STATE EXPECTS $1.4 BILLION FROM MARIJUANA

Californians Could Vote To Legalize Its Use

Marijuana legalization will be on California's ballot this November.
The state is faced with a $20 billion deficit. Advocates for
legalization in California expect that legalizing, regulating and
taxing marijuana will raise $1.4 billion for the state.

If the law passes, it will be legal for those at least 21 years old
to possess or use marijuana. It would only be legal to possess up to
an ounce. Driving while under the influence, usage in front of minors
and drug possession on school grounds would be prohibited.

I daresay I'm not alone in thinking that not only California's
economy but also our nation's economy could use a bit of stimulation.

This year, the national drug control budget is $15 billion. The
Office of National Drug Control Policy has requested $15.5 billion
for 2011. This budget includes funds for community law enforcement,
rehabilitation programs and preventative measures, such as
advertising campaigns. It does not include the amount spent each
year to imprison drug offenders.

Of course, with the legalization of marijuana, not all of this would
be saved due to efforts to deter more serious drugs, such as cocaine
and heroine, but a substantial amount would be saved.

The National Drug Control Strategy Data Supplement released from the
White House in 2009 documented more than 14 million drug related
arrests in 2007. Marijuana possession accounted for nearly 6 million
of these arrests. The time spared by law enforcement by not
arresting people for marijuana possession could be spent devoted to
things that pose a greater threat to civilians.

Opponents of the movement argue that the legalization of marijuana
would generate more users. In a study released in the American
Journal of Public Health in 2004 that compared marijuana usage in San
Francisco to usage in Amsterdam, where the possession of cannabis is
decriminalized, decriminalization did not raise the amount of users.

In Amsterdam, 38 percent of survey participants had not smoked
marijuana in the past year, while 32 percert of participants in San
Francisco hadn't.

The study, The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in
Amsterdam and in San Francisco, surveyed 4,364 individuals who had
smoked at least 25 times in their lifetime. The survey also revealed
that fewer people had used more severe drugs, such as cocaine, crack,
amphetamines, ecstasy and opiates, in Amsterdam than in San
Francisco. This could be because those purchasing marijuana legally
stand less of a risk of being exposed to other drugs that illegal
dealers may sell.

Cannabis legalization at a state level would raise a new issue: the
inconsistency of state law versus federal law.

This issue was recently called to attention after a medical marijuana
grower in Denver was federally charged with illegal cultivation,
though he was insistent that he was compliant with state laws.
According to the Denver Post, federal prosecutors said the grower,
Chris Bartkowicz, had more plants than the state law allowed.

Prosecutors also pointed out that federal law trumps state law
regardless of Bartkowicz's compliance with state legislation. Federal
interference with state law could increase with legalized possession
in California.

If California legalizes marijuana, it could be the beginning of new
legislation in other states. Since California became the first state
to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, 14 states have followed.

In November, Californians will make their opinions known. Until then,
national groups that support legalization will encourage others to
donate to their cause - $4.20 at a time.

Krissy Mallory is a senior majoring in journalism and Spanish.