In California, an effort to legalize marijuana has gained enough signatures to be placed on the state’s November 2010 ballot.

If passed, the law would allow adults 21 years and older to purchase up to one ounce of marijuana without a prescription. Also, it would allow residents to cultivate a marijuana garden up to 25 square feet.

Medical marijuana has been legal in California for over a decade. While its medicinal value has been disputed, marijuana is said to help treat glaucoma, and is also used as a pain killer. Some tests have also proven that it is effective in treating multiple sclerosis and depression.

The new law would allow city and county governments to determine whether or not to tax marijuana sales. With this tax money, marijuana could become California’s largest cash crop, and could bring in about $1 billion a year in state taxes.

Some California cities, such as San Jose, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Los Angeles, are considering taxing medical marijuana already. With this new law, the amount of money that the state would make would largely increase.

Recent polls show that more than half the people in the state would approve of this new law, as it would not only legalize marijuana, but eliminate debt for the state.

lhsimage.com asks students and staff what they think about the possibility of legal marijuana.

“Although I’m against doing drugs, I think it should be legalized as long as it’s regulated like alcohol. Legalization of marijuana would create thousands of income-tax paying jobs, save billions of dollars in law enforcement, and allow the authorities to focus their resources on actually dangerous criminals.” -Sehar Juddha, 10

“I think it’s ok to use for medical purposes, but not for people to grow in their backyards” –Todd Decker, science teacher.

“I do not think people should have access to marijuana They need to find another way to help California’s economy.” – Nikki Frazer, 9

“This is disturbing, and I believe that rather than make marijuana less popular, it will increase in usage.” –Anthony Orso, 10 

“Medical marijuana laws have basically legalized pot anyway in California. And taxing it would help the state budget deficit.” -Nicholas Tygesson, social studies teacher