Can't we all just get a bong?

October 27, 2011 | Posted by Kelvin Wade
Can we talk about legalization?
Fairfield Daily Republic

Protestors had a message for President Obama when he arrived in San Francisco this week for a fundraiser: “Hands off our medical marijuana!” Earlier this month, U.S. Attorneys in California announced they would be prosecuting targeted marijuana dispensaries and seizing properties rented to them.

Ironically, it’s the federal government that caused the extraordinary growth in California’s medical marijuana trade by putting out a memo in 2009 saying they wouldn’t be going after dispensaries that complied with state law. The feds were going to look the other way on medical marijuana.

What did they think was going to happen?

Unfortunately, the uncertainty of proceeding with a state law that violates a federal law has left many communities vacillating over what to do about medical marijuana.

We’ve seen it play out locally. In 2007, Fairfield banned marijuana dispensaries. Vacaville followed suit. Earlier this month, Solano County supervisors shocked no one when they voted 4-0 to extend a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated areas of the county another 10 months. The supervisors say they need more time to decide how or if they’re going to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries. It seems obvious that they have no intention of regulating dispensaries and are just kicking the can down the road.

According to published reports, Steve DeAngelo, head of California’s largest dispensary, and others are putting together a 2012 initiative that would regulate California’s dispensaries. Presumably, such rules would help medical marijuana dispensaries operate and not run afoul of the Justice Department. It would also help timid counties like ours regulate dispensaries.

But what this really is calling for is a legitimate debate on outright marijuana legalization.

Just this month we’ve seen a new Gallup Poll that shows, for the first time, 50 percent of Americans want to see marijuana legalized. Also this month, the California Medical Association came out in support of legalization. And Republican presidential candidate and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson has come out for legalization.

Earlier this month, PBS broadcasted the excellent Ken Burns’ documentary “Prohibition,” which should be required viewing by elected officials. The parallels to what we’re seeing now are obvious. Prohibition leads to trafficking, an unsafe product and it makes criminals of people.

There are thousands of jobs in the medical marijuana field in California right now. Oakland’s largest dispensary paid the city of Oakland more than $1 million dollars in taxes last year and $2 million to the state. Nationally, marijuana is estimated to be our largest crop, exceeding the combined total of corn and wheat.

A 2005 study by a Harvard professor, which was signed by more than 500 economists including Milton Friedman, says regulating marijuana would save the country $7.7 billion annually in law enforcement costs. It would raise more than $6 billion if taxed like alcohol.

Even if Congress isn’t prepared to legalize marijuana, shouldn’t all those politicians who claim to believe in states’ rights allow states to make the decision? Why shouldn’t states be able to regulate it, enforce quality control and tax it?

Can we at least talk about it? Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I always feel like I have to start with the disclaimer that I'm not a pothead. Yes, I do know quite a few people who use marijuana for health and recreation. And you'd be surprised at just who is blazing up. But this isn't about that. People are going to smoke marijuana and use marijuana products whether it's legal or not.

But America should get over this stupid prohibition. The federal government considers marijuana is as dangerous as heroin. There's not a rational person on this planet who believes that. I can't come up with good arguments about why marijuana prohibition should stay in place. Don't give me that 'but what about the children' argument because kids are getting high in this country. Kids probably have better access to weed than their parents.

I'm certainly not advocating that people smoke marijuana. But if someone wants to plant a crop in their backyard, harvest it and smoke it in the privacy of their home, why should the federal government care? More than that, why shouldn't people be able to sell a product that is safer than alcohol, tobacco and many if not most prescription medication? How do we turn our backs on that tax revenue at a time like this?

Consenting adults. Freedom. States rights. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness. Government isn't taking a double cheeseburger out of my paws when I know I don't need it. Why are they in the marijuana prohibition business. If you haven't seen Ken Burns' "Prohibition" please do. Let's grow up. Let's save the law enforcement dollars and man hours chasing marijuana.