Kids Speaking Up: Tax on Marijuana Could Boost State Revenue

Rather than outlawing the prevalent weed, we should put it to legal use

By Justin Morris, Kids Speaking Up | Published on 03.25.2009

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There exists a certain political faction that feels very worried by the thought that President Obama might be able to legalize marijuana. Frankly, they are a bit late to be worried about that particular problem.

Marijuana (pot, weed, dope, etc.) is incredibly commonly used, when you consider that at the moment it is still illegal. Not only that, but people who are much more intelligent than the ones who make the laws have demonstrated that legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco are just as dangerous, if not more so. Taking that into account, there seem to be only two choices: Legalize marijuana, or outlaw alcohol and tobacco along with it. And the last time we tried to outlaw alcohol, that was called Prohibition. It didn’t really work so well.

With all the pot smokers out there today, it might as well be legal already. In the media today, celebrities can say to the world that they use marijuana without any serious consequences. Even Olympic athlete Michael Phelps only lost a few sponsorships when he was caught taking a bong hit at a party. Other examples of open pot smokers include Seth Rogen and Willie Nelson. You may not find that surprising, but they are still subject to the same laws of society as anybody else.

For me, the scenario hits much closer to home. I cannot go one week without hearing a classmate speak openly about how high they were over the weekend. Last week, an acquaintance turned to me and asked me for money for weed, as he finished a detailed conversation with his friend about his experiences while high. Furthermore, there is barely any punishment for this behavior. On March 20, in my Career Connections class, sheriff’s Deputy Mike Hunter, whose jurisdiction includes my high school, gave us a talk. He repeatedly emphasized how he tries to “get to know” kids who he catches smoking pot and “understand them,” and “come to an agreement.” If that is the way we are going to react to marijuana use, then there is no point in outlawing it.

In addition to all of this, legalizing marijuana could very well be economically viable. Rather than letting the marijuana business go unregulated and untaxed, we could make it legal, let the government give it some oversight, and tax it to make a profit. The situation today can use all the money we can get, and the cause of it is just proof that we need that oversight. It will be safer for everyone, and it won’t change anything. With the knowledge most people have, legalizing marijuana would not cause them to change their minds about marijuana. Were we to make pot legal, we would only be giving those people that choice. They wouldn’t need to use marijuana, but those who already did would be able to make that decision, as well.

— Justin Morris is a Dos Pueblos High freshman and contributor to Kids Speaking Up, a local group working to educate youth on social, national and political issues and inspire them to write.

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» Losing America on 03.25.09 @ 11:05 PM

A persuasive argument but a sad statement on the state of our society from someone who probably knows best- an eye witness to our youth. A stoned nation and a war on the border to feed the demand. Stoned students who will become our doctors, politicians, engineers, scientists and lowering the standards of all professions. What have we come to when legalizing pot is no longer an absurd option?

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» pervasive tolerance and permissiveness on 03.25.09 @ 11:09 PM

“sheriff’s Deputy Mike Hunter, whose jurisdiction includes my high school, gave us a talk. He repeatedly emphasized how he tries to “get to know” kids who he catches smoking pot and “understand them,” and “come to an agreement.” If that is the way we are going to react to marijuana use, then there is no point in outlawing it. “

This is the message we send or kids with our liberal “tolerance” and understanding? You can’t even argue with Justin’s very true statement - how can authority be respected if there is none? Shame on Deputy Hunter. Whatever became of law enforcement and discipline?

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» Losing America on 03.25.09 @ 11:10 PM

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» Berry on 03.25.09 @ 11:15 PM

How can law be respected if it isn’t enforced by our own law enforcement and our role models are all high too? Sadly Justin is right. The adults have become the children in our society. Justin sounds more mature and intelligent than most adults. A very good argument, even though I dread the day when pot is legal and do not agree we should have even come to this point, but hey he’s right, we are already there. - But once it’s legal there are no more excuses for the people running our country not to be drugged - nuclear plant operators, brain surgeons, train engineers - we know the politicians already are.

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» Point of no return on 03.26.09 @ 02:40 AM

What a sad commentary on our country when children, and the writer is just a child, advocates the use of an illegal drug that harms more than it helps.

We truly have become the Late,Great State of California.

