by Wyatt Buchanan, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that the time is right to debate legalizing marijuana for recreational use in California.
The governor’s comments were made as support grows nationwide for relaxing pot laws and only days after a poll found that for the first time a majority of California voters back legal marijuana. Also, a San Francisco legislator has proposed regulating and taxing marijuana to bring the state as much as $1.3 billion a year in extra revenue.
Schwarzenegger was cautious when answering a reporter’s question Tuesday about whether the state should regulate and tax the substance, saying it is not time to go that far.
But, he said: “I think it’s time for debate. I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues - I’m always for an open debate on it.”
The governor said California should look to the experiences of other nations around the world in relaxing laws on marijuana.
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has introduced a bill to regulate marijuana like alcohol, with people over 21 years old allowed to grow, buy, sell and possess cannabis - all of which are barred by federal law.
California voters in 1996 legalized marijuana for medical use with permission from a physician.
Ammiano said he was pleased the governor is “open-minded” on the issue and added that he was sure the two could “hash it out.”
Under Ammiano’s proposal, the state would impose a $50-an-ounce levy on sales of marijuana, which would boost state revenues by about $1.3 billion a year, according to an analysis by the State Board of Equalization. Betty Yee of San Francisco, who chairs the Board of Equalization, supports the measure.
“This has never just been about money,” said Ammiano, who has long supported reforming marijuana laws. “It’s also about the failure of the war on drugs and implementing a more enlightened policy. 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.”
May 8th, 2009 at 2:31 am
In 1970 when I discovered what pot was all about, I was sure it would be legal in 10 years. I thought then it was insanity to prosecute American citizen for something far less dangerous than alcohol. That was amost 40 years ago so I can truly say its about time. And its pure folly for anyone to argue that pot is a “gateway” drug. It is and has always been alcohol.
Maybe just m-a-y-b-e if pot is legalize some of the people will lose interest in the really harmful drugs out there.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:46 am
He just wants to tax pot for the money. If CA were not going broke, this would not be an issue.
If Michael Steele really does his job well, he will REMOVE “fake” republicans from the party. Arnold SPENDS money like Bush did and Obama does.
Ron Paul (or a clone) for President
May 8th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Samaul - you might be right on that money issue. I would never say that Arnold is a “good” politician….pretty much an oxymoron in my opinion, anyway. But, even if he’s desperate for more money, that’s a good opening to get this issue pushed through.
May 9th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
$50 per ounce? Do they realize how easy that shit is to grow in your back yard? If legalized, the cost of pot will greatly reduce. An ounce wont even cost as much as $50. The pharmaceutical industry will lose millions when this natural drug out competes all their synthetic chemicals. Don’t tell Arnie that
September 1st, 2009 at 8:56 am
It’s time to stop the waste of resources that is the drug war.