What Young San Franciscans Think of Legalizing Pot in San Francisco

Editor’s note: San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi proposed a June ballot measure that would "license, regulate, and tax the cultivation and sales of cannabis" - whether for medicinal or recreational use, pending board approval. If it appears on the June ballot and voters approve it, San Francisco would be the first city in the nation to legalize the sale and distribution medical marijuana. Young people in San Francisco weigh in on the measure.

Weed is Cool, Taxing It Is Not

Supervisor Mirkarimi feels the city should regulate and tax the cultivation and sale of cannabis, regardless of if weed is used for medical or recreational purposes. Even though Mirkarimi is urgently trying to put this measure on the ballot, he must get the support of the Board of Supervisors first.

It’s about time they push the issue of making marijuana legal in California, particularly because so many people smoke it. I think a lot of people will be excited about this ballot measure. However, a lot of medical marijuana patients may not be happy because now marijuana will be taxed. I don’t agree with taxing weed. I’ve seen what’s happened with taxes on cigarettes—it seems the taxes are raised every month!

Sherry Blunt, 22

Legalizing Marijuana Might Increase Weed Smoking

My first reaction to the possibility of marijuana being legally taxed and regulated is surprise. I've always seen marijuana as a drug and stayed away from it because it is illegal.

I am not sure if I am in favor of this ballot proposal. I have never tried marijuana myself, but I have a brother who used marijuana until his daughter was born a few months ago. If marijuana is legalized, I'm afraid people like my brother will find it easier to get high and find it harder to resist smoking. Drugs, if abused, hurt people physically and mentally. Drugs hurt not just the user but also people around the user as well.

Many things could happen if this ballot measure is passed. People who stayed away from marijuana because it was illegal may begin to abuse it. Others might lose interest in smoking because it will no longer be cool or “against authority” to smoke marijuana. If marijuana dealers were out of the loop, there would be more money flowing around in the economy and less money going to drug lords. There will be big marijuana farms all over the country.

The economy is bad, so legalizing marijuana might encourage business owners to sell the substance and grow it. There is a large number of people in the Bay Area who use marijuana; smoking marijuana is a culture here. As for substance dealers, legalizing marijuana will keep them out of work. Even if dealing is illegal, it is work; dealing is a source of money to feed themselves and or a family.

Oscar D. Servellon, 17

Decriminalize Weed—It Isn’t Dangerous!

I'm against legalization and taxation of marijuana, but pro-decriminalization. After all, Uncle Sam doesn't tax us on the tomatoes we grow for our spaghetti sauce. Cleverly, legislation has wrapped both legalization and taxation into one proposal because we couldn't possibly have one without the other. I hope people don't let their need for weed suck them into unlawful taxation, too!

For thousands of years, marijuana and hemp plants have been harvested. More than 25,000 products can be made from hemp, while marijuana used as a medicine can effectively treat diseases that otherwise go without relief. Both are currently illegal to grow in our soil. The reasons have little to do with the "danger" of being high off marijuana. Marijuana is illegal for political and economic reasons. However, it is the "dangerous high" produced by cannabis that is cited for the contraband.