New York Should Do This, Too.

And then use the proceeds from the taxes to make the public transportation system less gross. Hell, they could probably LOWER fares on the subway if they started taxing marijuana sales. 

This is an idea I've been a fan of for a while now. Mostly because the War on Drugs will never be won, and if drugs are legalized, they can be taxed out the ass, like cigarettes are, and the government can finally pay for all the shit that everyone says it can't afford. Stimulus bill:  paid for. Bail out funds:  paid for. Who will regulate it? you might ask. The DEA. Just change their jobs description from active combatant to regulatory authority. Sure, there will be bootleg drugs just like there are bootleg cigarettes, but that's what the new regulatory DEA is for. Worried the pilot of your airplane is high on heroin? DEA will keep tabs on that douche.

Of course it won't work this smoothly. Things like this never will. But about 2,000 people are dying every MONTH in Mexico from the drugs people buy in America. If both countries legalize drugs, all of those cartels come under the STRICT regulation of the government. That means they have to pay taxes and follow the rules that every other business has to follow. Maybe I'm wrong. I am a bit of a dreamer. But this seems like a much better way to fight gang-violence and cartel slaughter. And it would be a boon for the US government to pay of it's debts.