Should we legalize pot....financially?

The topic of legalization of marijuana has come up more often because of the recession that our country is facing. States like California and Oregon have given the legalization serious consideration because of how much tax revenue they can bring in. Marijuana is a billion dollar problem for our country and the resources that are being used to stop this drug are very costly. The war on drugs has solved nothing and drug cartels are still making billions of dollars from this drug.

We know that prohibition didn't work, but I wanted to ask the FW crowd out there, should we legalize marijuana so that the states and government can get billions of tax revenue to fund other programs.

Personally I believe that the legalization of marijuana needs to be done immediatly because of the resources that are used to imprison non-violent individuals who possessed this substance. The taxes that the state and federal level can get from this drug would be astronomical. Also think of the jobs it would create to grow, ship, and sell this substance.

I just wanted to hear from the FW crowd about this.

No. The government already can't handle the money they have, why give them more?

It's such an easy solution but there is so much push back from the reefer madness crowd that has no clue as to the realities of marijuana. The same group that gets hammered and drinks and drives.

scottxmso said: Yes...why not take money from sales of pot that could be going to fund organized crime, and divert it to the government by legalizing/taxing it? Not to mention that I strongly believe that marijuana should be legalized for non-fiscal reasons...it's a relatively harmless plant, especially when you compare it to tobacco and alcohol. It's not just a waste of money but a downright travesty that people are being imprisoned just for smoking marijuana.

Good point

Yes.

Pros.
1. Less money on enforcement.
2. Less drug violence domestically and in Mexico.
a. Less illegal immigration.
4. Increased tax money from legal sales.

Cons.
Potentially more people smoking pot.
?

89transam said: Yes.

Pros.
1. Less money on enforcement.
2. Less drug violence domestically and in Mexico.
a. Less illegal immigration.
4. Increased tax money from legal sales.

Cons.
Potentially more people smoking pot.
?
Con:
You are really going to harm today's drug dealers. They've spent years building up a clientele of pot smokers, and you want to go and destroy them in a day? I think that is really unfair. You're going to put these people out of work, and when you do, then they will stop buying cheetos and doritos, and then that will put more people out of work, and then pretty soon nobody will be able to afford pot! Come on now! THINK before you speak.

89transam said:

Cons.
Potentially more people smoking pot.
?

More mellow people is not a bad thing. I've seen plenty of angry drunks but never an angry stoner.

But doesn't the government make money from the arrests now? In the way of court costs, fines, etc.? In the small college town I'm from, pot is keeping the police department in business.

It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

infecto said: It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

victimless ... yeh right, well when your 14 year old pot smoking teenager is still sitting on your couch when he is 40 suffering from agoraphobia ... you can go say how victimless this is

pot smoking directly benefits all the pharamacetical companies because we got thousands of stoners that graduate from pot to social security disability benefits and pyschotropic drugs

bigdaddycincinnati said: germanpope said: infecto said: It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

victimless ... yeh right, well when your 14 year old pot smoking teenager is still sitting on your couch when he is 40 suffering from agoraphobia ... you can go say how victimless this is

pot smoking directly benefits all the pharamacetical companies because we got thousands of stoners that graduate from pot to social security disability benefits and pyschotropic drugs

And the fact that it is illegal in most places really stops people from smoking pot. Wake up.

it does keep people from smoking pot at the local park, parking lot at the supermarket, hotel lobby --- having everybody stoned out in the community would be pretty much pathetic

germanpope said: infecto said: It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

victimless ... yeh right, well when your 14 year old pot smoking teenager is still sitting on your couch when he is 40 suffering from agoraphobia ... you can go say how victimless this is

pot smoking directly benefits all the pharamacetical companies because we got thousands of stoners that graduate from pot to social security disability benefits and pyschotropic drugsThis actually is pretty close to the truth.

I suppose the only benefit to keeping pot illegal is the "moral statement" of the government. I believe that most anyone who wants pot can get it pretty easy. Keeping it illegal only keeps straightlaced people from trying it and forming a habit.

If you made it illegal and taxed the crud out of it (even if it were quite expensive), it would significantly reduce the market base of criminals, and thus run them out of business (sorry!). Wait a few years and then raise taxes even more.

My bottom line on this issue is that alcohol is probably more destructive.

The problem is that it is hard to tax something that grows on its own with little or no effort.

And this would be the pharmaceutical companies' worst nightmare.

My guess is that the weed lobby is not very well funded.

ArmchairQB said: The problem is that it is hard to tax something that grows on its own with little or no effort.

And this would be the pharmaceutical companies' worst nightmare.

