LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With recent polls showing that 50% of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, Mr. Flynt is asking why steps are not being taken to make that a reality. Mr. Flynt places blame on those that have the most to lose from legal weed: the pharmaceutical, alcohol and prison industries.

Pharmaceutical companies don't want people turning to pot for pain relief because it means they'll be spending less on prescription pills. The alcohol industry doesn't want the competition, either. With mounting scientific evidence that pot is safer than alcohol, legal marijuana would clearly put a major dent in the booze business' profits. Private, for-profit prisons only make money if they're full, and that means locking up weed growers and pot smokers.

"This is what's wrong with America," said Mr. Flynt. "Our elected politicians ignore the people's wishes and do the bidding of the corporations that line their pockets with cash."

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SOURCE Hustler