California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, presented legislation AB 390, The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, on Monday, that would legalize the production and sale of marijuana for recreational purposes. The measure would allow people over 21 years old access to the licensed production and sale of cannabis. As a recent Zogby poll reported, almost six out of 10 voters on the West Coast were in support of the regulation and taxation of marijuana.
According to a California NORML economic analysis, the legislation would increase state revenue by $1 billion; public officials have endorsed the measure, as they are concerned with the $40 billion budget deficit. Ammiano presented the measure as a way to alleviate the current state financial crisis.
While this board is not concerned with the idea of controlling and legalizing marijuana, we are concerned about the motivating force behind the measure.
California legislators are so desperate to bring in extra revenue that they have resorted to proposing the first-ever marijuana legalization bill introduced to California. If this legislation succeeds, what is stopping the state from proposing other measures that could potentially alleviate the economic crisis, such as lowering the drinking age or legalizing prostitution? This board is concerned that the urgent need for money could compromise the morality and ethics of California. We feel like this action is setting a dangerous precedent for the future.