Michel Porro/Associated Press
Retailers would pay fees of $50 per ounce of marijuana under a proposal by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to legalize the sale of pot.
More Information
Dan Walters: It's high time to legalize California pot
Reader Forum: Legalize pot?
Legalizing marijuana
If passed by the Legislature and signed into law, Assembly Bill 390 would:
• Charge wholesalers $5,000 initially and $2,500 annually for the right to distribute weed.
• Charge retailers $50 per ounce of cannabis. Revenues would fund drug education programs statewide.
• Prohibit cannabis near schools, ban smoking it in public places or growing it in public view.
WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
The federal government outlaws marijuana, so California would have to lobby for a policy change before the state could sell marijuana openly. If the federal ban never is lifted, AB 390 would:
• Prohibit state and local officers from assisting federal agencies in enforcing marijuana laws.
• Instruct state and local officers not to make arrests for cultivating, selling, possessing, transporting or using the drug.
Popular Comment
This bill really makes sense. From a business standpoint, a crime standpoint, and safety standpoint. We have fed the failed money hungry drug enforcement machine too long, ignored billions leaving our state in criminal hands, wasted more billions in lost taxation opportunities, and did nothing to assure the safety of the product through proper regulation. The legalization of this lucrative commodity would yield a death blow to organized crime and drug lords. The very mission of the war on drugs. Its time to abolish the prohibition on one of America's largest vices. Those politicians and special interests voicing opposition only want to protect their spending. Heaven forbid we seize the opportunity to reduce costs and increase revenue. I say no more status quo business as usual waste mongers. The recent monstrosity of a budget plan clearly shows we must change our out dated attitudes and approaches towards governance. Lets not lose this golden opportunity for California gold.
-- CAW916
