As our economy continues to flounder and politicians continue to debate the best way to raise revenue and overcome the national deficit, one viable option has failed to receive the same level of national attention that it deserves: Legalizing marijuana.
The thousands of supporters who gathered on Library Mall last weekend for the 40th annual Harvest Festival are on board, but most Americans outside of California haven't given the issue much thought. After becoming the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, Californians now have the chance to permit the possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. Supporters of Proposition 19 are counting on the taxes attached to marijuana sales to help close the state's monumental budget deficit. Many economists say it could work on a national scale, too. So why isn't the rest of the nation listening?
Lydia Statz is a junior majoring in journalism and international studies. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
