Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

"That is not a drug. It’s a leaf" 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that California should study other nations' experiences in legalizing and taxing marijuana, although he is not supporting the idea. He said it's time to debate proposals such as a bill introduced in the state Legislature earlier this year that would treat marijuana like alcohol.

At a news conference about public safety funding, the governor was asked whether it's time to legalize marijuana in light of a new Field Poll that said 56 percent of registered voters support legalizing and taxing marijuana to raise revenues.

"I think it's not time for that, but I think it's time for debate," Schwarzenegger said. "All those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it. We ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana.