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.
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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.
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.
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.
The biggest negative would be that all the drug dealers would have to start pushing harder drugs to stay in business, once the retail market for marijuana is taken over by Philip Morris.
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.
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. 5. The ability for everyone/anyone to invest in and profit from it, rather than all the profits going solely to criminals. 6. A more consistant, (relatively) safe supply due to mass manufacturing by regulated businesses.
Message edited by: Glitch99 on 2009-03-15 19:29:10 CDT
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.
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.
ColbyS said:Can you imagine the budget surplus California would have if marijuana was legalized?
Keeping it illegal is assinine. People that want it get it anyway.
I just don't understand.
budget surplus? yeh, right
everybody sitting around feeling a Rasta Man Vibration is really going to get the economy going everybody can be warriors seeking justice from the man how is being inspired by "I shot the sheriff but I didn't kill the deputy" going to put food on the table? lol?
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
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.
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