84.61%	Yes
12.58%	No

Comment: it should be legal .for all the people that have cancer and other sickness.and for personal use from pensacola fl by kevin

Comment: great idea. it would also end the ridiculous amount of money being spent to jail innocent people from milton by melissa

Comment: Where do you guys come up with these questions, anyway?!! Legalizing any street drug and then taxing it would only create a HUGE blackmarket trade in an other wise "legal" drug. from Milton, Fl by Jim

Comment: People already smoke cigerates, why not marijuana. FL could use this money to pay Law Inforcement, or fix roads. from Pensacola, FL by Rennie

Comment: It is a fact that many Americans use marijuana; it would be smart for the State to place a tax on regulated businesses, which would work to control the substance and make it a safer approach to dealing with the drug. Regulation always works better than prohibition. from Pensacola by Joshua

Comment: Yes, the smoking marijuana leads to heroin use b.s., appearantly didn't apply to the presidency. Stop putting harmless pot smokers in prison to meet state quotas by Robert

Comment: I suffer from a muscle disease that my doctor would prescribe it if we were out west. Not only would it help the state budget, it would help for medical, alternative fuel for our energy crisis as well. from Gulf Shores Al. by Charles K.

Comment: yes! I think legalizing marijuana & taxing it to bring in money to the state is a GREAT IDEA! My husband was diagnosed w/rhabdomyolysis(a fatal muscle disease)& he is constantly sick! Vomiting, chills, etc. & has been told by many of the many doctors he has seen! They have told him that if they could they would prescribe him marijuana to ease the nausea! Not only would it help financially but medically & many other ways! What do we have 2 lose? from Gulf Shores, AL by Tracey

Comment: We are already allowed to purchase alcohol and tobacco legally and these are much more deadly and abused substances. I believe that the decriminalzation/legalization of marijuana would benefit our communities and economy. Many people from ALL types of backgrounds,budgets,classes and wealth choose to use marijuana now even though it is illegal, just because someone smokes marijuana it doesnt make them a "low life" or "criminal"! If legal it would remove and huge burden from the legal system and also give law enforcement more money to fight REAL CRIME. from FWB by M.

Comment: It's about time! Just think about the money that would be saved in our law inforcement duties alone. It would be millions of dollars a year. The tax revenue generated from the controlled sales would be enormous. If you can only convince the state and federal government to let go of old myths about the drug; besides alcohal is a much worse choice and it is legal and went through the same process in the 1930's prohabition. from milton,fl. by frederick

Comment: No way from Laurel Hill Fl by J

Comment: To me Alcohol does more damage went people then marijuana ever has, yet it's legal? Who decided this and why? from Pensacola/FL by Laura

Comment: I don't care for it personally, but I tried it when younger and it's no different from alcohol, which is legal for 21 and older. I say YES! It will keep the pressure off of cigarette smokers who are targeted constantly, too. from Niceville/Florida by J

Comment: yes legalize it and tax it because we are crowding the jails when i don't consider this a crime,people don't go out and kill people when they smoke marijuana like they do when they drink.people are going to smoke marijuana so legalize it and tax it. from pensacola,fl by kim

Comment: Yes it will reduce the prison population, and keep the pallet's of hundred dollar bills from going to Mexico. from Pensacola by NeaL

Comment: why not, you can,t stop it. instead of loosing tax payers money going after it, tax payers could benefit from the taxes raised, including police. from ft.walton bch. by randy

Comment: i promise you states will make alot of money of selling pot. because i myself a pot smoker. would buy gov. regulated pot and be more then happy to pay the state taxes on legal marijuana from gulf of mexico/fl./al. by im

Comment: Marijuana is better than liquor,and beer. from Pensacola,Fl by Bob

Comment: A 10% tax for alcohol & tobacco and a 100% tax on marijuana would certainly help the states budget problems. from FWB, FL by Ray

Comment: Why waste millions tryin to stop the unstoppable. A repeat of prohibition,Legalize it & tax it by TJ

Comment: I think it is a great idea. So many people do it and to legalize it and sell it at $50 an ounce, it will sell like crazy. The state would probably make all the money they need in a weeks time. from Gulf Breeze by Andromahe

