California Lawmakers Debate Marijuana Legalization Yesterday

State financial experts testified Wednesday that imposing taxes and regulations could bring in hundreds of millions to more than a billion dollars to state coffers, but several law enforcement officials worded concern to the Assembly Public Safety Committee that the legalization of marijuana under state law would more then likely lead to an increase in violence......(uhm, yeah okay...)

AB390 would allow the possession, sale, and cultivation of marijuana for people twenty one years and older. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Fran), who said the state would wait for the repeal of the decades-old federal ban on marijuana to have system and impose a $50 ounce sales tax on marijuana, much like taxes on tobacco and alcohol that are already legal.

Several ballot measures to legalize adult recreational marijuana use have circulated in California, and recent polls show big support amongst a majority of state voters. The govna has endorsed a public debate, but personally opposes it.

"We feel this issue in many ways in the past has been somewhat trivialized, but we're sensing...there's a gravitas to this issue that probably it is going to be inevitable that there is some change in the way marijuana is viewed legally," Ammiano said at a news conference before the hearing.

The legal experts also testified that nothing in the U.S. Constitution prohibited California from removing state penalties for marijuana use and predicted a low doing that would not be shot down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Tamar Todd, a staff attorney for the Drug Policy Alliance Network says "If California decides to legalize, nothing in the Constitution stands in its way."

Marty Mayer, attorney for the California Peace Officers Association, said he agreed with that assessment, but noting that removing state penalties would not alter any federal laws. Although the possession, sale, and harvesting of marijuana is illegal under federal law U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said last week that federal authorities would refrain from arresting or prosecuting people who are in compliance with their state's medical marijuana laws.

The State Board of Equalization estimated it would bring in $1 to $1.4 billion, while the Legislative Analyst's Office said it would only bring in a few hundred million dollars annually... (Yeah, knowing California it would probably be like 2 billion.)

Many in the state attorney generals office believe we may experience a spike in violence, and would e power Mexican cartels and drug trafficking operations in the state.

More policy hearings on the issue will like occur after Legislature reconvenes in December.