Playboy is no stranger to marijuana laws.

On June 4th, 2009, the Marijuana Policy Project will host their 4th Annual Party at the famed Playboy Mansion.

While the video may not provide you with much new information on “why” marijuana should be decriminalized, executive director Rob Kampia does offer an interesting figure: the estimated costs of marijuana prohibition are ~$14 billion annually.

Perry Ferrell, Christopher “Kid” Reid and Jackie “Jokeman” Martling also render their pleas to the cause. They also have Margaret Cho, Gary Coleman, Montel Williams, Melissa Ethridge, and many others.

Since their founding in 1995, MPP has made progress reforming U.S. marijuana laws. Accomplishing this by lobbying for legislation and running ballot initiative campaigns to allow ill patients to use medical marijuana, as well as sponsoring ballot initiatives to replace marijuana prohibition with a sensible regulatory system.

Guests included Marijuana Policy Project Executive Director Rob Kampia, former DEA Director Asa Hutchinson and a variety of other panel guests debating the failure of the war on marijuana and the benefits of it’s taxation and regulation. In classic antiquated, psychobabble government-rhetoric, Hutchinson compares the marijuana plant to harmful drugs like cocaine and meth. He even compares tobacco as being a harmful drug. Tobacco!

Imagine, a product that has been taxed, marketed and made available worldwide which systematically has been linked to cancers that have killed people — being in the same league as marijuana. Marijuana hasn’t killed anyone to date, yet marijuana prohibition has certainly killed those that could have benefited from the medicinal properties that the plant brings. $10 billion was spent by the DEA cracking down on just marijuana.

California, a state that has medical marijuana laws, made $11 million from taxing the medical marijuana being sold. Compared to $10 billion and the way money has been floating around this country lately, $11 million isn’t much – but it shows that money can be made. If every state had medical marijuana laws then a good revenue could be generated. Some medical-grade marijuana can sell for $3000 a pound and right now there are around 400 dispensaries in California alone.

Hutchinson goes on to say that the government policy on states with medical marijuana laws have changed but they are still continuing to go after those that are outside both state and federal law.

I don’t know how much better an argument you can have for legalization as long as you put Glenn Beck on the other side of it.

Rob Kampia spends about five minutes clearly explaining why California’s proposal to legalize marijuana makes sense — and Beck then equates every cogent thought to California’s only doing this because it’s broke.

First of all, if California is only considering legalization because it’s desperately broke — who cares? It’s still the logical thing to do and would generate billions of dollars in tax revenue.

Secondly, why does Glenn Beck admit to smoking marijuana? I think it actually makes pot smokers a less sympathetic group because he’s such a toolbox.

Although this video won’t make anyone grip their seat in suspense, it’s a good example of the more advanced dialogue that goes on between active members of the marijuana reform movement.

Above is a talk that involves the bias of mainstream media in its presentation of cannabis to the public. You could also listen to Rob Kampia talk about pot and politics.

Or, find something interesting in this long list of NORML CON 2008 videos.

The Marijuana Policy Project surprised itself today, when the group found themselves in the unusual position of congratulating John Walters on drug policy initiative. The director of the National Drug Policy recently backed efforts in Mexico to pass legislation which removed criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana.

MPP executive director Rob Kampia said:

I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but John Walters is right. [...] We heartily second his support for eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana users in Mexico, and look forward to working with him to end such penalties in the U.S. as well.

Well I wouldn’t think the MPP is holding its collective breath on that last one. After all, hypocrisy is what our national drug policy is founded on, so Walters’ move should surprise no one.