Pubdate: Wed, 6 May 2009
Source: Modesto Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Modesto Bee
Contact:  http://www.modbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/271
Author: Kevin Yamamura
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)

POT LEGALIZATION WORTH STUDYING, GOVERNOR SAYS

DAVIS -- As California struggles to find cash, Gov. Schwarzenegger
said Tuesday it's time to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana
for recreational use.

The Republican governor did not support legalization -- and the
federal government still bans marijuana use -- but advocates hailed
the fact that Schwarzenegger endorsed studying a once-taboo political
subject.

Schwarzenegger was at a fire safety event in Davis when he answered a
question about a recent Field Poll showing 56 percent of registered
voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenue for
cash-strapped California. Voters in 1996 authorized the use of
marijuana for medical purposes.

"Well, I think it's not time for (legalization), but I think it's time
for a debate," Schwarzenegger said.

"I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for
an open debate on it. And I think we ought to study very carefully
what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other
drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?"

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has written legislation to
allow the sale of marijuana to adults 21 years and older for
recreational use. His Assembly Bill 390 would charge cannabis
wholesalers initial and annual flat fees, while retailers would pay
$50 per ounce to the state.

The proposal would ban cannabis near schools and prohibit smoking
marijuana in public places.

Marijuana legalization would raise an estimated $1.34 billion annually
in tax revenue, according to a February estimate by the Board of
Equalization.

Ammiano has shelved the bill until next year because it remains
controversial in the Capitol, according to his spokesman, Quintin Mecke.

Schwarzenegger said he would like to see results from Europe as part
of a study.

The Austrian parliament last year authorized cultivation of medical
marijuana. But Schwarzenegger talked with a police officer in his
hometown of Graz and found the liberalization was not fully supported,
said Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor.

"It could very well be that everyone is happy with that decision and
then we could move to that," Schwarzenegger said.

"If not, we shouldn't do it. But just because of raising revenues --
we have to be careful not to make mistakes at the same time."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake