There is a BIG difference between decriminlization and legalization.
Shit, it's basically DECRIMINALIZED here in California.
The punishment is similar to what Canada.
I can get caught with an ounce and just get a 100$ fine. No different than what Canada wants.
For those interested though:
Thinking decriminalizing wouldnt save you people tax dollars youd be surprised.
Most people are arrested simply for POSSESSIOn, not trafficking, or selling to kids, or running over people in drive thru-s etc...
'60,000 individuals are behind bars for marijuana offenses at a cost to taxpayers of $1.2 billion per year.
REFERENCE: Marijuana Arrests and Incarceration in the United States. 1999. The Federation of American Scientists' Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin.
Taxpayers annually spend between $7.5 billion and $10 billion arresting and prosecuting individuals for marijuana violations. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for marijuana possession only. '
'The state of California saved nearly $1 billion dollars from 1976 to 1985 by decriminalizing the personal possession of one ounce of marijuana, according to a study of the state justice department budget.
REFERENCE: M. Aldrich and T. Mikuriya. 1988. Savings in California marijuana law enforcement costs attributable to the Moscone Act of 1976. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 20: 75-81.'
'New Mexico's 2001 state-commissioned Drug Policy Advisory Group determined that marijuana decriminalization "will result in greater availability of resources to respond to more serious crimes without any increased risks to public safety."
'Almost 5 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana since 1992. That's more than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington DC and Wyoming combined.'
from this:
http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3381