When the Libertarian Party called for drug legalization in its first platform in 1971, even the Democrats demonized us for the position.

Today, California Assembly member Tom Ammiano presented a bill to decriminalize marijuana statewide.  Similar proposals have been made in the past, but this time it's different.  Why?

Money.

According to Ammiano, the licensing and taxing of marijuana sales, which currently represent $14 billion of the California economy, would save several programs from the budget chopping block by raising $1.3 billion.

Not a very Libertarian reason, but, hey.  We'll take what we can get.  More freedom is more freedom.