Marijuana Legalization on the Table in California

California could become the first state to legalize marijuana after Democrat Tom Ammiano from San Francisco introduced a bill to the state assembly that would put marijuana on the same legal footing as alcohol or tobacco. This comes at a time where California is on the brink of bankruptcy and every bill to raise taxes is voted down by the people. Many state officials, including Governor Schwarzenegger, have said that this bill should be seriously considered.

In 1996 California became the first state to allow marijuana use for medical purposes. Since then thousands of marijuana dispensaries have pooped up all over the state. It is not explicitly for recreational use, but once it is available for sale it is very difficult to control. At least if it were sold in stores vendors would be required to check IDs to make sure the buyer is of age, as opposed to drug dealers who don't have such concerns.

Marijuana is California's largest cash crop and it could bring in an estimated 1.5 billion dollars a year in tax revenue for the state, not to mention the money that would be saved in the courts and law enforcement if they did not need to prosecute marijuana users or dealers. The fact that the state is in such financial trouble might be the tipping point for many state officials who are currently cutting state programs left and right. However this bill is met, the fact is that the idea of legalizing marijuana is no longer an abhorrent idea to many people and it is just a matter of time before the bill collects enough support to pass.