[420 Girl]

That picture of Michael Phelps did it for me. It’s high time — pun intended — that we legalize one of the nation’s most beloved products. Especially when we’re not generating much green— and I mean moolah. There lies a solution to this in a different kind of green, and that is none other than our friend Mary Jane.

This view is held not just among marijuana smokers, but among more than 500 economists. Skeptical? Just check out ProhibitionCosts.org. You’ll find these economists’ signatures on “An Open Letter to the President, Congress, Governors, and State Legislations.” This letter refers to an eye-opening paper by Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard Law Professor and economist.

Miron discovered that “marijuana legalization would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like most consumer goods.”

What’s more pleasing is that if weed were taxed the same as alcohol and cigarettes, that’s $6.2 billion in tax revenues, each year.

I could see it already. We go from a debt-saturated, unemployed chasm to an economic euphoria.

Having mentioned employment, in California where I’m from, people are getting laid off due to Schwarzenegger’s new budget cuts. Yet marijuana, being a cash crop in this state, if legalized would make $12 to $18 billion in retail and spin-off industries. According to Calnorml.org, spin-off industries would include tourism, coffeehouses, and industrial hemp, to name a few.

And obviously, nationwide, fewer taxes would go toward prison and law enforcement. As far as decreased jobs, this wouldn’t necessarily apply to drug law enforcement. There are other drugs out there more hazardous than weed, so the DEA could devote more attention to those. All the while with bongs hanging from their mouths.

An even better result from legalizing pot is that law enforcement would spend more effort against crimes that actually harm others. Truly, how many drug-related offenses are violations besides mere possession?

Now, for the supposed health risks posed by marijuana. On AssociatedContent.com, you’ll see that the National Toxicology Program states that these green goodies don’t boost the risk for cancer. Instead, it concludes, “Study after study has shown that Marijuana actually decreases a person’s risk of getting cancer.” And, if you look on Cedro-Uva.org, 35 states — or parts of them — have permitted the use of weed for medical reasons.

Endless are the health benefits of marijuana. Puffs of the magic dragon will bring you clearer thinking, relaxation, and diminished stress and anger. Go to BenefitsOfMarijuana.com if you’re still doubtful. I guarantee you’ll get high on enlightenment.

So we must ask ourselves, what’s more ridiculous than outlawing a healthy substance, while cigarettes, which do birth the cancer monster, remain legal? You’ve heard the argument that marijuana destroys brain cells. Yet, according to Princeton.edu, these cells regenerate themselves anyway. Alcohol, on the other hand, can permanently screw up your liver. If you’re lucky, cirrhosis won’t kill you. If you’re even luckier, you won’t be one of the daily 36 people killed in an alcohol-related car crash.

Weed ain’t the wicked one. Our government has yet to realize that. Marijuana will benefit our economy and society as a whole, so join the fight to legalize this wondrous crop. If not for your own delight and well-being, then for the well-being of the economy.

So readers, put that in your pipes and smoke it.

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