Although this a single state move toward a rational action regarding the ongoing use of marijuana, what would be the national monitary and social benefit if all the states were involved? This could be taxed and regulated the same as alcohol and make trillions of dollars in legal revenue move in a very short period of time. Isn't that what our economy needs? Think of the numbers of former alcohol misusers and heavy drinkers that would no longer be driving on the highways drunk. I suspect that there is enough scientific evidence and clinical information that would support the reality that heavy drinkers would rather smoke marijuana than drink alcohol. Naturally, the beer, wine and spirits industry would not like the idea but I would suspect that once MADD was convinced, they would support the move. As it stands now, the tax on alcohol is unusually low, compaired to the tax on tobacco products. Both can be killers and both are. Why then, are they not taxed in a balanced manner? There are reasonable a evidence based answers to these questions that I don't need to go into now. The point is we need to increase our state and national revenue through a fair taxation and cut our losses at the same time.

This discussion and attempt to address the reality of drug use and how we as a society deal with this fact will have a far reaching impact on many areas of life in this country. Law enforcement, incarceration, health care, drug treatment, busness, driving, and attitudes regarding "drug use" in general are some of the areas that might be effected by addressing this issue. I am very interested and concerned in how we as a nation attempt to survive our drug experience.

While CA is at it, they need to repeal their tobacco smoking laws imposed on private business owners.

Smokey seems awfully certain of two ideas that I just don't see happening. First, that legalizing marijuana would greatly reduce alcohol consumption. It seems most substance users have a principle drug of choice that for any number of reasons they will gravitate towards. The high from pot is qualitatively different than being drunk - I just don't see many alcoholics switching over. It's more likely that we'll see more people doing both. Smokey's second point about reduced car accidents and MADD getting onboard is even stranger. Since when is it safe to drive while stoned? With so many accidents caused by drivers distracted by their cell phones - imagine when we have thousands of drivers distracted by damn near everything around them, including their own suddenly profound thoughts! And then add to that the slowed reaction time and slowed reflexes marijuana brings on...

Thank you Pete for pointing out the flaws in Smokeys thinking in a much nicer way than I would have

Good for CA. Leagalization to marijuana being taxed. Yeppers i agree. Our country is so in debt. How many other resolutions has the country came ou with to solitify the debt. Something has to change. Maybe this may be part of a solution. However the law changes will have to consider that medical marijuana is a considered a prescription drug and while under the influence of any drugs that inhibit ablilities restrictions must be adhered. So I so go CA for the tax form to marijuana. KG

LOL, How are you going to get the government involved with their regulations and all the BS they bring into it plus tax marijuana on top of it and keep the cost down for the marijuana patients? Get real people, marijuana is not the solution, it is just another headache for society. So are our judges going to be stoned when they are hearing our traffic ticket cases? Are our pilots going to be stoned when they are trying to land our planes? So are our cops going to be stoned when they are shooting it out wth the bad guy? If marijuana is legal, why not? How can we say off duty judges can't smoke it? Good luck in a lawless society. God forbid!

We need to protest these networks that are airing the commercials. Let us hold them responsible for the thousands of deaths to come that will be associated with the leagalization of marijuana. This Tom Ammiano is not the savior of California, he is the Anti-Christ.

We have big problems with tobacco taxes not being paid or diverted. A bunch of criminals are going to see this as the biggest boom for their business by undercutting the price of any taxed weed. All the weed smokers are going to buy the black market product for a lesser price. Also backyard growers are going to be everywhere, how are you going to tax them.

This law will not be without unintended consequences...BUT, California is leaving too much money on the table by ignoring the reality that a declining cohort in the general population approves of continued illegality of this substance....We have crowded our jails and prison foolishly, and have past the tipping point where continued prohibition only serves to foster contempt for law in general....Those who want to smoke pot are doing so....those who aren't interested will not be lured into partaking.

What about the fact that marijuana smoke is in many ways as bad or worse than tobacco smoke? How do we rationalize legalizing yet another known carcinogen? How much of the tax dollars earned will go to covering the increased cost of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases?

The useful idiots for Big 2Wackgo are out in force to muddy the issue and help prevent the feared outcome that legalized cannabis, rather than "just add another problem", will utterly destroy the tobacco and alcohol marketing industries, embolden youngsters to omit alcohol from their parties altogether and resist the temptation to use cigarette smoking as a means to scare off bullies. Growing one's own will wipe out the black market product. Users will choose the bike over driving the car.

Maxwood the only fear mongering is done by people with your perspective. We don't need pot more available to our kids than it already is. There is no way pot is going to take the place of alcohol or tobacco. If that was possible, it would have happened in the 60s. Tobacco is bad, alcohol is bad and marijuana is bad too. What is wrong with sobriety. Maybe it's time for you to seek some treatment. Good luck!

Legalize and Tax, what a joke. With all the individuals who are currently growing in their homes or grow houses regulating this substance is a nightmare. Not to mention the $1 billion tax revenue is based on black market pricing. Which if it is priced that high, then the black market will only lower their price and still be alive and well. Only someone high would have thought up this idea.

No one seems to remember Alaska when they legalized weed for personal use. About five years later they repealed the law because of all the problems caused by the weed smokers. I guess it's memory loss by the weed smokers.

Great discussion on this topic! I especially appreciate John for Oceanside's argument about the opportunity for the black market to exploit a seam in legalization. Proponents for legalization who think legalization of marijuana is going to end black market trade or Mexican drug cartels are simply deluded in their thinking.