Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jul 2009
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2009 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Calvina Fay

THE COST OF MAKING POT LEGAL

The California Board of Equalization estimates that legalizing pot 
would bring billions in tax revenue, which supposedly will be 
redirected to drug abuse treatment programs.

However, the most compelling economic argument against the taxation 
of marijuana is the skyrocketing societal cost.

We have seen and paid for the effects that tobacco and alcohol have 
had on society. If we learn from experience, we can conclude that 
marijuana would follow the same path as these other substances, 
yielding results that might be worse.

Recently, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard 
Assessment declared that marijuana smoke causes cancer. The board 
calculates a 30 percent increase in marijuana use if it were regulated.

In 2005, California spent $44 billion in costs relating to substance 
abuse. If you added 30 percent to that figure, it would increase to 
$57.2 billion.

The answer to California's financial crisis is not as simple as 
legalizing pot. Remember H.L. Mencken's warning: "There is always a 
well-known solution to every human problem - neat, plausible, and wrong."

CALVINA FAY

Drug Free America Foundation

St. Petersburg, Fla.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom