The Daily Vine

“Go to school, get good grades, graduate, go to college, repeat, and upon graduation from college, find a good, secure job to support you and your family.”  This process is the formula for success, according to my parents (and other parents, for that matter) as well as past teachers. Occasionally, I will have some parents come up to me, whether it is an aunt or a co-worker, asking me for advice on getting their kids to “succeed.”  Sometimes I get asked by the kids themselves. They know that I have had a pretty successful academic career. I became college-driven starting in my elementary school years and by junior high I knew that I wanted to attend one of the University of California campuses.  I then became highly involved in various extracurricular activities in and out of school, landed at the top four percent of my class, graduated from high school with numerous awards and recognitions, and after years of strong diligence, dedication, and hard work, received full financial aid to attend the University of California, Irvine. I finally achieved my goal! My parents and I were bursting with pride.

What would happen if marijuana were legalized in California or the United States? Some say it should be legalized on the basis that its sales would be heavily taxed and its use would be limited and restricted.

Back in May of this year, Californian, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, strongly suggested that more studies be conducted on the impact of allowing legal marijuana use and sales in the state of California. Despite opposing views from his own party, (several Republicans felt Schwarzenegger was only resorting to the possibility of legalizing marijuana sales due to his desperation over the state’s large budget deficit), Schwarzenegger stated that he would like to see more studies done on countries in which “pot” is already legalized and how it has affected them socially and economically. He did express, however, that he was “open to any ideas of creating extra revenues” [for the state].