Comment: I think that marijuana should be legalized. I think making it available to people 21 and over just like alcohol would benefit states financially, and lower arrests on misdameanor pot possessions. I don't see why this was done long ago, considering marijuana is the only drug that you can't OD on. It's less harmful than alcohol, and if people do drive under the influence of marijuana, it is still not nearly as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol. from Milton, Fl by James

Comment: I know people from 16 to 60 and would pay almost anything to get it i would rather be around people who smoke than people who drink alcohol.and if they could grow and sell it this would bring extra income for them from pen/fl by Robin

Comment: Yes, I believe legalizing marijuana would help stimulate the economy. It would provide many jobs to grow and distribute it along with an unavoidable increase in food sales due from the side effects. Desperate times call for desperate measures and nothing else we are doing seems to be helping. from Pensacola by Danny

Comment: not only will they make money but less people in jail from Milton FL

Comment: Yes legalizing marijuana would be a good way to raise money for the state. The taxes from the sale of marijuana would bring in a lot of money. It is better than alcohol due to the fact that you do not hear of people killing someone while driving when smoking pot as you do with drinking alcohol. You also don't hear about someone beating their spouse while "high" like you do when they are drunk. from milton, fl by beverly

Comment: Legalize all the way ! Tobacco and booze kills thousands every year, we tax them .Marijuana has never killed anyone in the history of mankind.It's a much safer choice . from Crestview by Leonard

Comment: most young people use it to much now. not knowing how much to take from pensacola by james

Comment: I find it hard to believe that in the land of the free that this has ever been allowed to be an issue, particularly with the legalization of alcohol. At some point politicians need to let the science and social attitude dictate the outcome of this subject. Not only can funds be raised legally but it removes the criminal element and frees up law enforcement resources to fight "real" crimes. from Navarre, Fl by Anonymous

Comment: GREAT IDEA!!! LET'S DO IT. from Pensacola,FL by James

Comment: I think it would help out by cuttin down on alot of things. Including Arrest, Incarcerations, And Also Help Raise Money. No one has ever overdosed on Marijuana so i dont see where it is such a harm to anyone...Drinking to me is worse then smokin pot and causes alot more affects when using it..i agree tho u shouldnt drive under the influence and be responsible when using it as they ask u to do when drinking..... from Pensacola,Fl by b

Comment: I Believe this can help with medical needs the over flow of the penal system and would rather go somevhere nice and not be afraid of something god gave us as people to use responsibly as adults. Good luck I dont want to move to California from Cantonment by Barbara

Comment: Legalizng Marijuana would raise needed State Funds and reduce unnecessary costs involved with incarcerating citizens. Alcohol has been legalized for decades and has much worse effects when consummed. from Pensacola, FL by Dan

Comment: yes.By legalizing it, it would help our state. the state could grow it,packaging it,and selling it at adult beverage stores.They could sell it at about $100 plus sales tax.It would generate plenty of money for both city's and state

Comment: HE HAS THE RIGHT IDEA... IT SHOULD BE TREATED NO DIFFERENT THAN ALCOHOL AS FAR AS AGE OF CONSUMPTION, ZERO TOLERANCE FOR OPERATING VEHICLES OR PRODUCTION. IT WILL NEVER BE ERADICATED, JUST LIKE PROHIBITION ALCOHOL MADE IT'S WAY INTO THE HANDS THAT WANTED IT. from AL by REX

Comment: Yes I do think it would help the state raise money. I think it would be better to "chief Out" than go out and get a DUI from Pensacola by Jeremy

Comment: pot has been around and will continue to be so. it only remains being illegal so that users can be discriminated against. alcohol creates more civil distress. from jay by alvan

Comment: The marijuana laws are archaic and absurd. It is a benign substance that has been illegal for TOO long. from Pensacola by Fred

Comment: drug dealers who dont pay taxes will be out of work, there will be more room in our prisons for people who deserve to be there and the market for marijuana is huge, plenty of money could be made this way. from pensacola, fl. by john

