cannabisnews.com: Legalize Marijuana? Schwarzenegger Let’s Debate
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Legalize Marijuana? Schwarzenegger Let’s Debate
Posted by CN Staff on May 07, 2009 at 05:27:45 PT
By Jimmy Orr
Source: Christian Science Monitor
California -- It wasn’t as though Arnold Schwarzenegger held a press conference with Cheech and Chong in the back of a van and said, “Whoa, I have this awesome idea, man…”The governor was asked if he would support the legalization and taxation of marijuana to help the state of California get out of its budgetary mess. No, he doesn’t support that — at least right now. He said specifically, “No, I think it’s not time for that.”
Debate It was the rest of his statement, however, that’s caused a stir around the pro-legalization world. The governor said it should be talked about.“I think it’s time for a debate,” he said. “I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I’m always for an open debate on it.”As part of that debate, the governor said Californians need to look to the countries — like his native Austria — that have already relaxed drug laws.“I think that we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision,” he said. “Or, like for instance in Austria, I’ve heard that they are unhappy with that and they want to roll back some of the decisions that were made in European countries.” Poll Late last week, the director of a pro-marijuana legalization group praised a recent poll that showed 56 percent of Californians are OK with the legalization and taxation of marijuana.“Right now people in the Capitol are laughing off the idea of taxing and regulating marijuana. This will show them there’s some serious voter support on the issue,” said Aaron Smith, the Marijuana Policy Project’s California policy director.It’s not just a California poll. A WashingtonPost/ABC survey, also released last week, revealed that 46 percent of Americans support legalization of small amounts of marijuana for personal use — that’s double the support it had a decade ago. Money If it were legalized and taxed, how much of an impact would it have on California’s budget? According to the author of a bill in the California State Assembly, it could add $1.3 billion to the state’s coffers.But Assemblyman Tom Ammiano said it’s not about the money.“It’s also about the failure of the war on drugs and implementing a more enlightened policy,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’ve always anticipated that there could be a perfect storm of political will and public support, and obviously the federal policies are leaning more toward states’ rights.”Source: Christian Science Monitor (US)Author: Jimmy OrrPublished: May 6, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Christian Science Publishing SocietyContact: oped csps.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/YK2iU0fBRelated Articles: Schwarzenegger Urges a Study on Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24786.shtmlSchwarzenegger Welcomes Debate Over Legalizing http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24784.shtml
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Comment #11 posted by Question Authority on May 09, 2009 at 00:15:14 PT
Arnie is not Mr. Cool
We've *been* debating it since at least 1967, if not 1937
when it when it was first criminalized by Harry Anslinger
and Hearst.I think the verdict among reasonable people has been in
for some time now.Legalize it Arnie, and stop giving us Politicator double-speak!
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 20:32:25 PT
On The Governor's Talk of Legalizing Marijuana
May 7, 2009URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/07/EDF817FP7A.DTL
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 16:15:08 PT
Anderson Cooper 360
Former Drug Czar PWNed! Legalization Debatehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQkc2gPbbA
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 14:39:48 PT
From CNN’s Jack Cafferty
Legalizing Marijuana Answer To Government’s $ Problems?May 7, 2009Posted: 05:00 PM ETIt’s time to debate legalizing marijuana in California — so says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. As the state faces mounting deficits, the governor says he’s open to talking about different ways to create revenue. Although Schwarzenegger doesn’t think the state should rush to judgment and start taxing and legalizing pot right now, he says he’s interested in looking at other countries that have legalized it to see what effect it’s had.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/FaMTmB3J
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Comment #7 posted by AdaptBones on May 07, 2009 at 10:12:07 PT:
Let the truth ring
Yes let's "debate" this issue; because I think we all know where that "debate" leads to. It leads to the same conclusion almost every study done since the prohib dam was put up: cannabis should be legal. I wish I could have been a fly on that wall when the prohibs heard that arnold called for a debate. I bet they had horrible nightmares that night and I can only imagine the frantic phone calls and yelling that went on. It makes me laugh. Blessed be everyone and yes let's tear down that wall.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on May 07, 2009 at 08:43:26 PT
Yes, he did.
And I keep remembering how reformers have been specifically asking for years, and years, and years for at least a "Debate" on the question.Finally.That city council member in El Paso broke down a wall with his request for "A debate" a while back.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 08:37:52 PT
Hope
I think he means it isn't time for taxing like the bill that was presented recommends (it still is against federal law) but he is for opening up the discussion. He opened a big wide door when he said that.
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on May 07, 2009 at 08:16:02 PT
“No, I think it’s not time for that.”
Oh my gosh! Of course it's "time for that"! Big time,already.Terminate prohibition of cannabis!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 07:26:29 PT
goneposthole
It's good to see you. Happy Trails to you until we meet again!
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Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on May 07, 2009 at 07:14:45 PT
Cannabis Prohibition is a Hate Crime
At the end of the day, pot is so prevalent that bud trimming has become an occupation.So much cannabis is in production, that a new pool of jobs has formed.Cannabis growing is good for the economy as is brewing beer.Legal cannabis is the way to go. Hemp is the way to go to heal us all.Happy Trails
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 07, 2009 at 06:51:56 PT
CNN On Legalizing Marijuana
It's coming on soon!
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