Governor: State should study marijuana laws

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that California should study other nations’ experiences in legalizing and taxing marijuana, although he is not supporting the idea.

He said it’s time to debate proposals such as a bill introduced in the state Legislature earlier this year that would treat marijuana like alcohol.

State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat, said legalizing marijuana for adults over age 21 and taxing it at $50 an ounce would help the state as it faces annual budget deficits. Ammiano cited a California Board of Equalization estimate that the tax could bring in $1.3 billion a year, depending on various assumptions.

"It’s time for debate. ... I’m always for an open debate on it,” Schwarzenegger said in response to a question during a news event. He was in Davis, a university town just west of the state capital, to promote wildfire safety.

Schwarzenegger also cautioned that some other nations have had negative experiences.

"I think we want to look at all that,” the governor said. "Just because of raising revenues, we have to be very careful not to make mistakes at the same time.”

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear later said the governor was drawing on his conversations with officials in Europe, including a police officer in his hometown of Graz, Austria.

"He’s talked to some folks over in Europe,” McLear said. "It hasn’t worked out so well for them.”

Ammiano spokesman Quintin Mecke said he is unaware of any negative consequences from taxing marijuana. He cited studies that show treating the drug as a regulated commodity reduced consumption among young users.

"We would welcome the debate. The debate is long overdue,” Mecke said Tuesday. "Not only as a state but as a country, it’s time to have a rational drug policy.”

Ammiano’s bill is on hold in the state Legislature. He delayed seeking approval until next year.

California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana, doing so in 1996.