In early November of this year California voters will decide if the legalization of marijuana will become law.  Little doubt if this legislation is approved by the citizens of that fine state,  other states will begin to follow the lead.  I suppose to large degree,  the economic woes of our country and the global society at large,  has guided the Governor to consider this revenue producing option.  Fourteen states already have approved legislation for medicinal marijuana use.  However,  across the board legalization is a bold step,  in the right direction.  To date, thirty-three states governors’ are having difficulty meeting their unemployment responsibilities to their respective citizens.  Perhaps Governor Schwarzenegger will help to ”terminate” the hesitation of those struggling administrations.

Globally,  tobacco has been welcomed into nearly every country for decades,  regardless of the health risk involved.  The United States has cornered the market distributing American made cigarettes all of the world.  Nicotine has proven itself to be as addictive a substance as any known to man.  Let’s all take a deep breath and re-think the laws that have been put in place, with hidden agendas.  Unlike tobacco,  marijuana needs no additional chemical processing to be ready for distribution.  I’m expecting the giant tobacco industry to shift gears the moment the legislation goes into effect,  and attempt to control the marijuana business.  Hopefully not.  International and domestic tourism will also grow to new heights.  Much like the cafes of Amsterdam,  those seeking the legal justification for smoking pot will travel to “Cali”. 

I’m wondering what the strong arguments against the legislation will be,  and more importantly where they will come from?  Perhaps the church,  a coalition of religious organizations,  questioning the morality of the proponents.  I was raised catholic,  and just can’t imagine the Vatican taking a hard line against this proposal.  The church is being overwhelmed with huge problems regarding sexual abuse of children by some priest.  Moreover,  the constant cover-ups and lack of full disclosure to proper authorities,  make it impossible for the vatican to take the “moral high ground”.  Some law enforcement agencies may want to challenge the legislation.  I’m convinced that all of their concerns will be based on logistics.  The who,  when,  where, and how people will be allowed to smoke pot?  Little doubt that the administration has done its’ homework and has those answers.  The Board of Education must have a seat at the table to assist educators attempting to explain this new reality to children.  Truthfully,  the only real change will be the ability to purchase the weed in a store,  as opposed to some dark alley.  The legalization of cannabis won’t create a “reefer madness” societal response.  Those that smoke will continue burning weed,  on the other hand those that don’t will not be lining up at the smoke shops.  I believe that many people gave up smoking pot out of fear of losing their jobs,  as many corporations began testing employees randomly for drug use.  Civil servants (police, fireman, etc.) could not smoke and keep their jobs.  However,  alcohol abuse and dependency is alive and well,  living in the very fabric of our work force.  I’m inclined to believe that some folks would change their allegiance from alcohol to marijuana.  I could be wrong,  but many of these type of questions may soon be answered.

In 1937,  the Marihuana Tax Act became the law of the land.  It was the first piece of legislation to begin the process of criminalizing  the use and possession of marijuana.  The legislation itself was actually a ploy to encourage people to secure a government stamp,  for possession use or sale of the weed.  The government would provide a handful of stamps,  thus controlling the substance and its revenue.  In 1939,  MayorFiorello La Guardia of New York City commissioned a study of marijuana, conducted by the New York Academy of Medicine.  Some of the findings may surprise some readers. Although some of the remarks are particular to NYC,   others are worth mentioning.  The study found,  “the practice of smoking marijuana does not lead to addiction in the medical sense of the word.  Another finding states,  “marijuana is not the determining factor in the commission of major crimes”,  unlike alcohol.  I found the following statement most profound, ”the use of marijuana does not lead to the use of morphine or heroin or cocaine addiction and no effort is made to create a market for these narcotics by stimulating the practice of marijuana smoking”.  The people in the great state of California may take the first step in creating a global discussion regarding present-day drug laws.