Comment: Our country has the ability to raise itself out of a recession..agriculture, as in the 1700's.. (We sure can't make a product at a cost that could compete with the world market anymore)..It is a slow process with the panhandle to adapt to change, but every new law and consideration that has occured locally has been a CALIFORNIA lAW at least 3yrs old..Be First for once..instead of waiting for other states to develope.. NW Florida!(What we need another chain resturant?)I think not! from pensacola fl by james

Comment: YES YES a thousand times YES!!!!!! from jay by ramonda

Comment: Look at all the money that is going out of this country for the sell of Pot. I say yes not just States but the Country as a whole. But then again they might "Lose" to much money if they did that. from baker by joan

Comment: People will never stop smoking and the drug hype is all lies. The drug is less harmful than alcohol and should be legalized anyway. Why not gain some benefit from it and pull our "drug" states out of the financial doldrums. Think of the financial boon it would create! from Pensacola by Frank

Comment: I think they shoulb band the illeagle drug unless it is going to be used for medical purpose only by doctors orders and can only get it by percription only so that the does not get abused and people dont die on purpose from it and want to sue the person who gave the drug to them illeagley or try to kill that person that sold it to them. I ought to know my stepfather is a carck smoker and my mother got rid him really fast. from Pensacola Florida by Kathryn

Comment: i think it is a great idea!!! from foley alabama by christina

Comment: I do not personly use marijuana but its not going away so the state could use the extra tax money !Its no worse than alcohol! from Pensacola,Florida by Claude

Comment: I am for it to be legal but stay out of sales. It just wont work.

Comment: If we legaliz pot which will be the next illegal drug to be legaliz. This will only make it easer for our childern to get there hands on the drug.Is this money worth our childern.We need to stop wasteful spending. Stop the outrageous salary and bonuses.We don't need added problems. If this was a good ideal it would have been legalize back in the 50's from Pen. Fl. by Martha

Comment: I think it would slow down the crime rate and the user will be more comfortable buying it. And it will also put money into the local government and hopefully bring projects for the children in our local communities. from Pensacola, Florida by Tammy

Comment: marijuana needs to be legal. alot of the killings would stop.if people could go to store and buy marijuana they would stop buying and selling on the streets. also you do not see people going out there and killing people because they were ''high''its a mellow drug and I AGREE MAKE POT LEGAL from chickasaw,alabama by taura

Comment: yes it would keep a lot of people out of jail & help the state out. from pen fl by smith

Comment: My three cents. Legalizing marijuana could solve several problems and possibly reduce the use of other more dangerous drugs like crack, cocaine and meph. It might curtail some gang crime and reduce costs to states for housing small time drug sellers in jails. I also think by Legalizing, regulating and licensing the growers: it would help prevent harmful chemicals from being added to the supply and certainly collecting taxes on it would give states a solid reliable revenue source just like taxes on tobacco products. After all, People will use it anyway. It can also be used for many other products like paper and cloth. It has been proven beneficial as treatment and medication of some ailments. All of which can be produced and taxed. Marijuana is less addicting than alcohol and it can have many benefits to the environment as well. Since it is a fast growing plant it could even help reduce the effect of green house gasses... My goodness, a well thought out legalization plan could even help people get legitimate long-term employment and help the overall economy by creating jobs for thousands of people. Even for those of us who don’t smoke marijuana. from pensacola by sandy

Comment: All the decades people have served prison time for this and now a lunitic fruit cake like "Assembleman- what ever the hell that ranks in the drug war" wants to legalize it. Oh yes, I hear them now--they tax alcohol yadda yadda yadda...sh*T fire lets go for broke. Lets legalize crack and get the United States budget in the loop.Heroin-cocaine--$$$$ only from a dip in the fruity state of good old California. Lets make that DUI a traffic violation and make billions. This is the kind of proposal one would expect of one if they used drugs in this case perhaps? I propose an IDIOT TAX and send the first bill to "Assemblyman "Fruitcake" Tom Ammiano. Geeezzzz waht a load of mental farts this guy has. from Pensacola/FL by D

