San Diego criminal lawyers say that recreational marijuana use is one step closer to legalization today, as the the state Assembly’s Public Safety Committee has approved a marijuana bill that would let users of the drug smoke risk-free. The bill has been largely touted as an important step in helping California take control of its budget crisis through the major income stream that would rise out of the taxes on the largest cash crop in America.
Under the bill marijuana users, sellers and growers would have to be over 21 years of age and the state would charge a 9% tax on all sales, which is estimated to run at about $50 of taxes per ounce.
The victory for marijuana advocates is considered to be largely symbolic, as the bill must still be reviewed by another senate committee before it will be voted on. This second committee will not look at the bill for some time. Regardless, the drug’s supporters are still optimistic.
”We’re thrilled. This to me, this is the formal beginning of the end of marijuana prohibition in the United States”, said Stephen Gutwillig of the Drug Policy Alliance, a pro-legalization group.
To read more on the measure, see the article in Top News. Image Via Eric Caballero [Flickr].
When drug companies release pills that have similar 
More than 1200 people have been arrested on drug-related charges in a 44-month-long, multi-agency sting called “Project Coronado.” The operation also resulted in the seizure of around 11.7 tons of drugs and $32.8 million USD. In the last two days alone, over 300 arrests were made –each of these 300 recent arrestees are believed to be somehow involved with the Mexican La Familia drug ring. This drug cartel is said to be the leading importer of methamphetamine into the United States. Investigators say the outcome of the arrests and seizures is certain to deal a heavy blow to one of the strongest cartels in Mexico.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told federal prosecutors to stop pursuing cases against medical marijuana patients. Drug advocates are hoping this is the first sign of the country’s willingness to legalize the drug, but 
San Diego County police added up to one hundred new prisoners to their jail yesterday in a massive, citywide gang and gang sweep. The five month long investigation, dubbed “Operation Red Sky,” involved a number of crimes from drug trafficking to pimping to murder and resulted in the arrest of 93 people, the majority of whom are known gang members. Many of the arrestees are top-leaders in the Skyline Gang.
Arrest rates for all crimes have dropped 40% since 1990. Unfortunately, despite our state’s seemingly more liberal attitudes towards marijuana use, evidenced by medicinal marijuana legalization and discussion of complete legalization of the drug, arrests for marijuana possession have skyrocketed 127% since 1990.
After years of warfare between authorities and rivaling drug cartels, Mexico has taken a progressive stand towards stopping the bloodshed by legalizing limited personal drug use. The effort may help save the Mexican government quite a bit of money on catching and penalizing drug users, which may free up more resources to battle the mafioso’s themselves.