OMG, it's about time.I can hardly contain my almost boundless optimism at the fact that there seems to be legitimate movement in the right direction of legalization of marijuana.Not only with the news that the state I currently reside in has all but passed medical marijuana laws(just got to hope Corzine keeps his word and that his republican replacement Christie doesn't find a way to overturn it or screw us in some other way), but that California has shown once again how progressive a state it truly is.I say this now that if they do legalize cannabis they will make well over a billion a year because I and many others that enjoy using cannabis will be making every effort to find employment out there and move....even with their crazy high gas prices. 

Moving to California or anywhere vofr that matter because of the drug laws, is hardly a solution, and not one that would be popular with the people in most places.

I hope that Texas gets going on this but last I checked, (IIRC) they just recently put in a Bill that may see a the light of day sometime in 2011...

Better late than never I suppose, and a whole-hearted "huzzah" for New Jersey!

yes i hope it passes in california and i hope is passes here in washington state, more taxes less "crime".

I do not smoke (I used to in the past) but I think legalization is the perfect way to go about things. The "War on Drugs" has been an utter failure (and highly costly), marijuana is not harmful to your body/mind like they used to paint it as in the past, and the crime rates would drop drastically. 800K people have been arrested on Marijuana charges. It's horrible and I'm glad to see states taking active stances towards the legalization.

I also hope it passes in California for it should have never been a law in the first place. What brothers me is you can take an addicting drug the Doctor's give you and that's legal, but to use Marijuana for medical reason or to relax and it helps you that is against the law? Just how stupid do these so called professional think we are. This is just about money and that is the bottom line so I hope we the people can make Marijuana legal for we have let these people know it's time to knock it off and change this stupid law. I'm a 57 year old women who prays one day Marijuana will be legalized.

Like most of my peers, I smoked pot in High School when weed would be measured by your fingers! A common sandwich bag half-filled with pot would be approximatley four fingers across thus a "Good deal". " Dude! Joe's got four-finger bags!" thus "Joe" would be the man of the day. We would share our weed with each other, even if we did not like everyone that was in our little circle passing a joint around. Today, the Marijuana issue has gotten so ridiculous and equally, dangerous. Weed should have NEVER been made illegal in the first place. Have you ever heard of a "Stoned Tank" in our jails? But, every single one has a drunk tank. Hvae you ever seen ANYONE die from too much weed? But, millions have died of the D.T.'s The more things change, the more they stay the same. My connection would have long-hair and bell-bottoms. Today, my connection wears short hair and a white smock. As a chronic-pain sufferer, the drugs I score today are mass produced by a number of billion-dollar companies and if I stray, even just a little bit from my prescribed dose, I could most certainly die. And the Marijuana issue? Still the same. Millions smoke, millions deny., millions are in jail, probation or in prison because of a simple plant that has been used medicinally or recreationally for over three thousand years.

January 19, 2010 WBUR National Public Radio show, Here and Now hosted by Robin Young had the number two Drug Czar of the Obama Admin. It's less than half an hour, all of you should listen. They are now going to 'Treet" us instead of put us in prison. Good you say? Not when you understand the "treetment"! It sounded to me like the USSR and the way it used to "re-educate" it's "problem citizens". Mr. Mc Clellan said they are working on "vacines" to keep ue "addicts" from wanting our drugs. He made no distenction between pot smokers or meth freeks. He told of the one now being expiremented on cocaine "addicts". Mr. Mc Celellan said it workes for three months. Do you think our Government isn't making one up for pot smokers?! I don't need to be fixed!!! The Laws need to be fixed!!!

