Democrats in the House of Representatives on Thursday predicted weekend passage of a sweeping health care overhaul that budget analysts said would cut the U.S. deficit over 10 years and dramatically expand health coverage.

International

Pakistan charges U.S. 5 with terror

A Pakistani court formally charged five young Americans of plotting terrorism in the country yesterday, their lawyer said, in a case that has raised alarm over the danger posed by militants using the Internet.

The Word

James admits to ‘poor judgment’

Sandra Bullock is having quite a week with her dogs. On Thursday, husband Jesse James released a statement to People magazine about the affair rumors swirling around the couple, stating that a “vast majority” of the allegations are “untrue and unfounded,” but says, “It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way.

My Entertainment

THE WEEK THAT WAS

This week, the news community ate up the story of world’s fattest mom Donna Simpson — who, reports claim, actually hopes to increase her already ample girth to claim a new record.

Business

‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit

NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.

My Travel

The key to Kyoto

Kyoto’s temples and Geisha culture are legendary, but this city is no slouch when it comes to mixing in a large slice of contemporary, too.

Updated 21:49, March the 17th, 2009

Send

If marijuana really does bring in cash, could the city be tempted to plant its own pot-of-gold garden? Metro photo composite

Metro: photo composite

A new way for city to get pot of cash?

Arianna says:

"Incarceration of non-violent drug offenders does not improve public safety. Treatment and accountability do. We need to rethink America’s war on drugs, which has increasingly become a war on young people of color — especially in these desperate economic times."

"I could support making marijuana legal for medical purposes if there was demonstrated public support for such a policy.”

Pennsylvania state Rep. Mark B. Cohen

According to one pro-marijuana legalization group, the state could raise $117.8 million a year from legalizing medical marijuana alone.

And if they were to consider legalizing all marijuana, imagine what a state that taxes liquor at more than 18 percent could bring in, let alone save in money now spent in the criminal justice system to prosecute and jail those found selling or using pot.

PHILADELPHIA. With their economy floundering, one lawmaker in California wants the state to consider a radical move to raise money — legalize marijuana and allow the state to tax it, which could raise more than $1 billion a year.

As Mayor Michael Nutter prepares to introduce a budget tomorrow that will include calls for steep property tax hikes and service cuts and Pennsylvania mired in its own budget crisis, it begs the question whether the state and city should consider a similar move.

"If marijuana were legalized in the city and not elsewhere, it would be highly profitable for growers and distributors,” said Frederic Murphy, a professor at the Temple School of Business. “This creates a real opportunity for very steep taxes that would help balance the city budget."

But even if Philadelphia did legalize it, Murphy says that the relief would only last as long as it was prohibited in the rest of Pennsylvania. "If it were legalized in other parts of the region and state, the business would move out of the city because city taxes are still too high," he said.

Even if the city approved a local law, the state pre-emption law would likely allow state lawmakers to override it.

So, would the city or state ever consider such a move to raise funds? Don’t hold your breath.

State Rep. Mark B. Cohen, one of the leading liberals in Harrisburg, said that he doesn't see any public support for the move. But he doesn't entirely rule it out, either.

"The Great Depression was followed by the re-legalization of alcohol,” he said, “so I guess it's possible that our current economic distress could lead to legalization of marijuana, but I see no evidence of that at this time."

Old handling of offenders needs to go

PHILADELPHIA. Thousands of inmates at any one time are in city jails on drug charges, although a spokeswoman for the city’s District Attorney’s office said they didn’t keep figures on the annual amount spent to prosecute suspects charged with marijuana-related offenses.

"We’ve never had a plan other than to arrest people and throw them in jail, and that hasn’t worked. if we catch you with a joint, we’ll arrest you and put you in jail," said Leon King, the city's former prisons commissioner.

King said that any plan to legalize pot would have to include a component to deal with addiction problems.

Medical marijuana measures spread through U.S.

NEW JERSEY. A bill is moving through the legislature in New Jersey that would allow for medical marijuana in the state, as Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the U.S. government should allow states to make their own rules on

The New Jersey Compassionate Medical Marijuana Act passed the New Jersey Senate last month, but its fate in the Assembly is uncertain. Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the measure if it reaches his desk.

Thirteen states already allow medical marijuana, as opposition to the drug for medical reasons seems to be waning and many medical professionals support these measures. The New Jersey Nurses Association and the Academy of Family Physicians are among the groups who support the bill.

"Most of these efforts are the result of grassroots campaigns by locals who have taken it upon themselves legislators about medical use and the many questions surrounding it," says Robert Dougherty, chair of Philadelphia NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.) "And I think that the information society we live in has contributed to this uptick in support and more people are aware of the issues where some time ago the only information provided was through nationally funded anti-drug campaigns."

Jerome Nottingham IV

Music

MMMpod

The March MMMpod features conversation and music from Surfer Blood and The Allman Brothers Band (There's a double-bill you're not too likely to see. However, Gregg Allman does mention Hannah Montana!). We also speak with Vampire Weekend and the Dropkick Murphys.

[Flyers by PaperG]

US – Friday, March 19

A new way for city to get pot of cash?

Arianna says:

Old handling of offenders needs to go

Medical marijuana measures spread through U.S.

Metro Life Panel


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