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» Wow on 03.26.09 @ 02:46 AM

“Stoned students who will become our doctors, politicians, engineers, scientists and lowering the standards of all professions.”
You think that smoking pot will make people lazy and lower the standards… Ironic, coming from someone who is too lazy themselves to do research about marijuana. From my experience, the hardest working people I know (I’m an investment banker) use pot responsibly. I guess we found the root of your argument, YOU would lower the standard of work IF you smoked. Just because you are a lazy person at heart (and it’s apparent you are because you haven’t done your due diligence on the topic). Oh and yes, apparently Michael Phelps is lowering the standards. I can’t help but laugh at you.

“But once it’s legal there are no more excuses for the people running our country not to be drugged - nuclear plant operators, brain surgeons, train engineers - we know the politicians already are.”
What an ignorant statement. Do you really think that if pot was legal those people would go to work high? Are you kidding me? The vast majority of marijuana users do it only at night, a couple times a week.

You people need to do your research before you start talking about out of your asses. You are looking like complete morons. Good job.

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» Are you that ignorant? on 03.26.09 @ 04:51 AM

Do these nuclear plant workers go to work drunk everyday considering alcohol is legal? I’m sure all you haters will disagree, but marijuana is also one of the safest and most effective medicines for many available… trust me I know. This is coming from a local Santa Barbara citizens that contributes to the community far more than the average. Am I lazy and unmotivated? Not if you knew me. Research the history of Marijuana prohibition and think you might start to understand how ridicilous this all is.

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» buckwheat on 03.26.09 @ 05:07 AM

Have you ever thought about who is against legalizing drugs? How about law enforcement. It keeps them in business. How about the prison industry. It keeps them in business. How about the drug dealers. It enables them to reap huge profits which wouldn’t be possible if drugs were legalized.

Wow is correct. Many professionals use marijuana responsibly without having any adverse effects on their livelyhoods. The reason why the D.A.R.E. program didn’t work is because too many lies were being told to the school students.

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» Sad Santa Barbara on 03.26.09 @ 06:38 AM

I knew the pot addicts would soon be chiming in…
An investment banker huh? That explains a heck of a lot about how all the banks are tanking - don’t they require drug tests at your bank? Maybe they should start making it a requirement for receiving bailout money. Pot turns off your brain - that’s why all you potheads love it so much. I grew up in the sixties too idiots - I remember all of the “parties” with a bong in the middle and nobody saying a word for hours because their brains were in idle - same people that are now running the banks and the country apparently. Oh and apparently it makes you a really nice person too, judging from your attitude banker boy.

listen kid, the adults in this town are too stoned to realize the way to boost state revenue is to allow oil drilling!

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» Listen kid on 03.26.09 @ 06:44 AM

The way to boost state revenue is to get all the adult pothead “environmentalists” to realize that we need to drill for oil, and it isn’t the end of the world if we do! There is taxable oil to cure the state budget and more! It starts with taking the reefer out of their mouths, not legalizing it.

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» Losing America on 03.26.09 @ 06:54 AM

Hey “Wow” or is it “Wow man” - put down the bong and read it again. I didn’t even use the word “lazy” - apparently it is your own guilty conscience that said that. My point is I don’t want anyone with impaired judgment, slowed reaction time and paranoia handling nuclear power plants, working on my brain or heart at the hospital, leaving out a few thoughts in the Quality Control process at the factory and having a good pot giggle over it, throwing the wrong switch at the old power plant and saying “oops” and letting out a Spicolli laugh, or in your case, handling my money. I forgot to add to the list “investment bankers”. Now I see why all the banks have tanked.

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» To WOW on 03.26.09 @ 07:16 AM

Why are you so angry?

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» Art on 03.26.09 @ 07:45 AM

5. Many of the currently illegal drugs were sold over the counter in the last century.
6. We tried to abolish alcohol and found that, like marijuana, the law was largely ignored. But the infrastructure that grew up to provide the liquor became the well-entrenched crime organization we refer to as the mafia. Now we’re doing it again but the crime organizations go by names such as the sinaloa cartel.
7. The writer that wrote “Stoned students who will become our doctors, politicians, engineers, scientists and lowering the standards of all professions.” obviously hasn’t been paying attention - they HAVE become our doctors, politicians, etc. just like many generations that abused alcohol as students have also become our doctors, politicians, etc.
As Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” I think we should think about that, stop doing the same thing over and over and try a new direction.