NENER! I repeat, NEVER alow the U.S. Govt. to use ANY kind of experimental or un-proven drug on you, your child or anyone you know, for the have "A PLAN". This plans ncludes but is not limited to, dumbing us down, keeping us at THEIR will, or eventually, killing us. Why do most of the vaccines we get as children have chemicals such as Mercury and other neuro-toxins that  not only have no healthful reason for being in these vaccines, but are dangerous and quite simply toxic. Marijuana should be legal period. We should not need to be suffering a "condition" they deem acceptable to use such a "Complex and Contraversial" drug, not proven to have any medicinal benefit that today's pharmacutical drugs could do a better job at healing. Why, then are there 8 people walking these United States getting POT from the very Govt. that claims weed has no value? These are glaucoma patients and can be hear in the documentaries, "Waiting to inhale" and "The great last white hope".

If the goverment had any brains they realize maryjane does not harm to people, nor does it kill people. Plus Hemp can be good for the enviroment and maybe we can stop using plastic this and that and oil etc As long as the corrupted goverment has their filthy fingers in the cookie jar and believes they are our parents, marijuana will never get a chance to be legal for all.

If people smoked maryjane, there would be less reasons to make war .

Peace

14 States have Medical Marijuana, 12 more States are in line to pass Medical Marijuana Legislation in 2010.

Marijuana Prohibition is finally getting "mass media" attention.

I'm 55, been a criminal (Pot smoker) for 40 years. Officially became a criminal in 2000, when Me my Wife and Son were arrested for 9.3 grams of Pot. We were charged with Intent to Distribute, possession in the presence of a minor child, and possession of paraphernalia. "They" were looking to lock me and my family up for at least 20 years. Fortunately for us we had no criminal past. Unfortunately we accepted a plea bargain and spent a year in 'Drug Court" (coereced abstinance) and 5 years on probation. Fortunately the probation was unsupervised. Fortunately for us they couldn't take our Home.

It's time to end this "Reefer Maddness!"

I'll start by saying congrats Jersey, here's to the rest of the east coast getting medical as well! And a pre-congrats to Cali, for they will most certainly pass the legalization measure that will be on the ballot in November. As one falls, so do the rest. Domino effect. People already smoke cannabis if they ever have the desire to, might as well make it a legal transaction and collect a few tax dollars while they're at it. Legalization of cannabis doesn't just mean recreational use, or even recreational and medical use. It means the legalization and re-birth of the US hemp industry. The very first law in our land regarding cannabis was passed in my home state of Viginia, and it stated that colonists were REQURED BY LAW to grow cannabis. That's how useful this plant is. Why does our government deny such history (rhetorical question.. they're idiots)? Our hemp industry alone will be huge! It could be utilized for so many purposes! And the tax dollars and jobs provided by that industry will make the recreational use of cannabis look like an after-thought. And with cannabis legalization, we will also be able to fully study and take advantage of the numerous medical uses this plant and its compounds have. Whether it's fighting MRSA or cancer, helping cancer and AIDS patients keep down their food (or work up an appetite to begin with) and fight nausea, or allowing the pain patient go through a full day at work without having to stop or leave because the pain is too unbearable, this plant truly is miraculous and I am making it my life goal to not only spread the word of this wonder plant, but to see it legalized for all to enjoy and utilize for any purpose.

ooh, nice... TWO states considering legalization? I had thought it was just California!

This is the way it will play out on a NATIONAL scale, Some States will flat-out legalize it for their own reasons (taxes, free-up legal system, etc.) Most states will follow the Medical argument and finally have the balls to do what should have been done ages ago but, How to save face? Now they have their answer. When Big Pharma figures out how to make inhalers, lozenges, ointments, etc. and feel they will make big money, then the wardens of The LAND OF THE FREE will allow people to use on a MEDICAL level. Finally, when the Government decides when, it will become legal all-over like alcohol. The response when criticized by opponents? The PEOPLE want it legalized! After all, we are a DEMOCRACY! Will be the final and last word from the ultimate hypocrites. But still, WE WILL WIN THIS WAR! And the suffering, humiliation, incarceration, etc. of our extended family will end! (Time to visit my "one-hitter"!)