[Source: California Republican Party News]

The progressives that advocate the legalization of marijuana are conveniently empathetic; a mind altering drug is acceptable if it potentially raises revenue, despite the societal Pandora's Box that it opens.<br /><br />California has become consumed with an extremely perverse form of progressivism. This ideological drug is so addictive, that its physical counterpart, marijuana, has qualified as a ballot measure for legalization.<br /> <br />Last month I wrote a piece called <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://blog.cagop.org/2010/04/back-to-reality.html">Back to Reality</a></span>, in which I explained the harsh realities of drug abuse, urban decay, and other societal woes. I was completely mystified by the response. Marijuana users e-mailed me in droves, relying on half-baked and unsubstantiated medical reasons for statewide legalization as if to say that marijuana is the only drug capable of alleviating pain. <br /><br />How pathetic. Since appealing to compassion doesn't work, let's try a more logical and analytical approach.<br /><br />Just think of the mountains of new laws and regulations that will have to be enacted to regulate legalized marijuana. What would be the legal limit for drivers? What about passengers who are smoking-will there be a law prohibiting contact buzz? Go for a jog and ask yourself these questions. How will we determine who is too high? Will the state create an apparatus? Wouldn't that cost more money... where would the revenue come from to enforce these laws? If you guessed out your pocket...bingo.<br /> <br />Let's have a look at the potential impact on business. How will HR departments across the state handle this? Will businesses be forced to allow their employees hourly "pot breaks?" How will that affect productivity? I can tell you... probably for the worse.<br /> <br />There is a tax for everything in this state. If you don't believe me, ask all the small business owners who have fled California in search of tax asylum. Marijuana would only lead this state down a similar tax-ridden path. Who would enforce these new laws and regulations? Would the state create a tax to fund a bureau of marijuana control? Or would it rely on the already understaffed and overburdened local police departments? Both answer leads to more money coming out of your pocket to support someone else's habit.<br /> <br />So many questions, not enough answers.<br /> <br />A drug dealer is not going to give up his income. It's just not going to happen. Even if they did, marijuana is a cash only business. Drug dealers don't walk around with a sign that says "VISA and MASTERCARD accepted". Drug dealers could rake in thousands of dollars and report as little as 50 cents if they wanted to, and the Board of Equalization wouldn't able to do a thing about it. I can only imagine that the medical marijuana system would suffer as well. If everyone can grow marijuana, what happens to those small businesses that legitimately produce the drug? It is not a sustainable system.<br /> <br />Everybody knows somebody who, while stoned, suddenly came up with the "idea of a lifetime." Unfortunately, those great ideas tend to look not so great the next morning after the buzz wears away. The people who believe taxing marijuana makes perfect sense, man, sound like they've been busy smoking the same stuff they want legalized.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4415342305243133312-637317794131866284?l=blog.cagop.org' alt='' /></div>