Light that sh*t, smoke that sh*t, pass that sh*t! While the first two commonly-heard demands referred to reefer in general, the third refers to a potentially historic lawmaking moment in California, where legislators are getting more and more serious about making cannabis (that’s weed, y’all) a real live legal substance. There’s more to the story than a few dopers looking for a less incriminating way to light up; it would seem that a floundering economy could find some serious solace in letting people get their toke on legally.
Legislator Tom Ammiano (yes, of San Francisco) ran the numbers awhile back and deduced that legalizing the chronic could earn California a massive hit of taxpayers’ green—upwards of $1.3 billion. That accounts for localized growing and a state tax of fifty bucks an ounce, which, if you have ever bought pot before, might strike you as a super dank, knock-you-on-your-ass deal.
There seem to be a lot of reasons to push for legalization, and as of today, 14 states have decriminalized the narcotic to some extent. Even the Obama administration has put an end to medical dispensary raids, suggesting that Mary Jane is soon to be popping up on street corners all over America. We won’t comment on how excited that makes us…we’re responsible journalists and don’t want to take sides.
