Honestly - there is only one thing that can save Californa and New Jersey.....

[LynneSin]

Both states are a financial mess and it's clear that no matter who runs it, you can't get out of that mess by creating more taxes OR cutting taxes either.

I see only one way for these states to get out of debt and if they do it first they'll have a head start on the other 48 states who will have to play catch-up.

They need to legalize marijuana.

Hey, I have never even smoked the stuff ever and even I know it's the one cash crop out there that will bring serious wads of cash to the state that legalizes it first.

First, the state will benefit from a major windfall of taxes since some form of legalization will probably require a sintax on it.

Second, any state that legalizes it will also benefit from an influx of tourists who will want to vacation in a state where they can legally smoke it. Flying to California or New Jersey is alot cheaper & easier than flying all the way over to Amsterdam.

Finally, another MAJOR savings is the concept that we will no longer be wasting our tax dollars in prosecuting & jailing those who are caught with the drug.

It's time for this country to wake up and smell the bong water!

I cannot find any other way to save these states. And New Jersey thinks a republican will fix it? Hell so did California and they're in even a worse mess than before. Good Luck with that.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. K&R

[WonderGrunion]

2. I thought you were going to say "More Cowbell!"

Everything needs more cowbell.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. I've been saying that shit for 40 years.

(I was SUCH a visionary.)

[rurallib]

4. So nice to read a sane article this morning.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Hmm, would the feds let them do it?

The DEA doesn't even like decriminalization or medical marijuana.

[Johonny]

6. wouldn't removing the insane 2/3 majority law

help more? Only thing seems a bit... fantastic a statement.

[ramapo]

7. A doubtful fix

Casinos are the latest wave of bad ideas sweeping the country. Legalized gambling is everywhere now.

No way that it'll happen anyway. Decriminalization would be a good start though.

I agree that we can't have more taxes nor can we cut taxes right now. Even Christie has already put tax cuts as a future.

It is truly a mind-boggling problem. People think the solution is easy, just cut waste and fraud (the spending that they don't like).

[FormerDittoHead]

10. ...the mafia will never let it happen in NJ - they make too much money on it.

NJ has a mafia? What? They're in bed with the unions and politicians? You can't be serious.

PS: I live in NJ.

[Mz Pip]

8. It would be a start

Another thing that needs to happen is for CA to start getting more than 75% of what it pays in Federal Taxes directed back into the CA.

[LynneSin]

11. I know, we blue states are tired of the red-state welfare

I know what you're talking about. California would probably be better off as it's own country where the money could stay in state.

[Mz Pip]

12. It would certainly

take a huge chunk out of our budget deficit.

I really wonder how many people even know this. It's not something that is publicized.

I've had this conversation with my son, who lives in NY. He said that if he ever ran for office he would call the Red States out on their hypocricy about taxes and who really would end up losing with Federal "TAX CUTS!"

[Romulox]

9. I've advocated that Michigan be the place where you can enjoy the outdoors + legal marijuana

It would be a tourism cash cow.

[blue_onyx]

15. I would love to get this on the 2010 ballot in MI

I was surprised that medical marijuana didn't receive too much opposition. Legalize marijuana and tax it heavily. I would use the money to provide a college education for all Michigan students who have a 2.5 GPA and have lived here for 5 years. Then the elimination of the promise scholarships wouldn't be a problem.

[Romulox]

16. blue, it really is a good idea. I have no idea if my neighbors would go for it though...

edit: Maybe if Windsor did it first?

[blue_onyx]

22. I think peope would go for it

It would be a closer vote than medical marijuana (63% v. 37%). I think we could at least get the 50.1% necessary to pass it. People smoke it anyway. By legalizing it, we use the money to send people to college instead of letting the dealers keep all the profits.

Since the economy is so bad, I think people will vote for controversial things that would provide them with benefits. Anything that would help our economy, which increasing the number of college graduates would, has a good chance of passing.

[montanto]

13. Eww, smell the bongwater? No thanks.

But seriously, the tourism part may be true as a novelty, but maybe not long term. As far as
generating tax revenue? Perhaps not. Think about this: Many pot smokers are small scale farmers themselves,
from whom legalization would generate no tax revenue. Second: Smokers who are not farmers
take satisfaction and pride in the quality of small scale, hand produced product and will
probably still seek it out at a reduced price because the risk to growing is gone. At any
rate I don't know anyone who wants to go to the store and buy unknown quality, perhaps
chemically grown, mass produced, machine rolled spliffs (and pay tax on it) when they can
do a hell of a lot better in their own back yard. Heck, people talk about going to
Amsterdam, but many smokers who have been there gripe about the generic quality of the weed.
Yeah, it'll get you high, but its nothing special compared to some really well cared for
small scale farming. Ending prosecution and the expense of jailing people over weed is a great
idea, I'm all for it, but the end of that taxpayer expense has an economic down-side too.
Fewer "criminals" means fewer cops, fewer prosecutors, fewer defenders, fewer guards, fewer jails,
fewer light bills, fewer laundry services, fewer food services, fewer barbers, fewer car sales,
fewer consumer goods purchased . . . I guess we could re-hire all of these people as revenue collectors,
going door to door to see what people have in their closets? In a certain sense I wonder if the
"legalize and tax" thing wouldn't cost us more money than the current scheme, though it would let
some people out of jail.

Anyway, my two cents from California, home of the best and most easily acquired homegrown in the world.

[recoveringrepublican]

17. Well yes, I'm even too lazy to grow a weed. Seriously, I would pay the tax because

I am that lazy. I would LOVE to walk down to Hess and buy a pack of rolled joints. I honestly can't see myself doing anything other than that.

Still just the tax money we would save from ending the war on drugs (or pot) would save a shit load.

[reggie the dog]

18. most of us don't have the place to grow weed

I try to grow some in the woods each year but nowhere near enough to smoke for free. If it were legal I would grow on my balcony. If you think pot tourism does not work how can you explain what has been going on in Amsterdam for the past 30 years?

[reggie the dog]

19. Dont let it go to your head

they do wicked homegrown here on the French Riviera, as do the Swiss.

[ensho]

14. true

nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. Does NJ even have decent herb?

Humboldt County CA, is of course, legendary for growing good shit. That one county could probably bail out CA alone. But does Jersey have anything to compete on that level?

[TxRider]

21. It's not enough to even make a dent financially.

But it would help.

[Throd]

23. I would say real redistricting reform is critical in California

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

24. Last week in SoCal I signed a petition to legalize and tax marijuana

Some people had a table outside a supermarket collecting signatures to put the legalization and taxation of marijuana on the ballot in California next year. Lots of people stopped to sign.

[taught_me_patience]

25. A way better fix would be to simply give us what we contribute

in federal taxes. Seriously... taxing pot will make just a small dent in our budget problems.