It’s Bill Maher’s wet dream. And if you know the area where I live (Santa Cruz, California) you also know what the response to legalizing marijuana would be. (If you don’t know Santa Cruz, it’s an ocean front/redwoods playground south of San Francisco where the “Love Children” in the 60s came to visit. Many never left.)

Increasing numbers of Americans support decriminalization of pot (close to or over 50% depending on the poll). And almost-serious thinking on the part of some legislators is headed in the same direction.

The reason has little to do with any merits (or demerits, depending on your point of view) of the product itself. Rather, in hard times legislators look for new ways to raise revenue.

Legalizing marijuana would be an interesting choice. It is already used recreationally by many millions of Americans. If it were to become legal, it could be heavily taxed. Funds would no longer need to be spent chasing those who grow and sell it and arresting those who have it in their possession. The courts would be freed from dealing with growers, sellers, and users. Legitimate tax paying businesses could distribute it.

This notion is not without its detractors, of course. Marijuana can be addictive (along with alcohol and nicotine, both of which are legal, as pot proponents are always quick to point out). We don’t really know how much and how often it would be used and by whom. It’s not good to drive under its influence. And it’s not really healthy for the average person (it is smoke, after all–well, unless you bake it in brownies), despite its usefulness for some medical conditions.

So, aside from allowing marijuana for medical purposes in some states, it may be a long while, if ever, before we see change in the drug laws. President Obama, despite his admitted use of it as a young man, does not think legalizing pot is a way to build ourselves up economically.

What do you think about legalizing marijuana as a way to bolster our economy?

For more on the debate, see here and here.