The current economic crisis may have one significant upside. It may convince Californians to finally legalize marijuana, so it can be taxed, thereby raising much-needed revenues for the state. Earlier this year, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco introduced a bill in the state legislature to decriminalize pot and tax it. And now backers of a measure that would legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in California and allow the state to tax its sales hope to put their initiative on the statewide 2010 ballot. According to the Chron, Oaksterdam University, a medical marijuana education center and dispensary in downtown Oakland, is backing the pot legalization measure and founded TaxCannibis2010.org. Supporters plan to start gathering signatures in August. The measure would allow adults, 21 years and older, to legally possess up to an ounce of pot for personal use and a grow space not bigger than 5-feet-by-5-feet. All we can say is — it’s about time that something good came out of this economic misery. — Robert Gammon
