TAX POT AND SAVE THE PARKS

The economic crisis could have one significant upside. It might
convince Californians to legalize marijuana, so it can be taxed and
raise much-needed revenues for the state. Earlier this year,
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco introduced a bill to
decriminalize pot and tax it. And now backers of a measure that would
legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and allow the state
to tax its sales hope to put their initiative on the statewide ballot
next year.

Oaksterdam University, a medical marijuana education center and
dispensary in downtown Oakland, is backing the pot legalization
measure and founded TaxCannibis2010.org, according to the San
Francisco Chronicle. Supporters plan to start gathering signatures in
August. The measure would allow adults to maintain a small growing
space and legally possess up to an ounce of pot for personal use.

Too bad we can't pass the measure now. Those marijuana revenues sure
would come in handy before the legislature and the governor slash
vital state services beyond all recognition. State Senate President
Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the state's leading Democrat, told the
Chron that the legislature is ready to go along with nearly all of
the more than $20 billion of cuts proposed by Schwarzenegger.
Steinberg said that the only things Democrats won't agree to
eliminate are health care for poor children, cash grants to college
students, and programs that help single mothers find jobs. As for the
governor's proposal to close most of California's state parks and
raid the coffers of city and county governments? It's unclear what is
going to happen, although we should find out soon. Steinberg
predicted that they'll have a budget in place by June 30.