Our favorite reader submissions. Mon Feb 8, 2010 more galleries 55

GET AN EVENT PASS NOW AT HTTP://MEDCANCUP.COM

The first annual HIGH TIMES Medical Cannabis Cup in San Francisco will include prizes for the best …

Thu Feb 18, 2010 more videos 12

Gov. Schwarzenegger's Twitter Idea Sees 'High' Times

Thu, Aug 27, 2009 11:34 pm

more: headline news, activism news, drug policy news, california

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is trying to convert the collective intelligence of Twitter users into real-life ideas that would help the revenue-starved state.

Schwarzenegger announced this week the launch of Myidea4ca.com, a Web site that indexes ideas for California's state government submitted via Twitter. The governor is asking people to "tweet" their ideas with the hashtag identifier #myidea4ca.

During a conversation Wednesday at Twitter's headquarters with company founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone, Schwarzenegger said Twitter has "tremendous power and insight." He said the idea came from a Twitter user that he should autograph some state-owned cars and bicycles for sale at the Great California Garage Sale on Aug. 28 and Aug. 29. The governor said the Twitter-generated ideas also could be used for issues like solving the state's water woes.

"Even in bodybuilding, I was always interested in what people want," Schwarzenegger said. The governor is a frequent tweeter. He has nearly 1 million Twitter followers.

Myidea4ca.com scoops up tweets tagged with #myidea4ca, and people can then give a thumbs up or thumbs down to each idea -- a function that's commonplace on social bookmarking Web sites like Digg and Delicious. Users also can submit comments about the ideas, which are searchable by keyword, Twitter username, category, most popular, most commented and most recent.

Early results suggest that the public's most popular idea is legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana, a possibility Schwarzenegger himself floated earlier this year as state legislators struggled to close a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

Follow Government Technology on Twitter.

» add a comment

ME420

Oct 11 2009, 12:01 pm

We really need some more people on the east coast that will stand up for themselves like the californians. Ive lived in Maine my whole life, most everyone here smokes.. Its time to be heard, no more hiding.

MystrE_the1

Sep 7 2009, 7:16 pm

Arnold used to smoke bud back in the day. After pumping iron for 8hrs. he would get high with other lifters and on occasion TOMMY CHUNG.

bongbarian

Sep 3 2009, 3:32 pm

gstlab3 has transcended his delivery, our time must be close.

George Orwell

Aug 30 2009, 4:30 am

I would appreciate it very much if anyone could snd this to the governor.

I strongly agree with gstlab3 on this issue. In todays financial crisis, things have become so bureaucratic. As a direct result of a cramped and complex tax system it is not difficult to notice that everyone has their money, figuratively, welded on themselves.

If there was a completely new, more simpler, tax system people would go out to spend lots of money. This is a big feat to accomplish, but with lots of Tax Reforms I do not see how it can not become a reality.

If marijuna is legal it should not cost as much as a gold bracelet. Taxes have to be made sensible for them to work or else you get lots of people saving their money and not spending most of it.

If smoking a plant that has same effects as alcohol and safer is illegal, then ignorance should be a crime as well.

The average Californian should be able to support his or her family because of job creation due to the increase in revenue from legalized marijuana.

The safety of Californians depend on the legalization of marijuana to keep more severe crimes at attention.

If the subject is open for discussion, then there should be a live internet town hall to finalize the debates and provide closure.

gstlab3

Aug 28 2009, 3:28 pm

HEY MAN IF ANYONE WANTS TO PASS THIS LITTLE TID BIT OFF TO THE GOVERNOR I WOULD APPRECIATE IT KINDLY.,
THE REASONS ARE MANY BUT THE BASIC TREND HAS BEEN TO TAX HERE AND THERE AND NOT CALL IT A TAX PER SE.,
CALIFORNIA HAS THE HIGHEST TAXES FOR PROPERTY AND INCOME AND THE DREADED BUISNESS TAXES AND FEES AND PERMITS!!!!
THIS HAS A DIRECT CAUSE AND EFFECT MR. GOVERNOR!!!
FIRST EVERYTHING STARTS TO COST A LOT MORE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FREAKING OUT PAYING ALL THESE TAXES AND THEY PASS THE EXSPENCE OFF TO THE CONSUMER!!!
SECOND OF ALL BUISNESS DOES BETTER IN THE LONG RUN IF THEIR PROFFITS AND CAPITAL ARE NOT TAXED THUS ENABLING THE BUISNESS TO PAY BETTER WAGES/CREATE MORE JOBS AND DO THE IMPORTANT THING OF IMPROVING GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY!!!!
SO YOU SEE MR. GOVERNOR ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LET YOUR PEOPLE HAVE THOSE TAX DOLLARS AND SEE THEM SPEND IT IN YOUR STATE CREATING EVEN MORE JOBS FOR THE SERVICES MODERN PEOPLE DESERVE!!!!!
OH!! AND LETTING THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR MARIJUANA TO GROW AND SELL FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION WOULD BE COOL TOO!! THAT MIGHT GET THOSE GIANT GROW OPS/ILLEGALS OUT OF YOUR FOREST LANDS TOO!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MR. GOVERNOR.,

FROM THE NICE FOLKS AT THE lab.,
WE ENCOURAGE THE SAFE AND NON CRIMINAL CULTIVATION/BREEDING OF MARIJUANA FOR PERSONAL USE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THWART THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT/DRUG WAR AT ALL COSTS SO THAT WE MAY BE FREE FROM PERSECUTION,ENSLAVEMENT AND DEATH. gstlab3 PEACE! GROW YOUR OWN!!! FREE YOUR MIND!!!! FREE YOUR PEOPLE FROM FEAR!!!!

hmm

Aug 28 2009, 3:15 pm

bong you do know your on the High Times web site.. not the other site right?

bongwater

Aug 28 2009, 3:04 pm

hey, religeon is legal and thats where prohibition came from-lets tax those fucks.every town has a shitload of churches.WE SHOULD PUT A 911 TAX ON CHURCH DONATIONS!!!!

to and

Aug 28 2009, 2:18 pm

you must be 12.. seriously. High times is letting people know this information so that we keep pushing legalization and this is yet another opportunity for the people to show there support and the way to get a million suggestions to legalize pot is that the people have to know about the opportunity to do so. now go do your homework buddy.

Legalize Cannabis! it can be use in so many different ways for our benefit but most of all for happier lives.. isnt that what livings all about?

irish

Aug 28 2009, 11:33 am

talk about a pioner in tough times.. we need more people like arnold on the east coast!

and

Aug 28 2009, 10:50 am

HT,when he has 1 million suggestions for legalizing pot,then print this story,when it has something to do with marijuana,unless of course you are becoming a politico magazine.

Barb

Aug 28 2009, 10:11 am

Arnold was a good actor but exceeds expectations as governor. He is the only governor to do a great deal for the environment in Cali. Thumbs Up to U Arnold

jason h.

Aug 28 2009, 1:39 am

That proves that you can do what you want as a leader. He is doing so much to further this country into the legalization of marijuana. GO ARNOLD!!!

anonymous

Aug 28 2009, 12:34 am

uhm..... fuck twitter..

POPPA B

Aug 28 2009, 12:25 am

you go Arnold be the first to get the budget balanced