Marijuana Legalization Question Will Appear on Calif. Ballot

California’s Secretary of State has certified a ballot question that could lead to the state legalizing possession of marijuana, and the campaign to get the measure approved will focus partly on its fiscal impact on the cash-strapped state, the New York Times reported March 26.

California’s state budget deficit stands at $20 billion, and drug-policy reform advocates contend that legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana could raise $1.4 billion in tax revenues and cut law-enforcement and prison costs.

Initiative backers hope to raise $10-20 million for an advocacy campaign, party by soliciting donations of $4.20 each from legalization supporters nationally.

Opponents said that legalizing the drug won’t improve the state’s finances and will increase social ills and workplace problems like absenteeism.

Leading candidates for governor of California oppose legalization, but polls show 56 percent of state residents support the idea. The ballot question would let local governments opt out of the law, limit marijuana possession to adults ages 21 and older, and ban smoking in public or around children.