Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 Source: East Bay Express (CA) Column: Seven Days Copyright: 2009 East Bay Express Contact: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/SendLetter Website: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1131 Note: item excerpted from multi item column Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) TAX POT AND SAVE THE PARKS The economic crisis could have one significant upside. It might convince Californians to legalize marijuana, so it can be taxed and raise much-needed revenues for the state. Earlier this year, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco introduced a bill to decriminalize pot and tax it. And now backers of a measure that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and allow the state to tax its sales hope to put their initiative on the statewide ballot next year. Oaksterdam University, a medical marijuana education center and dispensary in downtown Oakland, is backing the pot legalization measure and founded TaxCannibis2010.org, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Supporters plan to start gathering signatures in August. The measure would allow adults to maintain a small growing space and legally possess up to an ounce of pot for personal use. Too bad we can't pass the measure now. Those marijuana revenues sure would come in handy before the legislature and the governor slash vital state services beyond all recognition. State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the state's leading Democrat, told the Chron that the legislature is ready to go along with nearly all of the more than $20 billion of cuts proposed by Schwarzenegger. Steinberg said that the only things Democrats won't agree to eliminate are health care for poor children, cash grants to college students, and programs that help single mothers find jobs. As for the governor's proposal to close most of California's state parks and raid the coffers of city and county governments? It's unclear what is going to happen, although we should find out soon. Steinberg predicted that they'll have a budget in place by June 30. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom