Pot farms: should we be worried about smaller farms or small fries
Fast Company published a brief piece recently about the potential of legalization of Marijuana farming in California. It seems the Publication is more concerned that small farmers get their fare share of the drug money, rather than the fact the State of California should resort to selling drugs to regain its solvency:

Proposition 19 is a bill being considered in California. It would legalize large scale pot farms, and recreational use of the drug. The closer marijuana comes to full legalization status in California, the more likely it is that the plant will be treated like any other crop--that is, as an industrial cash cow that often squeezes out small farmers. And the marijuana industrialization process is, in fact, already beginning. Oakland, California, became the first city this week to allow large-scale industrial marijuana cultivation. more

In the time leading to 2010, California's state government's budget deficit has grown to be the largest of all American states. The State Board of Equalization has estimated that imposing a $50 per ounce levy could generate $1.4 billion a year in new tax revenue, thus generating a large amount of revenue at a time when the state is experiencing financial pressure More. In additional to earning money, California will also save money if it doesn't have to arrest, prosecute or jail pot sellers.

There's no doubt California is in rough shape, but It seems our municipalities get more and more flexible when they're desperate for money, and that's when we start lowering our standards. Examples: see casinos. Seems we are willing to encourage the spread of gambling and the legalization of more mood altering substances in order to fund more Government. How did we get to this place? Is there any point at which we will stop and say, "when we start encouraging previously illegal behavior in order to raise money, then we're asking the Government to pay for too many things?" This isn't just about pot. It's also about American culture, isn't it?

Has America lost its moral compass?
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