Comment: The "War on Drugs" has been a very expensive in many ways. ( I'm ONLY referring to pot, not meth or coke or whatever todays trend drug is) It's absurd to see someone get more time behind bars for marijuana possession than for a murder or other serious charge. We fill our prisons with minor charges like that instead of people who really did something horrible to another person! The government needs to prioritize this "war" and realize it could be making serious revenue on a basically harmless weed. You won't see someone smoke and turn into a beligerant as****** as one may get while drinking. It could & should be regulated by the Fed just as alcohol is, but they think its better to classify it all as bad. I'm all for it, but $50 an ounce seems like a seriously high tax compared to the value of the product, but our government has always been greedy! from Milton by Sunshine

Comment: Yes, it's all about the money. from pensacola florida by william

Comment: Considering Marijuana is FAR less addictive or physically harmful than either legally available Alcohol or Tobacco, why not roll it into the states tax structure? The black market will suffer, jails will become less crowded, and the state receives tax income. Where is the downside in this proposal? from Pensacola, FL by Matt

Comment: I was against poker but I'm sure the Escambia commissioners would jump for a chance like this for more taxation. seriously, legalized marijuana would create more expense for the county than the revenue it would generate from pensacola by jim

Comment: I have lots of reasons why I think mariuana should be legal but I'll save you the time. I do want to say that I, myself, do NOT smoke but I do believe that it would bring alot of money in taxes to the economy and I also think it would be good for alot of medical reasons as well. My dad takes so many perscription pain meds that I'm sure one day it's going to be the meds that kill him I would rather him smoke to relieve the pain but he will not...be cause it's illegal. Also why is alcohol LEGAL when Marijuana is ILLEGAL? It makes no since. Marijuana does not affect us in as negative of a way as alcohol. Our legal system needs to check their facts. from Milton, FL by V

Comment: What would we be saying to our children, that it's ok to compromise morals and that anything goes?! No way, we have to keep the moral values in place. Substance abuse is wrong and shouldn't be encouraged. I think it would create more problems. from Pensacola,Fl. by Pam

Comment: not only is it a drug, like alocohol.but.it can make the srongest rope in the world,clothing,and oils, and medicine.it would produce millions of jobs to grow and produce products for sale.not to mention the taxes and the savings of all the cops, who could finanaly chase the real bad guys, not the one's sitting at home minding their own business..no matter what they decide they will never win the drug war on this issue. from pensacola/ fl by kathy

Comment: I normally do not respond to issues and I am sorry that I listed myself as being anonymous but I do not want my name listed. But, I can not believe that we are even discussing this issue about legalizing marijuana. I do not care what anyone says, I know from experience that marijuana will destroy our society. Marijuana creates a personality of non-concern for others along with a total lack of consideration for anyone else's perspective. When people have a substance all the time to make them not care about one another or to not be concerned with the welfare of others, serious problems will happen and our society will crumble. Just as the woman for a "Drug Free America" commented, the price our society will pay will be far greater than any amount of money that we could raise from taxes. from Pace, FL by Anonymous

Comment: you would really be suprised if you knew all the people who smoked marijuana. Marijuana is no worse than alcohol, but it is legal. We tax alcohol, so tax marijuana. Think of all the jobs that would be created if marijuana was legalized.

Comment: Definatly so. Over 275,000 people are incarcerated in this country every year for simple posession. This leads to billions of dollars wasted in law enforcement, the courts, incarceration fees. Causing the early release of dangerous criminals due to overcrowding. As well as taking tax paying citizens off the streets. If its the major breadwinner this could result in placing the family on the welfare roles. This does not even address the medical benifits to millions of patients that could stop taking phamicudical drugs which raises medical costs nationwide, as well as addicting people to them. Marijauna use to legal in this country then came the marijuanu tax act of 1937, placing the taxation under the treasury department, which just did not issue tax stamps thus making it illegal to posess. The federal matijuana laws also go against the 10th amendment giving the states the right to govern theirselves. Many studies have been done to prove this I say but I feel it is there is a lot of money spent on lobbiest for the pharmicudical companies to infuince the governing bodies to keep it status quoe because they will lose billions of dollars yearly by not getting patients addicted to "legal" drugs which have many side effects and ruin lives. Also look at the jobs created to grow, harvest, package, distribute, etc. All providing tax paying citizens that spend revenue. And by legalizing it would take the criminal element out of the picture......Marajuana....legalize it...regulate it....tax it. Now thats a stimulus package. from pensacola, fl by leon

