LEGALIZE AND TAX POT: THINK-TANK

Marijuana should be legalized and then taxed like any another other
product, says a study by an economic think-tank.

The Fraser Institute estimates that such a move would easily generate
over $2 billion a year in additional tax revenues.

All that would really change is that governments, rather than
criminals, would enjoy the spoils, argues the study being released
today by the Vancouver-based institute.

The potential tax revenue is based on the study's estimate that in
British Columbia alone, the annual marijuana crop, if valued at retail
street prices and sold by the cigarette, is worth over $7 billion.

"Using conservative assumptions about Canadian consumption, this could
translate into potential revenues for the government of over $2
billion," states the study. "In British Columbia -- as in other
provinces, notably Quebec and Ontario, it is a significant crop that
fuels organized crime."