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» Don't discrimate! on 03.26.09 @ 07:53 AM

Yeah Losing, how dare you offend a pothead by calling him lazy… worthless drug addict might be more accurate. Oops! That was not very PC of me was it? I must be a bigot. Don’t laugh soon we will have laws on the books against discriminating against potheads and anytime one is the victim of an attack it will be a “hate crime”.

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» Hey Wow on 03.26.09 @ 07:54 AM

If you think pot is so harmless and ordinary how about telling us what bank you work at?

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» Change of Heart on 03.26.09 @ 07:56 AM

After so many years of supporting the prohibition of cannabis (for religious reasons) I have recently changed my mind. We now have decades of research and come to find out that some of our beliefs were myths.

Here are a few crazy statements: http://www.uccs.edu/~rmelamed/Physics of Life/Homepage/Marijuana and Racism.html

If we were living during the end of prohibition of alcohol in the 1930’s similar statements would have been made by well-meaning people… That alcohol was bad and destroys minds and families, and the harm that would be done to society would be so great that it would destroy the country.

The fact is that no substance ban works as initially intended. Americans! This prohibition is THE reason for the war on our southern border now. If drugs were legalized then there would be no black market. Just like when alcohol was re-legalized the illegal market for it dried up overnight.

Keep in mind that 100% of the drug lords SUPPORT prohibition of marijuana. It’s ironic that probably 90% of Christians are on the same side as the drug lords on this issue. I am one of the 10% who no longer agree with drug lords.

Google “KANEH BOSM” and see that cannabis may appear to be used during worship of the Lord in the Bible. If this is true (and I haven’t done a large amount of research yet) then that will likely change the minds of a good number of Christians.

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» Conservatives have destroyed our country. on 03.26.09 @ 08:20 AM

[Editor’s note: Clean up your language and we’d be happy to post your comment. But don’t spew profanity and then cry censorship.]

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» Art on 03.26.09 @ 08:32 AM

I guess that my first comment (including my points 1-4) was too long and was cut.
But the point that I was trying to make was that, in spite of decades of the “war on drugs” and the expenditure of trillions of dollars in tax payer money and losses due to crimes to pay for drugs, we see the problem continuing to grow not diminish.
I suggest that is time that our national “leaders” look at the facts, not the entrenched emotional positions, and start a dialog to come up with another course of action.
We’ve got a huge money sink, a huge and expensive prison population, a huge criminal infrastructure built around drug sales and yet the drug cartels are growing - now branching out to human smuggling as an adjunct to drug sales and smuggling.
Whatever our individual beliefs are about the morality of marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, whatever, what we have been doing just is not working to stem the flow of illegal drugs.

[Editor’s note: We don’t make any cuts. It’s the Internet and the space is unlimited. Not sure what happened but I only see the post that has 5-7. Odd.]

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» Conservatives have destroyed our country. on 03.26.09 @ 08:54 AM

....it is my opinion….your opinion is based only in censorship…and you did exactly what I said you would. That is why arguments like this are a complete waste of time. This young man…has a perfectly valid column…and it makes sense. Have fun at your cross burning party later!

[Editor’s note: Clean up your language and try again. If you think the points made in the Kids Speaking Up column deserve respect, don’t cheapen the author’s work by being so disrespectful of our readers.]

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» to Art on 03.26.09 @ 10:40 AM

Yes but here’s the problem - if something is legalized, it then sends a message to the public that it is “ok” to do it recklessy and endlessly with impunity, even though it is damaging to society. Look at Justin’s statement based on the attitude of law enforcement that it isn’t such a bad thing to do:

“If that is the way we are going to react to marijuana use, then there is no point in outlawing it”

So why stop at legalizing pot then? Should we legalize everything that an addict demands to the detriment of society as a whole? If you want to smoke I am sure you have found your way to do that regardless of law. But let’s not send the wrong message by legalizing it - that it is “ok” because it is NOT, nor is alcohol.

