Reefer Madness 2012: Will LAPD and City Council Ever Move On?

I guess I should preface this Blog by unequivocally stating that I have never inhaled or used marijuana. 

That being said, it seems that enough water has gone under the bridge that the City of L.A. and the LAPD should realize that spending our money and resources trying to stop the growing and sale of marijuana really is a waste of time as was Prohibition.  Marijuana clearly is the recreational drug of choice and is an escape route for many in our society as well as a buffer against various diseases and the pain that accompanies those maladies. 

This 'Cannabis Obsession' must stop because trying to rid California of cannabis is like trying to rid your lawn of weeds. It simply is not going to happen.I understand that as Councilman Englander states, "there are unintended consequences.." That issue is always the case with any city ordinance.  People will, find a way to get around a law and will conduct themselves accordingly, especially given the state of our economy. 

The solution is simple, the 1960's are over and like trying to regulate smut (or pornography,) it is time to legalize marijuana and reap the harvest of tax revenues, not to mention the health benefits of hemp for those in need.  The City and the police seem to dwell so much on marijuana dispensaries, that it makes better sense to have them licensed and making money for city coffers. 

I recall all of the money LAPD spent trying to bust 'smut peddlers,' in the 60's and 70's and now the Porn Industry contributes millions to state and local taxes, especially here in Chatsworth.  The corollary here is to do the same with marijuana dispensaries and move on to using valuable city and police resources against real crime and safety issues in the city.