Editorial: A Joint Venture
Very persuasive guest Op-Ed by Walter Simpson, an environmental activist, about the economic and moral benefits of the taxation and regulation of marijuana.
Excerpt:
More than 100 million Americans have tried and used marijuana, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Clarence Thomas, Al and Tipper Gore, Newt Gingrich, John Kerry, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sarah Palin, Howard Dean, George Pataki and Michael Bloomberg. You could probably add to that list most rock musicians, Hollywood celebrities, many high school and college students, a majority of baby boomers like myself and quite a few police officers and judges who now enforce laws against marijuana.
A recent Rasmussen poll revealed that 43 percent of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized, and 65 percent predict it will be legal in 10 years. Gallop polls show that support for marijuana legalization has grown from 25 percent in 1995 to 46 percent in 2010. In November, Californians almost voted to legalize marijuana use by adults in the Golden State.
Decriminalization is good, but legalization—which would also address production and sales—would be better.
|
Click here to read the full article.
