Oct 24th, 2010 by Laura MacDonald's Blog
It’s a good thing marijuana is illegal in most of North America, right? We wouldn’t want kids to be exposed to this drug more frequently than they are now. And to have a multitude of weed-smoking groups in every backyard or alley would be frightening! So why then is the state of California allowing its citizens to vote on the legalization of marijuana this November? The simple answer: money.
An article in the Vancouver Sun called “State to Vote on Legalizing Marijuana” explains the move taken by this coastal state to deal with the marijuana controversy. California had already shown its willingness to push boundaries, 14 years previously, through its unprecedented decision to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. People criticized this tactic and assumed it would end in disaster for the state. However, this hasn’t been the case. This hopeful outcome, coupled with the fact that California is in need of a financial uplift, reveals the potential benefit of legalizing marijuana. If marijuana was legalized then the government would be able to tax it. This would generate a huge revenue for the government. Additionally, money which had previously been spent on the enforcement of marijuana laws would now be free to be spent on other important items. Before this legislation is passed, the government and citizens of California need to reflect on how badly the extra money is needed in the state.