Miscellaneous

Reefer Will Save The Economy

Want to quickly raise money some cash to save your state's massive budget deficit? A legislator in California has presented an easy, brilliant solution:

A state legislator is reviving the debate about legalizing marijuana as a way of raising money for cash-strapped state and local governments.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat, introduced a bill Monday that if approved by the California Legislature would put pot on the same legal footing as alcohol. Adults over the age of 21 would be allowed to buy it, and driving under the influence of marijuana would be prohibited.

Under Ammiano's proposal, which has been endorsed by some law enforcement officials, pot would be taxed at a rate of $50 per ounce and bring an estimated $1 billion into state coffers.

$1 billion in taxes! An entire industry created out of thin air. Think of all the legitimate job that would be created. Cops would able to divert their resources to more meaningful activities. Pass this California. Make it work. Saving the economy might be the one thing that might get this passed. Then, maybe we can use the same argument for gay marriage: Think of all the wedding-related jobs it will create!

Full post as published by Quiz Law on February 24, 2009 (boomark / email).