Comment: it's about time someone thought of this we would be better off making alcohol illegal and make marijuana legal. less dui"s less deaths from car accidents i can only imagine how much money we could use to raise the defficit. I SAY GO FOR IT, ARNOLD!!! from pensacola fl. by djs

Comment: I believe that the legalization and taxation of marijuana is an excellent idea. A economic boost is just one of the multiple advantages that would come from doing so. For example: making room for real criminals in prison, creating jobs, lower the crime rate drastically, and letting hardworking citizens not feel like criminals just because they choose to unwind with a joint instead of alcohol. Thank you from Milton / Fl by Eric

Comment: ok...i guess legalizing many "other" drugs can also be a good source of revenue for the state...and who are going to be the "manufactors" of these drugs? phillips and morris? from p'cola fl by h

Comment: Do you honestly think that those who have been breaking the law for so long (using marijuana) will actually sit still for paying taxes on something up until now they have been obtaining without worrying about taxes, or breaking the law? Use of illegal drugs is against the law, just as non-payment of taxes is against the law. Now if one were to disregard one law, what makes you think that they would abide by the other? from Mary Esther, Fl. by Tom

Comment: Not only would it help with taxes , I beleive it would help people with medical problems and maybe relieve some of the over-crowding in our prison system .There are and always will be marijuana use . I think a trial period is the only way to truly know the pros and cons of legalization. from Pensacola by Donald

Comment: It should be legal .People should be allowed to grow the weed in there yards . There is no reason a single person should be in jail for a non violent crime such as marijuana . Child molesters and people who steal and commit violent crimes do less time then people who smoke pot . from Pensacola / Florida by Renee

Comment: If we can't beat 'em, join 'em? Is that really the answer? How about making other crimes legal too, just so we don't have to prosecute? That's just ridiculous. Look at what tobacco smokers are facing today because of cigarettes!NO WAY do we want it legalized!!! from Pace, FL by Barb

Comment: It's about time from ft walton by les

Comment: I do not use marijuana, but if all of these others are why not make sure that it is safe and let the Floridians get help by taxing it. I have MS and have heard that it helps with the pain, but I will not do anything that would be against the law! from Pensacola, FL by Roberta

Comment: Criminalization of marijuana makes as much sense as prohibition of alcohol in the early 20th century. If there is a demand for a product, be it marijuana or alcohol, there will be a group willing to fill that demand. This creates a wealthy criminal class which is able to buy "protection", whether in the form of guns or lawyers. Repealing Prohibition did not create a nation of drunkards. Legalizing marijuana will not create a nation of potheads. from Fort Walton Beach, Fl by Fred

Comment: In this time of financial crisis, I feel it would be beneficial. I'm sure after prohibition ended a surge in tax dollars were made on the sale of alcohol. I tried marijuana in college and it is milder than heavy alcohol. I'd rather ride with a driving marijuana smoker than a driving drunk. If people want marijuana, they will find an illegal way to obtain it. Legalize it and profit off a substance that's already widely used. Use the money for education as the school system was one of the reasons I chose to leave Pensacola; that and the lack of employment opportunities. from Houston, TX by Toni

Comment: I thinks the legalization of Marijuana will not only help thae State it would also save space in the Jails for the real Criminals from Pensacola by MaryJane

Comment: I think Marijuana should be legal or at least decriminalized. The states could tax it and it grows from the earth. People have been smoking it for years and it isn't man made, God grew it for a reason. It also helps medical issues such as glaucoma. For Cancer patients it creates an appatite also. I believe it should be legal, it's the least of all evils. It's not synthetic. from Pensacola, fl by R

Comment: Yes it should be legalized....could bring big revenues...in this time of recesson. from Milton by Anne

Comment: Absolutely, it will generate another income for the state and free up police for more important tasks from Cantonment by Rose

Comment: It would solve several problems at one time. It would bring in much needed tax revenue and It would allow law enforcement to use there resources elsware and free up our courts and jails on such a petty crime. from pensacola by wes

Comment: It is immoral to make money off something that does to the mind and body that marijuana does! from Pensacola, FL by Sharon

Comment: legalize it like they did with alcahole. from pensacola,florida by jenny

