While there might be additional costs for dealing with those who can’t handle responsible toking — just as we now have with alcoholics, etc — they are vastly outweighed by the savings in then unneeded prisons, law enforcement, and so on, plus there’s the potential windfall in tax money for ailing local, state and fed governments.

If there should be changes, how far should we go? Simple decriminalization or full legalization? Should it be taxed like cigarettes and booze, both of which are far more dangerous, but legal? You know where Crackpot and Buzzkill stand. Where do you?

Are Americans really ready to consider legalizing marijuana? This week, California’s governor said it was time to debate the issue, and a new nationwide poll suggests a majority of voters favor decriminalizing the drug.

While legalization advocates say they’ve never seen such widespread public support for reforming marijuana laws, they still don’t expect drug policy to change overnight. But, they say, the country appears to be at tipping point in how it views recreational use of marijuana, which is now legal in 13 states for medically-approved use.

“We are actually talking about historic highs when it comes to public support of taxing and regulating marijuana for adult consumption,” says Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). But, he adds, “the most difficult task is how you convert public sentiment into public policy.”

In Washington, Mr. Armentano says, politicians are still not ready to rethink US drug policy.