AlterNet: Legalizing Pot Makes Lots of Cents for Our Cash-Starved Government

[marmar]

Legalizing Pot Makes Lots of Cents for Our Cash-Starved Government

By Paul Armentano, AlterNet. Posted April 14, 2009.

Even the most mainstream figures are now taking the idea of legalizing and taxing pot seriously -- budget-crunched governments should listen.




What could you do with an extra $14 billion dollars? Members of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and other likeminded organizations will be asking government officials that very question on Wednesday, April 15th, when they present a mock check to the U.S. Treasury Office.

"We represent the millions of otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers who are ready, willing, vocal and able to contribute needed tax revenue to America's struggling economy," says Allen St. Pierre, NORML's Executive Director. "All we ask in exchange for our $14 billion is that our government respects our decision to use marijuana privately and responsibly."

But it's not just NORML calling on lawmakers to tax and regulate marijuana. In today's economic climate, the question is: who isn't?

Late last month, during President Barack Obama's first-ever Internet Town Hall, questions pertaining to whether legalizing marijuana like alcohol could help boost the economy received more votes from the public than did any other topic. The questions' popularity -- and the President's half-hearted reply ("No," he laughed.) -- stimulated a torrent of mainstream media attention. In the past two weeks alone, commentators like David Sirota (The Nation), Kathleen Parker (Washington Post), Paul Jacob (TownHall.com), Clarence Page (Chicago Tribune), and Jack Cafferty (CNN) have all expressed sympathy for regulating pot. Even Joe Klein at Time Magazine weighed in on the issue, writing this month that "legalizing marijuana makes sense."

It makes cents too. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/136467/legalizing_pot_makes_lots_of_cents_for_our_cash-starved_government/

[polichick]

1. I wish the President would lead the legalization fight just because it's...

...the right thing to do ~ those hypocrical culture war laws are simply unjust.

But if it can be done as a crime deterrent or to raise tax monies, that's better than nothing.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Gatta wait 4 years for Obama to get on board

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Yes, most Americans did not share the President's

view of marijuana reform as a topic worhty of jest.