My diary from Friday highlighted the Drug Policy Alliance op ed in the WSJ that got front page attention yesterday. After I posted, I learned that MPP.tv has a new video on this topic:
We Kossacks have to ensure all of that talk about 'change' applies to our idiotic drug policies as well. Contact your legislators below the fold.
Interested in telling your legislators to change the drug policy? MPP makes it easy.
H.R. 5842: the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act
H.R. 5842 would end marijuana's classification as a Schedule I drug and would allow states to determine their own medical marijuana policies without federal interference.
H.R. 5843: the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008
Representative Frank's legislation would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of one ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana.
On other posts about changing drug policy, I've seen speculation about the savings/revenue from taxing and regulating marijuana. The 2005 report by Jeffery Miron, The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition, has the endorsement of 500+ economists.
The report estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $5.3 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $2.4 billion would accrue to the federal government.
The report also estimates that marijuana legalization would yield tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco.