LEGALIZING MARIJUANA SALES WOULD RAISE STATE REVENUE

Obviously, all levels of government in Delaware are seeking ways to
increase revenue, which includes increased taxes on the already
beleaguered middle class.

Although I applaud Gov. Jack Markell for his budget cuts, raising
taxes in a recession is counter-productive to revitalizing the
economy. So let me put forth this idea to our elected elite.

California projects a $14 billion tax revenue from its legalized
medical-marijuana laws, if it chooses to do so. Not to mention the
savings from not incarcerating pot smokers.

The last time I looked, it cost Delaware approximately $26,000
annually to keep one inmate in jail.

Of course, legalizing marijuana for even medical purposes would take
some rather large political muscle, as such would threaten the turf
of the criminal justice industry, which in part includes jobs
dependent on locking people up, the anti-drug thing, all the way
down to the folks who oppose comedian George Carlin's seven words you
can't say on television.

Greg Callaway

Middletown