'Just Say Now': Marijuana Advocates Launch National Legalization Campaign

A left-right coalition of bloggers, students, musicians, prosecutors, judges, cops and politicos launched a national campaign Tuesday to legalize marijuana, and specifically to get the issue on the ballot in a number of states this year and in 2012.

The "Just Say Now" campaign (the name of which tweaks the anti-drug slogan from the '80s) is supporting legal pot initiatives in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and South Dakota in 2010.

Supporters call the nation's marijuana laws "draconian" and blame them for all kinds of societal problems, including overcrowded prisons, wasted tax dollars, stretched-thin police forces, and the rise of Mexican drug cartels.

They want marijuana treated like alcohol: regulated and taxed at the state level.

"Legalization has the potential to generate billions of dollars in revenue," Just Say Now said in a news release. "A report authored by Harvard University economist Jeffrey Miron and endorsed by Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman said it would produce $40 billion a year in taxes."

Bruce Fein, former deputy attorney general under Ronald Reagan, takes it a step beyond tax revenue, claiming the federal government should simply butt out.

"This is a fundamental issue of states' rights," said Fein, representing the conservative voices of Just Say Now.

Jane Hamsher, liberal blogger and founder of Just Say Now, said getting legal weed initiatives on the ballot could have the added benefit of boosting the number of young people who turn out to vote.

"Young people want marijuana to be legalized in overwhelming numbers: young voters are not just excited to support legalization, but are much more likely to turn out to vote if marijuana is on the ballot," Hamsher said. "We're delighted about organizing legalization supporters and getting them to the polls on Election Day."