Groups opposed to AB 390, Tom Ammiano's bill that would legalize marijuana in California, gathered on the steps of the capitol today for a press conference in which they called potential marijuana tax revenue "blood money."

"Encouraging the public, particular young people, to smoke marijuana in order to increase state revenue is reprehensible," said State Senator George Runner.

Additionally, they said that the social costs of increased marijuana usage will offset any tax revenue the state derives from its purchase. Ammiano's bill also flushes the revenue down the toilet by pouring it into wasteful and ineffective rehab programs.

AB 390 would legalize marijuana possession only for those older than 21, but critics also charge that use among those younger than the "smoking age" would start using.

Newsflash—they already are.

As for the argument of marijuana deserving special restrictions because it's a "gateway drug"—you might as well call cigarettes or beer gateway drugs.

The argument goes something like this: "All users of [insert hard drug here] started by smoking marijuana, which led to other things."

Following that logic, we can say they all drank beer and smoked cigarettes too. All heroin users drank alcohol at some point before becoming addicted to heroin, right? Isn't alcohol then a gateway drug?

Of course it isn't. But you may be more likely to see what else your local drug dealer is selling if you're already there to buy the marijuana from him. But if it's sold at a clinic? They would lose many of their marijuana customers and not get the opportunity to upsell them to something harder.

Let's stop interfering with what private individuals want to do in their own homes.