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» ThinkingCapOn on 03.26.09 @ 11:33 AM

Seems like those who are against legalization would also support outlawing alcohol since I’m pretty sure they don’t want doctors and nuclear power plant operators working while drunk. If pot was legal it would not mean it’s Ok to work or drive while under the influence. It would only mean that instead of buying it on the black market you’d buy it at the store and it’d be taxed.

Why do some many conservatives have so much disdain for those who are different from them?

They don’t smoke pot so it’s bad. They don’t need help with health care so don’t fix it. They don’t mind paying $4.00 a gallon for gas so just keep drilling. They are doing very well thank you so let’s not change anything. I hope that we never let another one of these closed minded people get anywhere near the oval office.

Keep up the good work Justin. Way to use your brain and look at an issue from a fresh perspective. Our country is moving forward and there will be lots of opportunity for young people like yourself to solve some important problems.

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» nancy drew on 03.26.09 @ 02:06 PM

Just the simple fact a high school freshman can opine on this topic and then write about it in a daily newspaper says a lot about Mary Jane and how its currently viewed.

To blame the investment banker above who occasionally tokes for the current banking crisis is frankly absurd.

The claims of stoned nuclear engineers, brain surgeons, etc….is also hard to comprehend. Here is a news flash for you. Drs, lawyers, prime ministers, queens, kings all toke…now and then

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» Art on 03.26.09 @ 02:53 PM

In response to the question posed to me, I am not advocating legalizing marijuana and all drugs that people might want to use, although that is certainly one option that should be explored.

What I AM saying is that what we have been doing isn’t working and the unintended consequences are taking a huge toll in dollars and lives from our society.

So I think it is time for our “leaders” to open a dialog to look at ALL alternatives to come up with a DIFFERENT way to deal with the issue than the failed way we keep clinging to.

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» Nice idea but.... on 03.26.09 @ 03:42 PM

Tobacco, alcohol and oil and gas are legal and already taxed like crazy, yet the state economy is still a disaster - another taxable commodity isn’t going to solve our problems until we purge the spendthrift legislature.

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» owl man on 03.26.09 @ 03:44 PM

wah wah waaaahhh! wah! de’ mean ole’ libr’als is pickin’ on us agin! Wah waaaaah wahhh!!!

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» So Art.... on 03.26.09 @ 03:47 PM

Are you suggesting we don’t just stop at legalizing pot, but we also legalize meth, crack, heroine etc etc, because the “huge money sink, a huge and expensive prison population, a huge criminal infrastructure” surely isn’t just the result of marijuana? where do we stop after pot legalization and what has it solved? there will still be drug cartels going after the more concealable, easier to manufacture (meth) and profitable stuff..

What have you been smoking?

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» nancy drew on 03.26.09 @ 04:13 PM

Just the simple fact a high school freshman can opine on this topic and then write about it in a daily newspaper says a lot about Mary Jane and how its currently viewed.

To blame the investment banker above who occasionally tokes for the current banking crisis is frankly absurd.

The claims of stoned nuclear engineers, brain surgeons, etc….is also hard to comprehend. Here is a news flash for you. Drs, lawyers, prime ministers, queens, kings all toke…now and then

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» Concerned American on 03.26.09 @ 06:52 PM

This is a moral issue. Well over 30 million Americans have been incarcerated since the war on drugs started in 1970s. That is like sending everyone in Texas to prison, just for making a poor choice. I have watched this war destroy the lives of so many youths once entering our criminal justice system. These are not criminals, we haved waged a war on our own neighbors, friends, and family. Now as a teacher and a father, I pray that our youth today survive their youthful mistakes, just as I, Obama, Bush, Clinton, and Washington did. I would rather live in a free society where we are allowed to make human mistakes than a facist society where we are arrested doing what we have done since god put us here on earth.

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» A Dad in Upstae NY on 03.26.09 @ 07:57 PM

Let’s get real here folks. Somking pot, while not good for you is far less dangerous than it is being made out to be - too many reruns of Reefer Madness.

Pot is one of the 4 drugs most widely consumed everyday worldwide along with Alcohol, Tobacco and Caffienne.

Which one kills the most people per year - Tobacco and Alcohol - no deaths directly from sitting on the couch with a joint and a cup of java.

Which is most physically addictive - Alcohol, Tobacco and Caffienne. Again, pot is a distant fourth.

