California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Says it is “Time for Debate” on Legal Marijuana

Arnold Schwarzenegger before his political days smoking a joint

At least Arnold is consistent albeit wrong on the issue.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday it’s time for California to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use, though he’s not yet advocating for such a change.

The governor was asked about a recent Field Poll showing that 56 percent of registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenues for cash-strapped California. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has proposed legislation that would legalize the drug for recreational use, rather than just medical purposes.

“Well, I think it’s not time for that, but I think it’s time for a debate,” Schwarzenegger said. “I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I’m always for an open debate on it. And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?”

He said his native Austria is revisiting some of its marijuana laws, for instance. The Austrian Parliament last year authorized cultivation of medical marijuana.

“It could very well be that everyone is happy with that decision and then we could move to that,” Schwarzenegger said of other nations’ legalization policies. “If not, we shouldn’t do it. But just because of raising revenues … we have to be careful not to make mistakes at the same time.
Schwarzenegger previously has shown a casual attitude toward marijuana. He was filmed smoking a joint in the 1977 film, “Pumping Iron.” And he told the British version of GQ in 2007, “That is not a drug. It’s a leaf.” Spokesman Aaron McLear downplayed the governor’s comment as a joke at the time.

For all intents and purposes, medical marijuana has already legalized “POT” in California. It takes very little effort to get “legal” marijuana in this state.

All Arnold is interested in is to increase state revenues through marijuana taxes to bail out his disasterous overspending budgets.

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One Comment

420 man

May 12, 2009 at 10:02 am

I no for a fact if u take it and put it in stores the price of the products would go down. Rite now we have thugs and drug dealers selling it to the despenceries. Same street drugs. If theres no money to be made the prices go down taxs and the money sales get taxes folks have jobs farmers etc. But if we leave it in the hands of the dealers. its like alcohal prohibition made gansters lots of money when it went leagle the lost there revinew. I pers. cant drink alchol it makes me angry and mad. I alos have autheritis gout. If i smoke a little toke on a joint or pipe. I full reslaxed and mellow never get angry. If all alcoholics smoked pot instead of alc. we wouldnt have as many problems. also our over crowded jails would be norm. cost to run um down. the war on marijuanna money could go for vilent crimes and home land security. or even better education for our young kids. Teach them about drugs and the side affects and cost to americans. mary jane is safe if u smoke it thru a vaporizer also helps prevent cancer. helps folks who have cancer be able to eat food. This has been a losing batle since I was a kid. prohibition has never worked and wont ever work.. It just drove the cost from 10 a bag to 300.00 bag now. and its not the gov. or society getting any of it. Sell like cig. and why grow it. and if u do grow it. then when the elec. comp or gas. comp come on your property to check the metor and notice it growing they could mark a box wich would go to the tax board and they could tax you for growing it. I would rather have my kids smoking grass when they are young adults than drinking trust me. extra tax rev, should be used to open rehab centers for all who need help. any oh who Know its getting close. I will see it in my life. Its already pretty much leagle anyone can get a card for med. marijuanna u got headaches or cant sleep aurthritis. pain. muscle spazums etc. u name it u can get it…. So again only one making money now are the thugs on the street whom are groing and selling it for big bucks to med. desp. and they are the ones running the desp. so come on get a clue gov. leagleize it and make the money your war on it will never work and has cost us trillions of dollors that couldve been spent on helping folks.

420 man

May 12, 2009 at 10:02 am

I no for a fact if u take it and put it in stores the price of the products would go down. Rite now we have thugs and drug dealers selling it to the despenceries. Same street drugs. If theres no money to be made the prices go down taxs and the money sales get taxes folks have jobs farmers etc. But if we leave it in the hands of the dealers. its like alcohal prohibition made gansters lots of money when it went leagle the lost there revinew. I pers. cant drink alchol it makes me angry and mad. I alos have autheritis gout. If i smoke a little toke on a joint or pipe. I full reslaxed and mellow never get angry. If all alcoholics smoked pot instead of alc. we wouldnt have as many problems. also our over crowded jails would be norm. cost to run um down. the war on marijuanna money could go for vilent crimes and home land security. or even better education for our young kids. Teach them about drugs and the side affects and cost to americans. mary jane is safe if u smoke it thru a vaporizer also helps prevent cancer. helps folks who have cancer be able to eat food. This has been a losing batle since I was a kid. prohibition has never worked and wont ever work.. It just drove the cost from 10 a bag to 300.00 bag now. and its not the gov. or society getting any of it. Sell like cig. and why grow it. and if u do grow it. then when the elec. comp or gas. comp come on your property to check the metor and notice it growing they could mark a box wich would go to the tax board and they could tax you for growing it. I would rather have my kids smoking grass when they are young adults than drinking trust me. extra tax rev, should be used to open rehab centers for all who need help. any oh who Know its getting close. I will see it in my life. Its already pretty much leagle anyone can get a card for med. marijuanna u got headaches or cant sleep aurthritis. pain. muscle spazums etc. u name it u can get it…. So again only one making money now are the thugs on the street whom are groing and selling it for big bucks to med. desp. and they are the ones running the desp. so come on get a clue gov. leagleize it and make the money your war on it will never work and has cost us trillions of dollors that couldve been spent on helping folks.