My guess is that the weed lobby is not very well funded.

no doubt they must come up with a lot of good ideas ... but unless they write them down ...

germanpope said: infecto said: It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

victimless ... yeh right, well when your 14 year old pot smoking teenager is still sitting on your couch when he is 40 suffering from agoraphobia ... you can go say how victimless this is

pot smoking directly benefits all the pharamacetical companies because we got thousands of stoners that graduate from pot to social security disability benefits and pyschotropic drugs

The same can be said for tobacco and alcohol. People smoke pot regardless of its legality. In addition not everyone who smokes pot is a lifeless degenerate. Under your argument why do we not ban liquor, tobacco, and prescription pain medication. All of those are far more addictive and harmful than pot. The government should not police victimless crimes regardless of what they are. If someone wants to smoke pot in the safety of their own home why should it matter? It does not harm society any more than alcohol.

Lastly, before you attack me let me state that I do not smoke pot myself.

Yeah, our competitive spirit and sense of entrepreneurism would really be helped if more people were stoned.

germanpope said: infecto said: It is a victimless crime. The drug war only finances criminals and does nothing to help society.

victimless ... yeh right, well when your 14 year old pot smoking teenager is still sitting on your couch when he is 40 suffering from agoraphobia ... you can go say how victimless this is

pot smoking directly benefits all the pharamacetical companies because we got thousands of stoners that graduate from pot to social security disability benefits and pyschotropic drugs

The significant majority of those who prefer cannabis to a shot of liquor are productive hard working people. 'Amotivational syndrome' is pure and utter bullcrap. Just because a slacker sits on the couch all day smoking pot doesn't mean he wouldn't be a couch potato without. Regardless, what business is it of your how people choose to spend their lives? Also, how in the hell do you justify putting someone in jail for doing nothing more than eating cheetos and sitting on the couch? Of course as many times as you've posted when blotto on liquor I wouldn't expect you to understand.

kamerkar said: bigdinkel said: The topic of legalization of marijuana has come up more often because of the recession that our country is facing. States like California and Oregon have given the legalization serious consideration because of how much tax revenue they can bring in. Marijuana is a billion dollar problem for our country and the resources that are being used to stop this drug are very costly. The war on drugs has solved nothing and drug cartels are still making billions of dollars from this drug.

We know that prohibition didn't work, but I wanted to ask the FW crowd out there, should we legalize marijuana so that the states and government can get billions of tax revenue to fund other programs.

Personally I believe that the legalization of marijuana needs to be done immediatly because of the resources that are used to imprison non-violent individuals who possessed this substance. The taxes that the state and federal level can get from this drug would be astronomical. Also think of the jobs it would create to grow, ship, and sell this substance.

I just wanted to hear from the FW crowd about this.


I'm not sure. There's nothing comparable about them.
Why can’t I resist comparing your proposal to:
1. Legalize human organ sale (like kidney) and heavily tax it.
2. Legalize prostitution and collect revenues from both parties (something like self employment tax and service tax/entertainment tax).

kamerkar said: bigdinkel said: The topic of legalization of marijuana has come up more often because of the recession that our country is facing. States like California and Oregon have given the legalization serious consideration because of how much tax revenue they can bring in. Marijuana is a billion dollar problem for our country and the resources that are being used to stop this drug are very costly. The war on drugs has solved nothing and drug cartels are still making billions of dollars from this drug.

We know that prohibition didn't work, but I wanted to ask the FW crowd out there, should we legalize marijuana so that the states and government can get billions of tax revenue to fund other programs.

Personally I believe that the legalization of marijuana needs to be done immediatly because of the resources that are used to imprison non-violent individuals who possessed this substance. The taxes that the state and federal level can get from this drug would be astronomical. Also think of the jobs it would create to grow, ship, and sell this substance.

I just wanted to hear from the FW crowd about this.

Why can’t I resist comparing your proposal to:
1. Legalize human organ sale (like kidney) and heavily tax it.
2. Legalize prostitution and collect revenues from both parties (something like self employment tax and service tax/entertainment tax).

Why not legalize prostitution. Same argument holds true. People are going to get a hooker regardless of the legality. Its not the call girls that cause problem but the street hookers. Legalize it, work a system like in Nevada with regular testing. The world is not going to come to an end.

nycll said: WalStMonky said:

Drugs
Do you support or oppose the legalization of each of the following drugs? – “Support” listed
            Democrats Republicans Independents
Marijuana     61%         43%         55%

Just like hypocrisy explains the attitude of those big goverment liars.