The largest union in California -- one that represents public employees -- has come out in favor of Prop 19, which would legalize private possession of marijuana.
The key here, of course, is that Prop 19 would allow local governments to tax the sale of marijuana. Those taxes would be a welcome new source of tax revenue, which California desperately needs, and would forestall the layoffs of public employees.
Regardless of how you feel about the morality of legalizing another mind-altering substance, the lure of new revenue from the sale of pot is like a boulder tumbling down the mountain. It will be hard to stop because so many states need the revenue.
Traditional sources such as property, income tax and sales taxes are stagnant or shrinking. Without a new source, and one that won't be viewed as a burden by the stressed out tax payers, government will be forced to reduce services and lay off workers.
Government has been able to tax tobacco and get $5 or more a pack. Think what they could get for a pack of pot.
Which is the refer madness — to legalize it an bring the money into our tax units, or to continue to allow the profits to fund the Mexican drug wars?