERIOUS

It seems sudden, though support for a more common-sense approach to 
marijuana has been quietly building for years now, virtually unseen 
by most politicians. But Gov. Schwarzenegger's comment on Tuesday 
that "I think it's time for a debate" on the subject of legalizing, 
regulating and taxing marijuana in California seems to have elevated 
the topic to a much more serious level.

CNN just did a thoughtful and balanced piece on the subject, and the 
New York Times ran a news article. In addition to the Field Poll 
survey showing that 56 percent of Californians favor legalizing, 
taxing and regulating marijuana similarly to alcohol, a nationwide 
Zogby poll commissioned by the conservative-leaning O'Leary Report 
found 52 percent of Americans nationwide favor something similar. 
That's up from 46 percent in an ABC News/Washington Post poll.

Stephen Gutwillig, California director of the reformist Drug Policy 
Alliance, told us that the contrast between now and January, when San 
Francisco Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced a marijuana 
legalization bill, has been remarkable. "In January, while some of 
the coverage was serious, much of it had a joking tone," Mr. 
Gutwillig said. "This time almost all of the coverage is serious, 
suggesting that legalization has come close to being a mainstream issue."

Obviously many Americans are ready for more than a debate, although 
that would be welcome. Given that the federal government estimates 
that 15 million Americans smoked marijuana in any given month, 
prohibition is obviously not working, and it channels money to 
ruthless criminals rather than to honest businesspeople and the 
government. A serious discussion of alternatives to prohibition is overdue.

Gov. Schwarzenegger would be well-advised to follow up his comment 
with action. Mr. Gutwillig says his organization will be contacting 
the governor's office to discuss the next steps; he should listen 
carefully. Perhaps a panel of experts from California universities 
could be assembled to study the experiences of other countries that 
have liberalized drug laws or downgraded enforcement. Perhaps a 
commission could hold hearings throughout the state, taking testimony 
from people on all sides of the issue. Perhaps the Legislative 
Analyst's Office could be directed to do a study that would analyze 
the costs and benefits of legalization.

It is clear that legalizing marijuana would provide a certain amount 
of relief in California's current budget crisis, eliminating about 
half a billion in enforcement costs and bringing in tax revenues that 
have been estimated at $1.3 billion. That alone makes such a reform 
worth considering.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom