Posted by
Drug Free America Foundation on Friday, February 27, 2009 12:00:00 AM
Earlier this week, California Assemblyman Tom Ammiano introduced legislation to legalize marijuana outright. The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act (AB 390) would set up a wholesale and retail marijuana sales regulation program permitting taxed sales to adults while barring sales to or possession by those under 21.
This proposed legislation is a supposed resolution to California’s 42 billion dollar budget crisis, but at what cost? By regulating and taxing marijuana, California would have to agree that it’s acceptable for their state to profit from a person’s addiction. The cost from addiction and usage associated illnesses far outweighs the cost of any revenue possibly generated; a government estimate of the national cost of drug use just for one year (2002) was over $180 billion.
For more information
Is this right for addicts?
What happened to the concept that Marijuana legalization was for medicinal purposes only?