TIME TO TAX, LEGALIZE POT

In the late 1980s, California realized that tobacco was a dangerous
drug. We understood the failure of prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s
and early '30s.

We started a war against tobacco by raising taxes and educating young
people. We started limiting places one could smoke. And it is working
- -- tobacco use has dropped by over half.

Now there are reports that those who still use tobacco are using less.
Plus, the revenues are helping the state in these hard times.

The Legislature is starting to awaken to the facts of another drug
wanted by the public -- marijuana.

A legislative committee passed a bill to legalize and tax pot,
basically hoping to establish with pot what we are doing with tobacco.
Of course, we the people are working on an initiative to approve and
tax pot.

My major goal in supporting these efforts is our national and state
parkland. Every year, we read of thousands of acres in our parklands
having illegal pot plantations.

No effort by the growers is made for proper maintenance of the lands
they use, dangerous chemicals are used, and the ripping up of the
plants by law enforcement is not good for the land.

When pot is legalized and taxed, we can expect the cartels to stop
growing pot in our parklands, because there will be less profit for
them. Our state's coffers will get a lot of money.

I'm sure some will suggest pot is a gateway drug, and should not be
allowed.

This gateway thing is just a silly marketing tool.

The reality is pot is here, pot is not taxed, and pot is hurting our
parklands.

George A. Johnson

Lompoc