Posted on 05/05/2009 2:27:27 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday it's time for California to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use, though he's not yet advocating for such a change.
The governor was asked about a recent Field Poll showing that 56 percent of registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenues for cash-strapped California. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has proposed legislation that would legalize the drug for recreational use, rather than just medical purposes.
"Well, I think it's not time for that, but I think it's time for a debate," Schwarzenegger said. "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it. And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?"
He said his native Austria is revisiting some of its marijuana laws, for instance. The Austrian Parliament last year authorized medical marijuana.
"It could very well be that everyone is happy with that decision and then we could move to that," Schwarzenegger said of other nations' legalization policies. "If not, we shouldn't do it. But just because of raising revenues ... we have to be careful not to make mistakes at the same time.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Then 20 years later they can turn around and sue the pot farmers and joint rollers for billions as well. Just like they illegally f***** the Tobacco companies
Is this real, it sure seems like he has already been smoking stuff for some time now.
Republicans who think like Arnold are called RINO’S.
FReepers who think like Arnold and think pot should be legalized are called Libertarians.
I call them all LIBERALS.
This is insane.
I agree with the Governor. What’s wrong with smoking pot?
Ping to the Austrian.
Frankly I could care less if Pot is legal or not but doesn’t California have bigger fish to fry for crying out loud!?!
You are entitled to your opinion. But it is silly that marijuana is illegal. And pointless.
All politics aside, I’d rather be around someone who is stoned than drunk, anyday
Smoking pot is stupid, but it should be legal nevertheless.
Make more taxing oil if we could drill it.
Nothing in my book. But shouldn’t they be debating on how to not bankrupt the state?
Frankly from what I have seen of California’s books I already thought Pot was legal, at least in Sacramento.
Why?
I don’t care a wit if someone smokes pot.
I would rather be around someone who is stoned than someone who is drunk.
Does anyone have the current number of pot smokers in CA? I heard once that there were 14 million drug users and that over half just did pot.
How many people are we talking about taxing now?
Maybe things like increasing tax revenue and decreasing the size and reach of Gov with respect to marijuana enforcement? Those are both big fish.
Most are advocating an immediate change in government spending and /or tax cuts, however Scharzenegger is a visionary and is placing focus on more pertinent issues.
That's what happens when one is governor of a state with a surplus and those in charge need something to occupy their minds. /s
I think the motivations are totally different.
Libertarians want to legalize drugs pushing freedom and personal responsibility.
Arnold wants to legalize drugs to tax the sale and generate more revenue to support more government spending.
You DO realize this is just a liberal ploy to raise taxes, right?
This typifies what hypocrites Libertarians are. They CLAIM they want smaller government and less taxes.
But they are only too happy to surrender in the WOD, allow the drug cartels to go legit, and then sit back in a dopey haze and wait for marijuana taxes to solve all their financial problems.
Folks, this is INSANE!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.