Cross posted from the OC Progressive
Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a member of the House's Homeland Security committee, today has called for a pilot program for legalized marijuana in California, The Hill reports.
My colleague over at the OC Progressive posted this great video of our OC Rep Loretta Sanchez proposing a pilot program for California. There has already been a bill introduced in the State Legislature and the topic has picked up a lot of momentum amidst the budget crisis as the State searches for more reliable sources for revenue. But there is another very important issue related to the legalization of marijuana.
"Well, certainly there is one drug — it's called alcohol — that we prohibited in the United States and had such a problem with as far as underground economy and cartels of that sort that we ended up actually regulating it and taxing it," she said. "And so there has always been this thought that maybe if we do that with drugs, it would lower the profits in it and make some of this go away."
Sanchez's comments come amidst a furious drug war in Mexico between drug cartels. Sanchez's subcommittee would have direct jurisdiction over the American side of the war.
Additionally, the suggestion also comes after the federal government announced it would not prosecute many medical marijuana consumers in California, a change in tone from the Bush administration. The Obama administration also named Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as its drug czar this week.
There is a drug war going on beyond our border with Mexico and it's spilling into the State of California. It's not pretty and it's hurting both our countries. We should do something to help alleviate the violence and to help those across the border.
The US has said it is considering using the National Guard as a last resort to counter the threat of drug violence in Mexico spilling over the border.
The plan was outlined by Roger Rufe of the Department of Homeland Security in a House of Representatives hearing.
US state governors with borders joining Mexico have expressed growing concern over the impact of Mexican cartels which have links to US gangs.
There were more than 6,000 drug-related killings in Mexico in 2008.
Many of the battles over turf and smuggling routes - sometimes involving decapitations - are fought using US weapons smuggled south to Mexico.
BBC News
And the other issue? Hemp. No one wants to say it but it's important and could be a highly sustainable crop for our state, which is going through a drought and could be a reliable and stable crop for years to come. Our use of paper and old growth forests is obscene (Mr. Whipple Left It Out: Soft Is Rough on Forests) and we must change how we see cotton and paper use in our Country.
I applaud Rep. Loretta Sanchez for backing this movement towards legalization and she makes another really important point, many in the state of California support the legalization of pot as well.
A new Zogby poll shows that 44 percent of voters now support taxing and regulating marijuana - and as many as 58 percent in the western states back legalization. As usual, California is ahead of the rest of the nation. Ammiano's bill provides a path-breaking blueprint for change that would benefit our economy, safety and freedom by making marijuana a winning proposition for California.