LEGALIZED POT A 'GOLD MINE'

In California, it's estimated that legalized marijuana would generate
$1.4 billion annually. I crunched the numbers to see how much Alabama
might rake in if we also legalized marijuana.

These numbers are according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration and Census Bureau data.

The current number of marijuana users in Alabama is estimated to be
392,032, or 11.25 percent of the voting-age population (as of 2006.)
Divide that by the current number of marijuana consumers in
California, which is estimated at 4,183,136. (These numbers are
according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration and Census Bureau data.)

And, 392,032 is equivalent to 9.3 percent of California's marijuana
consuming population. Multiply 0.093 by $1.4 billion, and you get
$130,200,000.

Those figures do not include money that could be made by putting
Alabama farmers back to work, businesses/jobs created that could cater
to the marijuana industry, or tourism or the hundreds of millions we'd
save in enforcement costs.

It's time Alabama considered legalizing and reaping the benefits of
this untapped green gold mine.

Loretta Nall

Alexander City