Legalizing marijuana not really a dopey idea

By Michael Stetz, UNION-TRIBUNE COLUMNIST
Sunday, May 2, 2010 at 12:33 a.m.

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Who knows, in the near future, on a Friday night after a tough week of work, those so inclined could legally fire up a joint.
And who knows, by California allowing that, some of this might happen:

A) The tax base gets a much-needed bump.

B) Cops can chase real bad guys, not recreational pot smokers.

C) The medical marijuana farce goes up in smoke because the drug can be had legally. (A lot of bad backs? Mysteriously cured!)

D) And another possible consequence: Prisons would have more room to house society’s worst criminals, particularly violent sex offenders.

The proposed Chelsea’s Law includes a one-strike penalty against those who commit forcible sex crimes against children. It’s named for Poway teenager Chelsea King, killed by convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III.

There’s one problem, though. Prisons are jammed.

So is it time to take the bold step and legalize marijuana, which might help ease the problem? Momentum for it is growing.

A referendum will be on the November ballot, permitting personal use of the drug for those 21 and over. Cities or counties could allow for its sale and tax it. (Or not, it’ll be up to them.) It’ll also be OK for people to grow small amounts of it.

“It would free up prison spaces for really, really bad guys,â€