Comment: it would generate revenue and help get us out of this debt we're in from milton, fl by karen

Comment: I think it would be a great way to raise money, not only in California but in every state. With the economy the way it is, it should be legalized in every state, since all state's seem to be suffering from the economy's downfall. from Milton,FL by Jennifer

Comment: California is very misinformed (as usual). States can add to Federal law to make it more strict but they cannot reduce Federal law. California CANNOT legalize marijuana unless the Federal government does first. from Pace, FL by Gene

Comment: people are going to smoke it regardless, so legalize it tax it, collect the revenue and give our children a better education and health care. something they need badly. from walnut hill, fl by dianne

Comment: using revenue from marijuana would alleviate taxpayer money wasted by law enforcement not seeking "real" criminals from gulf breeze fl by thomas

Comment: It absolutly should be legal,tax it much like beer,wine,cigs ,etc....Its proven to be much safer than other drugs.Does anyone know someone killed from pot smoking?Even the Bible says "God put every plant that bares fruit or flower for man to use and eat". from elberta by mike

Comment: YES. Remember alcohol prohibition. Peoples lives have been ruined due to out dated draconian laws. Legalize it already.Not one person has ever died from a cannabis overdose. from p'cola by sam

Comment: Tax at a higher rate. from Milton, Fl. by James

Comment: I THINK LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD BE THE BEST THING THEY COULD EVER DO TO RAISE MONEY..NOT ONLY WOULD IT MAKE THE ECONOMY LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY..IT WILL ALWAYS LIMINATE VIOLENCE CAUSE NO ONE WOULD BE AS STRESSED from milton,fl by jade

Comment: Arresting and Jailing people for small amounts of marijuana just ties up the court systems and costs everyone money in the long run. Tax it and regulate it. from Pensacola by Bill

Comment: Lets look at this seriously. Marijuana is less addictive, and has fewer dangerous side effects than alcohol. The only reason alcohol is legal and marijuana is not is that the Congressmen and Senators like alcohol too much from Mary Esther by Bryan

Comment: It is an outstanding idea. Alcohol as well as most over-the-counter drugs are far more lethal than marijuana in every way, yet perfectly legal and accepted by today's society. Anyone who takes the time to do even just a little research will discover that the pros of legalizing marijuana far exceed the cons. from Milton by Jeff

Comment: I know people from 16 to 60 who smoke and they will pay almost anything to get it .why not tax it bring more money to the state.I would rather be around someone who smokes it than around people who drink.it will help with more income if people could grow it and sell it from pensacola,fl. by Robin

Comment: LEGALING MARIJUANA WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SMOKE MARIJUANA, REGARDLESS IF IT IS LEGAL OR NOT. THE MONITARY BENEFIT WE WOULD HAVE FROM THESE MARIJUANA SMOKERS WOULD BE A GREAT DEAL. IF THEY WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT LEGALLY WOULD ELIMINATE THE DRUG CARTEL MOSTLY-IF IT WAS LEGAL, THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FROM THE US AND FROM MEXICO AND OTHER FORIEGN CONTRIES WOULD ALMOST GO AWAY. WHY WOULD WE NEED TO SMUGGLE IT IN IF WE CAN GET IT ANYWHERE. PEOPLE MAKE CHOICES- SOME CHOOSE TO DRINK SOME SMOKE CIGARETTES, SOME SMOKE MARIJUANA SOME DO IT ALL, SOME DO NOTHING-THESE ARE ALL CHOICES WE MAKE, IF WE ARE FREE THEN WE SHOULD BE FREE TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES, IF WE CAN GO DOWN AND PURCHASE MARIJUANA LEGALLY, IT WOULD ELIMINATE THOSE SMOKERS FROM GOING INTO BAD NEIGHBOR HOODS AND GETTING INTO A BAD SITUATIONS. SOME OF US ARE BLINDED BY THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE THAN THEY THINK AROUND THEM DO SMOKE- IN THE CLOSET SMOKERS. JUST LIKE ALCOHOL- WE LEGALIZED ALCOHOL AND LOOK WHAT IT HAS DONE TO US, DRUNK DRIVERS HAVE CAUSED SO MANY DEATHS- I HAVE NOT EVER HEARD OF ANYONE JUST GETTING HIGH ON MARIJUANA CAUSING ANY KIND OF CAR ACCIDENT IF ANYTHING MAYBE A TICKET FOR GOING TOO SLOW. from Pensacola by B

