Co-Microsoft founder, and multi-billionaire, Bill Gates stated in an interview with Buzzfeed that he voted ‘yes’ to marijuana legalization in Washington State during the 2012 election. It doesn’t entirely surprise me, but its outstanding that Bill Gates stated on the record that he voted for marijuana legalization.
Anytime a person as high-profile as Bill Gates expresses support for marijuana reform in the media, the message goes farther than it does when it involves an average Joe. It also carries more weight in the eyes of on-the-fence voters. Hopefully it encourages more members of the business community to come out publicly in support of reform, and maybe it results in a hefty donation to a campaign or organization from Mr. Gates!
According to BuzzFeed:
“I think people are going about this trying to make sure it’s labeled well, trying to make sure you’re collecting taxes so more than any of the additional state costs that will get imposed by this thing are funded by the consumers,” he said.
And he suggested the legal market would cut into the illegal drug trade. Traffickers “are going to make a lot less money, and some of the perverse things about the illegal drug trade will be avoided.”