In fact if we were to look at whether to legalize the most commom of all, cafffienne (assuming it were not currently legal), we would be legalizing a hightly addictive white powered stimulant that in a high dosage can result in death - you would pass out before you could overdose - 1st hand experience here :-)

Pot just ain’t that bad - I am not saying it is healthy for you but neither is that Big Mac with the Super Size Fries and Shake - oh yeah, I forgot - obesity and high cholestrol kill a lot of people every year - love to see the DEA come in guns blazing and shut down Mickey-Ds.

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» Just Another Thought on 03.26.09 @ 08:15 PM

Just a thought. How can you classify marijuana with a toxicity so low that an overdose is nearly impossible with drugs such as alcohol? Using marijuana is nothing more then safer way, in comparison to alcohol, to become intoxicated and have a good time. Why are there assumptions that the nation will go straight to hell once it’s legalized? The majority of the nation does things in moderation and any substance (even something as basic as food) can be abused with detrimental affects.

I’m not sure on the exact number but I believe it is something along the line of over 10 million people use marijuana at least once a month. When people talk about legalizing every other drug, the usage for the other substances are no where near this. On no level should it be assumed that the domino effect will happen and every other drug will in turn become legal.

Here’s a nice article too on the harm of various drugs and how they compare to each other: http://www.antiproibizionisti.it/public/docs/thelancet_20070323.pdf

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» Art on 03.27.09 @ 02:43 AM

» So Art…. wrote “Are you suggesting we don’t just stop at legalizing pot, but we also legalize meth, crack, heroine etc etc, because the “huge money sink, a huge and expensive prison population, a huge criminal infrastructure” surely isn’t just the result of marijuana? <SNIP> What have you been smoking?”

What I suggest is that we look at facts and look at all options to come up with a different way to deal with the problem. Legalizing, taxing and controlling all drugs is certainly one option that should be analyzed.

As to what I smoke, actually I don’t smoke anything. I’m in my 70s and have never even smoked marijuana. Its popularity in the ‘60s came along after I was married…

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» All Guilty on 03.27.09 @ 05:22 AM

ANYONE who buys or sells pot is a criminal. Period.
The drug cartels in Mexico have killed over 2,000 people in 1 year, protecting their drug trade. ANYONE in California who has purchased pot is a criminal accessory after the fact, and thereby has the blood of thousands of innocent people on their hands.

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» SB Res on 03.27.09 @ 08:33 AM

Pervasive use of Marijuana was around long before this recent argument surfaced. What I find interesting is that the very people who often oppose its legal use, the stone throwers so to speak, come from an era that legitimized recreational use of drugs: the 60s.

Unfortunately, this entire debate stems from Regan’s “War on drugs” that every politician since that time has decided to emanate. Recreational use of marijuana would be an excellent source of revenue from both taxes and simply because this silly war on drugs that costs lives and money could be cut to a minimum.

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» FROM THE TEENS on 03.27.09 @ 03:49 PM

There is a great list of opinions on this subject from other teens themselves here:

http://www.independent.com/news/2009/mar/27/will-teens-smoke-more-dope-if-pot-legal/

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» Kids are smarter than adults on 03.27.09 @ 03:58 PM

These comments from some teens should put some of our “adult” potheads to shame (but it won’t):

from http://www.independent.com/news/2009/mar/27/will-teens-smoke-more-dope-if-pot-legal/:

Lara, 17, Fair Oaks, CA: The mind is amazing and right now we need good minds. People think weed enlightens you but it doesn’t. Regular users just can’t remember what a natural high feels like.

Elizabeth, 20, Rocklin, CA: It shouldn’t be legalized. There would be more dropouts, more unemployment, more “high” drivers, more obesity.

Michael, 17, Fair Oaks, CA: It bothers me that it’s being debated as a fix for the economy instead of on its own merits. Right now 80 percent of young people don’t see weed as bad. But remove parental disapproval (a big reason many teens don’t use) and use would probably go up. My worries: Would we become slower and dumber? How will second-hand smoke affect children?

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» Bob on 03.28.09 @ 05:57 AM

Hummm…

So cigarette smoking is bad. We don’t want it any where. We hate second-hand smoke.

But now, we want to legalize marijuana smoke? It’s still smoke.

