mark kleiman has proposed that. there is a lot to be said for that. uruguay is doing something similar but it is out of the question right now. and that leaves two models: decriminal ra decriminaleration is one, maryland is in the process. and the second is regulated decriminalization. these are not polar opposites. in fact they are similar. both involve very large regul regulartory regimes and criminal sanctions. the main difference between decriminalization and regulated legalization is who does the distribution of marijuana. is that done on the black market or legally by commercial e enterpr enterprises. i am less scared of commercialization than a lot of people. i am concerned about it. but i would like to point out let's not forget that commercialization has significant advantages. one of those is that when big companies market stuff, you know their address. you know who to write to and legislate about if they start messing it up and that is important. having an addressable, responsible entity and big corporations are pretty responsible when it c

without further ado i would like to invite mark kleiman up to start us off. >> thank you so much paul and thank you for setting this up and to all of you for coming out. it's an honor to be part of this group. i am violating my religious tenets by having a powerpoint but i promise you there is only one slide. when we talk about drug policy in general but cannabis policy both sides of the debate casts positions in moralistic terms leading to a higher ratio of heat to light -- so i want to suggest that when we think about cannabis legalization we think in terms of advantages and disadvantages. it seems to me the beginning of wisdom in this business is to acknowledge that both good and bad things will happen as a result of cannabis legalization. 40,000 people will not be behind bars. lawbreakers will not earn $40 billion a year for league -- illegal activity. state and local and the federal government will add a couple million dollars a year on enforcement. there's a potential for substantial revenue to the state on the order of $20 billion a year. and 33 million people who smoked mariju

mark kleiman is professor of public policy in the u.s.cla public affairs and consultants to washington state and its legalization efforts and he is the author of marijuana costs and abuse, cost of control and co-author of drugs and drug policy, what everyone needs to know. pico edits the journal of american drug policy analysis and has worked for the u.s. department of justice for the city of boston as a legislative assistant to congressman aspin at kennedy school of government and blogs at the reality based community and washington monthly. hope i got all that. it is an honor to have you here. we have balas holcomb, criminal justice director of the aclu and washington state. previously served as vice president of washington association of criminal defense lawyers, chaired the legal framework group of the king county bar association drug policy project. in 2008, she was awarded the pauline sabin award in recognition of women in leadership positions in organizations dedicated to the ending of marijuana prohibition. we are pleased to have s

mark kleiman proposed that, there's a lot to be said for that. unfortunately in the united states, federal law and treaty obligations, that is out of the question right now so that these two models and you heard about both of them. one is decriminalization, maryland is in the process of doing if i understand correctly and the second is regulated legalization like colorado and washington state are doing. these two things are not as different as you may have heard. they are not polar opposites. they are quite similar. those involved very large regulatory regimes, a lot of controls on this market with criminal sanctions for people who break the rules, criminal sanctions don't go away under either of these. in some respects they become more important. the main difference between decriminalization and regulated legalization is due does distribution of marijuana. is that done illegally in the black market by criminals or is that done legally by commercial enterprises? those are indeed two very different paths forward. that is not the world's easiest ch

mark kleiman is professor of s ucla olicy in the public affairs school of. he's the author of "marijuana: costs of abuse and call for control." he's also the editor of the journal of drug policy analysis, and he has worked for the u.s. department of justice for the city of boston as a legislative assistant to les aspen at harvard's school of government and the washington monthly. i hope i got all that. mark, it is an honor to have you here. we also have alice holcome, she's the criminal justice director of the aclu. she previously served as vice president of washington association of criminal defense lawyers. she shares the legal frame work of the king county bar association 0 drug policy project. awarded n.o.r.m.a.l. her an award for recognition of women in leadership, an organization dedicated to the end of marijuana prohibition. we're also pleased to have sue lucci, co-founder and chief executive officer of national families of action, founded in 977, nfia has helped shape the drug prevention under her direction. nfia has helped parents form drug preventi

mark kleiman proposed that. unfortunately in the united states because of the federal law and treaty obligations, that is out of the question right now. so we've already heard about the one of decriminalization, which maryland is in the process of doing if i understand correctly. and the second is regulated legalization which is what colorado and washington state are doing. these two things are not polar opposites. they involve very large regulatory regimes. a lot of controls on the market with criminal tension for people who break the rules. criminal sanctions don't go away after any of these in fact under some respects, they become more important. the main difference between the decriminalization and regulated legalization is who does the distribution and marijuana. is that the done it legally in the black market by criminals or is it done legally by commercial enterprises? those are indeed two very different paths forward. that is not the worlds easiest choice. but i would argue in fact i'm less scared of com