How Marijuana Benefits Kindergarteners

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013 does not have a title with much "zing" to it. Its message, however, has a better chance of catching on. As the lengthy name implies, the bill's primary focus is to end marijuana's status as an illicit substance on the federal level, thereby promoting each of the states' right to choose independently whether or not to legalize the drug. Additionally, the act 

The Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013 (H. R. 499) currently stagnates in Committee. The prognosis for the bill is, quite frankly, dismal. It is descended from a measure of the same name brought forth by former representative Barney Frank in 2011(H. R. 2306), a proposal that sputtered before quietly dying. Few missed it after its passing. 

H. R. 499, however, has a factor that separates it from its 2011 predecessor. It is sponsored by Representative Jared Polis of Colorado (image below), a state that has recently drawn attention to itself for being the second in the union for legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. 

Oh, God...Colorado? That pit of moral decay? Well, of course they would be the ones who would want drugs legalized. They're probably all too high for politics anyway!

Those are the same potheads who estimate that they will rake in "collect about $134 million in taxes from recreational and medical marijuana for the fiscal year beginning in July," according to the New York Times's account of Gov. John W. Hickenlooper. Furthermore, over 70% of this revenue has been sworn to schools, including programs involving a comprehensive education program concerning the threat of drugs to young people; substance abuse rehabilitation, to ensure that those addicted to marijuana recieve help rather than jailtime for their mental health issues; and an increased police presence in the state. And these numbers are only the beginning. Change in this state has also begun to arrive as the drug dealers have begun to leave, taking a good deal of the gangs and violence with which they are associated with them. 

Of course, there is a potential downside that some have pointed out: The state may end up spending all their revenue from the drug business on the aforementioned increased police force, since they will need to guard the borders of Colorado from those wishing to smuggle contraband marijuana into other states. 

Of course, that wouldn't be an issue if pot went legal nationwide, and if every state went the way of those filthy druggies in Colorado. 

New York Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/us/colorado-expects-to-reap-tax-bonanza-from-legal-marijuana-sales.html?hpw&rref=us&_r=1

Rep. Jared Polis's website: http://polis.house.gov