If people and politicians knew how much money was really spent on people buying weed underground, and how much money they would make taxing that, they would change their views real, real fast.
But the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical companies continue to line politicians pockets, because legal cannabis is the biggest threat to their profits.
California is leading the way though. The cannabis economy there now is more than anyone around the world realizes. There have been so many jobs created. There are completely new publications dealing in advertising medical marijuana places. There are companies delivering. There are companies making food items and hiring cooks/bakers and sales people, distributors. Not to mention all the goodies that go with cannabis like papers, vaporizers, all that stuff. When people read the news, and repeat it "they're shutting down the dispensaries in Cali, the fun is over"... they have NO IDEA how much is going on in terms of the business revolving around the medical marijuana industry.
There are millions more dollars in it than what some prison guards spend on the weekend. They probably spend their wages at the dispensaries too.
In fact, Cali is stimulating the economy so much, I know a few people from down here in New Orleans who have been traveling to Nor Cal to harvest... they make $15-$25 an hour and get a place to stay for free. And then they come back here for a month or so, and back up... and yeah they spend their money here. Go Cali!