I know people whose lives have been ruined by drugs and that started with marijuana. I know, it sounds like a lame 1950s speech, but it is true.

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» A local teacher on 03.28.09 @ 02:05 PM

Do not judge Deputy Hunter. He does outstanding work with teenagers who often are completely ignoring their parents. I’ve seen him in action. The police have an incredibly difficult job, balancing a tightrope of judgement calls that enable them to keep the school community safe from random or planned extreme violent acts. They have to pick their battles. Don’t judge, but support them.

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» ES on 03.28.09 @ 02:39 PM

To those against lifting the ban:

How many of you would vote for a ban of alcohol and cigarettes?

If you say no, stop posting and look at yourself, and your argument, in the mirror.

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» my two cents on 03.29.09 @ 08:19 AM

Yes, it is sad how spread is the use of drugs to the point—as someone mentioned already—the thought of legalizing drugs is not that absurd anymore. Mexican President Calderon believes that legalization of drugs is not an option, he believes in working together—USA and Mexico—against the drug cartels. No break, our children are first. No to drugs. It is true there is a war at the border, because Mexico cannot permit the corruption and stoning of our youth whether they are Mexican or American. Let’s work together for our children

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» Really Worried! on 03.30.09 @ 02:30 PM

Congratulations to person who wrote:

Yes but here’s the problem - if something is legalized, it then sends a message to the public that it is “ok” to do it recklessly and endlessly with impunity, even though it is damaging to society. Look at Justin’s statement based on the attitude of law enforcement that it isn’t such a bad thing to do:

“If that is the way we are going to react to marijuana use, then there is no point in outlawing it”

You got it right.

Hey! Has everyone missed the fact that Justin is a high school kid? That would suggest that kids his age, or younger, are in favor of legalizing pot smoking. Hmmm…. Although certainly not enforced correctly, both cigarettes and alcohol sales are age restricted. Would this be true for yet another societal detriment? Why are we constantly looking for ways to numb ourselves? Cigarettes are harmful to everyone in the vicinity, not to mention, they stink! Pot smells even worse. Alcohol is way too accessible to those who are under age or homeless. And, all of these things just become more litter for our streets and eventually, our oceans. Where does this insanity end? Everyone wants what he or she wants, no matter what the consequences or how it affects others. When did we forget how to be responsible? It’s kind of like allowing taller buildings in the downtown area. You let one happen and others WILL follow.

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» AN50 on 03.30.09 @ 10:52 PM

We older guys enjoy lighting up too!

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» Bill B on 04.03.09 @ 05:39 AM

Prohibition was a total failure with ethyl alcohol in the ‘Roaring Twenties’, just as it is NOW with Cannabis. End this folly called ‘prohibition’ ONCE and FOR ALL and it will end most if not all of the drug war bloodshed in Mexico.

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» by comparison on 04.07.09 @ 08:16 AM

Marijuana has no long term psycological effects only a decrease in short term memory the worst of which ceases within the first 8 hours. Alcohol will destroy and corrode your brain.

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» theAuthor on 04.25.09 @ 11:51 AM

Hey, guys, it’s Justin. Thanks for responding; dialogue like this is an important part of getting things done in our society. However, that doesn’t excuse the post-whores and flamers who inevitably show up. But I digress.

I’m not going to get into this debate, because I think I’ve stated my postition as well as I can already. I do, however, want to say three things. First off, I do not smoke pot. Ever. But that doesn’t change the fact that many of my peers do, and I have to constantly confront that reality. Secondly, I’m not 100% sure that legalizing pot would be the best choice, though it would certainly have its benefits. The big point here is that we need to confront the glaring fallacies about how we as a nation deal with this issue. Finally, something I forgot to mention as in-depth as I would have liked to: Were we to legalize marijuana, we would have the opportunity to regulate it so that users could access it in the safest way possible. We could take an approach similar to Vancouver (please fact-check me on this), where they provide safe places and sterilized needles and other equipment for heroin/cocaine/meth addicts. We know people are going to smoke whether we like it or not; why not help them stay safe?

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» bryan on 06.20.09 @ 01:32 PM

good job kid very well articulated keep it up. do u partake in the sticky icky the mango tango the maui wowi the kushy gushy the purple urple the green goblin,,,, have u met MR marley assistant.

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