Top suggestion to solving budget crunch? Legalize pot
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Gregoire is looking for ways to fill a $300 million budget gap and is asking the people for ideas.
The number one suggestion? Legalize marijuana.
They say taxes from sales could raise $150 million or so.
"Despite how I may feel about legalizing marijuana, I think very thoughtful people brought that forward we owe it to them to research it," Gregoire said.
Some residents we asked seem to think it wasn't a far-fetched idea.
"I don't smoke it, but as a possible way for the state to make money? I suppose they making it gambling," said Cliff Stout.
Alexander Kargopol'tsev added: "I'm OK with that ,but medical use it should be."
Still, there were some against it.
"We already have cigarettes and everything else, we don't need marijuana," said Tricia Wass. "I think we're good: Alcohol and Cigarettes."
Best guess, Gregoire says she'll look at the idea but says it "doesn't mean it will get any farther than that."
Proponents of legalizing marijuana says there's another big plus: It could help farmers if they could grow hemp for rope and clothing, not for smoking.
Gregoire says the biggest problem with any hemp or marijuana legalization proposal is they are both illegal under federal law and there is concern whether the state could even tax an illegal substance.
The number one suggestion? Legalize marijuana.
They say taxes from sales could raise $150 million or so.
"Despite how I may feel about legalizing marijuana, I think very thoughtful people brought that forward we owe it to them to research it," Gregoire said.
Some residents we asked seem to think it wasn't a far-fetched idea.
"I don't smoke it, but as a possible way for the state to make money? I suppose they making it gambling," said Cliff Stout.
Alexander Kargopol'tsev added: "I'm OK with that ,but medical use it should be."
Still, there were some against it.
"We already have cigarettes and everything else, we don't need marijuana," said Tricia Wass. "I think we're good: Alcohol and Cigarettes."
Best guess, Gregoire says she'll look at the idea but says it "doesn't mean it will get any farther than that."
Proponents of legalizing marijuana says there's another big plus: It could help farmers if they could grow hemp for rope and clothing, not for smoking.
Gregoire says the biggest problem with any hemp or marijuana legalization proposal is they are both illegal under federal law and there is concern whether the state could even tax an illegal substance.