Marijuana Legalization A Missed Opportunity For California

Cannabis Legalization, A Missed Opportunity for California It has been estimated that the legalization and subsequent taxation (excise and sales tax) of cannabis in California could generate anywhere between $990 million and $1.4 billion annually in tax revenue. Additionally it has been estimated that legalization could reduce statewide enforcement costs by $150 million annually. Considering the number of human service agencies, departments, and programs that have had their budgets either significantly reduced or cut altogether, why has California forgone the opportunity to use the revenue and savings associated with cannabis legalization to support K-12 and higher education, early childhood, and elderly programs? What’s the Problem with†¦show more content†¦The USNDA encouraged states to make their respective laws uniform with the federal Narcotic Drug and Import and Export Acts regarding the control, sale, and use of narcotic drugs and suggested the prohibition of cannabis at the state level. The intent of the USNDA was to effectively safeguard and regulate narcotic drugs throughout all of the states. In 1934, the USNDA was disseminated to states. Initially only 9 states adopted the USNDA but a successful propaganda campaign eventually led to all states adopting the USNDA. In 1937, Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act (MTA) which imposed special use taxes on individuals who imported, manufactured, produced, compounded, sold, dispensed, prescribed, administered, or gave away cannabis and required that the aforementioned individuals register with the federal government. The MTA also imposed penalties (up to $2,000 fine and/or up to 5 years imprisonment) for violators of its provisions. The MTA and subsequent federal regulations dissuaded physicians from prescribing cannabis, retail pharmacists from selling cannabis, and the cultivation/manufacturing of medical cannabis. By 1954, penalties for illegal cannabis possession and sale were a minimum of 1 to 10 years and 5 to 15 years, respectively. In 1969, the United States (US) Supreme Court ruled that the MTA violated the 5th amendment. Congress repealed the MTA in 1970 but chaptered the Controlled substances Act (CSA) into law that same year. The CSA