Legalize it. Then, tax it.

I applauded the Obama Administration's announcement that they would no longer go after legal dispensers of medicinal marijuana. In states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana, this practice always seemed like a tremendous waste of limited federal resources, particularly when we have bigger fish to fry with the real evil-doers of the world.

Now, given the economy's deep recession, I think it's time to take it a step further. Though people hate the idea of raising or creating taxes, there is one that consistently continues to grow: the sin tax. I think it is time to revisit the legalization of marijuana, and begin regulating and taxing it. You cut the biggest evil-doers - the drug cartels - out of the loop, create consistency and safety regulations for the product, create jobs, and generate a new revenue stream that can help pay for Obama's health care ambitions... All this, and it would probably have little to no effect on the nation's consumption. A radical idea? Maybe. But shouldn't all options be on the table at a time like this?