Union Muscle In California

The SEIU has come out in favor of pot legalization.

A ballot measure to make California the first state to legalize the sale and use of marijuana has won the support of one of the state’s most powerful union, officials said Monday, offering the proposition a shot of mainstream legitimacy as well as a potential financial and organizational lift.

The decision by the executive board of the Service Employees International Union of California will be announced in the next few days, according to officials who have been briefed about it but were not allowed to speak publicly before it was announced.

The measure has faced strong opposition from law enforcement groups, including Sheriff Lee Baca of Los Angeles County, who said he would lead a campaign against it as a threat to public safety.

I'll have more to say about this after looking at another union.

A Teacher's Union also has come out in favor of legalization.

Teachers union boss Randi Weingarten thinks it's high time marijuana is legalized.

Weingarten - head of the American Federation of Teachers and former president of New York's United Federation of Teachers - came out in support of a California proposition to legalize pot for personal use.

"Everything in moderation is pretty much fine," Weingarten said when asked by "Real Time" host Bill Maher whether she'd back the measure.

"Wow," said fellow guest Washington Post editorial writer Jonathan Capehart. "Teacher-approved!"

Now how about an economic analysis? State Governments are hurting for money and especially the State Of California. Which is why we have a union (police) vs union (SEIU, teachers) fight. The pro legalization unions are hoping for a tax windfall from legalization (taxing sales). Plus a lowering of police and prison costs will mean a bigger share of the budget for the SEIU and teachers.

I really hate having such allies. Well Hitler first. Then Stalin. I really wish I had more allies on the right. But unfortunately allies are where you find them. Ah. Well. As a former Communist I know how to blend in well enough. For the time being.

Cross Posted at Classical Values

Tipping Point

Reason Magazine is where I got the video. They have this to say:

Fichtner points out, three public policy trajectories converging. The medical marijuana movement is gaining momentum. People are increasingly wakening up to the fact that drug prohibition creates more public health problems than it solves. And, in the same way that the Great Depression caused people to reprioritize how we spend our public dollars, the current economic crisis has got people thinking that bringing the biggest cash crop in the US out into the open might not be such a bad idea.

Hard economic times are good for companies and governments. They force the rationalization of policies and expenditures. Alcohol was in part legalized because before prohibition the Federal Government got 1/3 of its revenue from taxing alcohol. The same dynamic (although not the scale) is at work with marijuana.

You can find the book mentioned in the video here:

Cannabinomics: The Marijuana Policy Tipping Point

Some other books on the subject:

Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

William F. Buckley Jr. "A Conservative Look at Marijuana"

And if you want to get in on the boom it might be good to learn a little horticulture:

Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible

But get in early. Because like the microprocessor/personal computer industry eventually economies of scale are going to drive most small undercapitalized businesses out of the market. OTOH you might wind up being the Steve Jobs of the industry.

Cross Posted at Classical Values

It Has Started

In response to my article The Karl Rove Plan about the potential Democrat Plan to use legalization initiatives to get out the vote a commenter has given me a heads up.

Fritz said...

Yep. And I am planning to throw some money at the "Just Say Now" campaign that firedoglake is pushing. Here in WA state we are committed to having our initiative on the ballot next year.

If Republicans were bright they would go for legalization. But, well, they aren't.

Of course I had to see what firedoglake - Just Say Now was up to. The site is impressive. They have polling data for the different states on legalization. If, like Fritz you want to donate here is the place to go. It is time to put an end to the culture wars. This is one Progressive program that has lived far beyond any conceivable usefulness. And it is way past time for my Conservative friends to stop being so Progressive. Get back to your American Conservative roots. Smaller government. Lower taxes. Let us together wipe out the $25 bn a year the Feds waste on making illegal drugs easier for kids to get than beer.

Cross Posted at Classical Values