Gov. Schwarzenegger, will you act on behalf of the residents of your state to support what the majority of CA voters have decided: to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis and its derivatives?

How many people have to be tortured, beaten, raped, and executed before our lawmakers finally get it?! Here. I'll spell it out. R-E-G-U-L-A-T-I-O-N. Currently, there is none. This is why this violence continues.

Imagine if the leaders of McDonald's and Burger King were warring over territory. The gun battles... the horrific deaths of innocents who were just stopping in for lunch... the drive-THRU shootings...

That's ridiculous, isn't it? That's what the prohibition of drugs has created, though. The leaders of drug businesses warring over territory. As long as drugs are prohibited, these cartels will monopolize the market and their corporate policies include murder, rape, torture, kidnapping, selling to children, lack of potency/purity control.... I could go on and on. It's true.

The 10,000+ unfortunate victims who've died have paid the price for the indifference of our government, whether they were involved in the drug business or not.

Our elected leaders have the power to stop this. They're allowing re-election concerns to dictate their silence and scorn. We should make it clear to them through phone calls, emails, and snail mail that NOT seriously considering lifting prohibition could result in a boycott of their campaigns...

I mean, really, when Democrats and Libertarians and now Republicans are calling for legalization, regulation, and taxation... when more than 500 respected economists call for legalization, regulation, and taxation... when more than 12,000 current and retired cops, DEA agents, and prosecuting attorneys call for legalization, regulation, and taxation... when 52% of American citizens are calling for legalization, regulation, and taxation... EVEN THE MOST CLUELESS POLITICIAN should recognize by now that cannabis should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.

By failing to make this happen, our elected officials are turning their backs on proof and the public, thereby allowing and advocating the continuation of this failed WAR ON DRUGS (sorry, Drug Czar Gil). So the blood is on their hands.

This issue is about taking the crime and violence out of one of the world's biggest cash crops.

I'm not talking about people's ability to parent their children correctly, teaching them that alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are for adults only. Teaching them that any other drug should be prescribed by a doctor. I trust you all will be efficient and loving parents and show by example that while a glass or two of wine is fine, a fifth of Jim Beam is excessive and can be fatal.

I hope you teach them that marijuana can't kill you, but moderation is the key. I hope one day soon we can collectively tell our children the truth about cannabis, instead of clinging to scare tactics and "scientific" nonsense. Teach them that SMOKING marijuana will eventually hurt their lungs, but consuming cannabis edibles or vaporizing the pot is not dangerous. The side effects make you feel funny, like the Percocet the doctor prescribes for a broken bone, only you cannot overdose on the marijuana.

Teach them that marijuana is only appropriate for people over 21 years of age, like Daddy's tequila or beer. Their brains aren't done growing yet, so they should wait to temporarily alter them with substances. It's not hard to teach children these things. Kids are pretty smart and they see what their parents do, so even if you're going to use propoganda to demonize marijuana, don't go have three margaritas or a six-pack of beer where your children can see you.

All this debate and media attention is significant, but no more so than the recent Supreme Court decision to reject San Diego County's suit which asked for federal permission to ignore California Medical Marijuana laws. The highest court in the land ruled that federal law cannot trump state law. That's huge.

For those of you (hi Kirk9) who rail against the notion of legalized marijuana, it's my journalistic duty to inform you that the tide has turned in our favor. It will happen. The government needs to get their collective heads out of the backsides of their P.R. reps and do what's socially and fiscally responsible, what's logical, what's desired by the U.S. majority, and what's morally and compassionately right.

Legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis and its derivatives. Decriminalize all other illicit drugs and put them under the control and regulation of the F.D.A., right along side the Prozac and Vicoden.

Period.