Comment: NOOO....we have enough alcholics and drugs users out on the streets now,thats besides the cell phone users. We don't need another added substances abusers. from Cantonment,Fl by Manita

Comment: NORML has been suggesting this since the 1970s. I believe there last estimate, using current usage patterns, suggest that the federal, state and local governments would see $1-3 trillion wind fall. This is after expenses needed to start the program. Nothing to sneeze at. from milton/florida by bob

Comment: Actually, marijuana has several positive qualities: 1. Pain relief = it would be terrific for those suffering from chronic pain 2. Depression = it creates an improved mental outlook about life's problems 3. Anger management = people who use this drug do not have the anger that alcohol and other drugs produce or enhance; marijuana users want to stay home and mellow out; alcohol users frequently go in search of a fight, abuse those less strong, and commit murder and other crimes. 4. Jobs and state income = producing a high quality product would create jobs and the income from taxing it would produce millions in tax money for the state and county. 5. Decreased allure = make it legal and fewer people would want it, esp. teens. The appeal is often the illicit nature of the weed. from Milton by Barbara

Comment: I have not smoked marijuana in many years, but would rather pay taxes and use it legally than half of the pain medications that the doctors keep giving me for my back and anxiety problems. The worst side effect would be that I am able to eat, which is much better than the anxiety and other problems that the pain pills they give me cause. Prohibition didn't work on alcohol and has not worked for marijuana. Legalizing marijuana would take it out of the hands of the gangs and stop them from using the money they make on it to finance their violence and hard drugs. When are we going to admit that marijuana does have some good uses and let people have a more natural choice in their legal medications? from Pensacola, Fl by Cyndi

Comment: The prohibition on marijuana is ridiculous! There are way too many people in jail sucking up money needed for education and roads. It seems like the logical next step towards economic recovery. Even if you don't agree with pot users being normal, hard working citizens, they still exist! Why not tax their use of weed and put the money to some good? from Pace, Fl by Adam

Comment: YES I DO AND USE THIS FOR A STATISTICAL VIEW: AT MY AGE (55) I CAN GO BY JUST ABOUT EVERY CEMENTARY AROUND AND FIND SOMEONE I KNOW THAT EITHER KILLED THEMSELVES ON ALCOHOL OR SOMEONE ELSE ON KILLED THEM WHILE DRINKING. I DO NOT KNOW OF ONE GRAVE IN THE PENSACOLA AREA THAT THE DEATH CAN BE CONTRIBUTED TO JUST POT SMOKE. NOT ONLY WILL IT BRING IN TAX REVENUE, STOP THE COST OF PROSECUTION, RELIVE SOME OF THE OVERCROWDING IN PRISIONS, AND FREE UP OUR OFFICERS TIME FOR VIOLENT CRIMES, IT WILL LET MANY MANY PEOPLE SPEND THEIR LAST DAYS PEACEFULLY BECAUSE OF EXTREME ILLINESSES. WHAT ANY OTHER SINGLE ITEM HAS THAT POWER. IF YOU KNOW OF ONE, PLEASE DO A STORY ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. from Pace/ Fl by Joe

Comment: i think people would be surprised at the success this would have. do the math and comparisons to alcohol, the numbers don't lie. peace. from fwb/fl by tee

Comment: It's not even a 'drug'. Alcohol, crack, heroin, meth, those are drugs. You have to add things to them to make them what they are, marijuana just grows. from gulf breeze, fl by brenda

Comment: Sure! All drugs should be legalized . . . cocaine, heroin, meth, you name it! Think how much money the state could make, and it would put the dealers out of business. from Pensacola, Florida by Dave

Comment: Yes I do think legalizing marijuana would raise money because there are so many people that uses the drug for personal use and if its legalized the state would make millions of dollars from the potheads and would save the taxpayers some money after they are thrown in jail for marijuana possession from Pensacola, FL by Wendi