Unfortunately, way too many corporate interests and government entities have a stake in keeping it illegal to allow that to happen. Pharmaceutical corporations would lose billions if people were able to self-medicate for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and pain relief (which cannabis has proven to be good for). Alcohol corporations would lose their corner on the recreational drug market (did you know that Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing were two of the original founders of the Partnership For a Drug-Free America?). Cotton and timber industries would be faced with increased competition from hemp fiber, which is excellent for making cloth and paper (the United States Constitution is, in fact, written on paper made from the hemp plant).

Law enforcement would be forced to spend more time and effort going after real drug criminals, like cocaine importers and meth dealers. Among the biggest opponents of legalization, though, are the Mexican and South American drug cartels, who bring in about 60 percent of the multi-billion dollar a year income from the sale of marijuana.

Change is coming, though. The ballot measure to legalize for personal use gathered 46 percent of the vote in California. If you look at the demographics, in about 5-10 years, the old people who solidly voted against will not be alive to vote against it again, and it will pass.

Cannibis was used as medicine and recreationally for about 2700 years, and used to make fiber, paper, and other goods as well, until a few corporate interests decided to make it illegal. Inthe late 20s and early 30s, William Randolph Hearst used his newspapers to smear “the evil weed” so he could profit from increased timber sales when the plant was banned, and the folks at DuPont funded anti-marijuana propaganda films so they could reap greater profits from selling rope made of nylon instead of hemp. Of course, the ban on hemp was lifted during World War 2, when shortages led to an increased need for biomass fiber for things like rope and uniforms. There’s even a movie called “Hemp for Victory” that the US Government put out encouraging farmers to grow it.

While Camby is a moron for smoking in his car, and deserves punishment for that (just as anyone would who had an open container of alcohol with them), the fact that he chooses to use marijuana at all is not worthy of being considered a crime.