Pubdate: Thu, 7 May 2009
Source: New York Times (NY)
Page: A21
Copyright: 2009 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Rebecca Cathcart
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Schwarzenegger

SCHWARZENEGGER URGES A STUDY ON LEGALIZING MARIJUANA USE

LOS ANGELES -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that the 
discussion over whether to legalize and tax marijuana for 
recreational use in California would benefit from a large-scale 
study, including international case comparisons, to show the possible 
impact of such a change.

Pressure to mend the state's fractured budget along with growing 
public support of marijuana legalization moved him to support such a 
study, Mr. Schwarzenegger said.

"I think it's time for a debate," he 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?"

A Field Poll from April showed 56 percent of the state's registered 
voters in support of legalizing and taxing marijuana for recreational 
use to fill some of the budget deficit. Mr. Schwarzenegger told 
reporters at a fire-safety event in Davis, Calif., that he did not 
support sweeping legalization, but that more information would help.

Marijuana advocates said the governor's invitation to have a 
discussion at all was a landmark.

"What stands out about Gov. Schwarzenegger's comment is not that he 
thought it, but that he said it," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive 
director of the Drug Policy Alliance. "There has been enormous fear 
at a political level about saying out loud and on the record that we 
should think about this."

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Democrat of San Francisco, introduced 
legislation in February that would legalize the cultivation and sale 
of marijuana for recreational use. Mr. Ammiano's proposal has been 
shelved this session, but he has said he would reintroduce it next 
year. Sales could raise $1.2 billion to $1.34 billion in annual tax 
revenue, some estimates say.

But that would be little salve for the state's deficit, which could 
reach $20 billion in 15 months if ballot initiatives proposed by the 
governor do not pass, said Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, Republican of 
Irvine. Mr. DeVore said he did not support legalizing marijuana, and 
was surprised to hear the governor's comments.

"I think this shows the governor's growing desperation over the 
budget," Mr. DeVore said. 
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