You are a nice guy PhiSlammaJamma. Naive, but nice. Unfortunately, any cases where our government makes decisions based on our best interests are the exception, not the rule. mar1juana was outlawed because it didn't have any significant financial backers and the paper companies lobbied for it - hemp was a significant competitor. I just thought of something...I wonder if Canada legalizing pot might affect the brain and talent drain to the United States?
My favorite pro-legalization argument is the one with the logic that mar1juana should be legalized simply because it's "no worse than alcohol!" Boy, if that doesn't convince those yahoos in Washington to legalize it, I don't know what will. My stand can pretty much be summed up with two beliefs I have. 1.) If mar1juana was legal, I believe there would be a lot more users, who smoke more often. (I do not view this as a positive thing) 2.) I don't believe that the legalization of mar1juana would significantly reduce my taxes. I mean, if someone can give me a ballpark figure of the amount of money that will be slashed off, then I'll listen. But does anyone really believe that just because mar1juana is legalized we'll all be taking home more money? Get Real! I mean if someone can disprove these two assumptions, I would love to hear it. But, until someone does, I don't see what benefit a non drug-user like me would gain from legalization. All I know is that now I would get to inhale the repugnant stench of mar1juana smoke when I go out in public! Yipeee!!!! As if having to inhale cigarette smoke wasn't bad enough.
Trying reading the thread before you post. You might find the answers. If it were legal and taxed, you could see how that would increase our tax revenue, right? Now we collect no taxes from it, with it legalized we would collect taxes on it. You seem to think everybody and their AnotherBrother would be smogging out, so it would be logical for you to believe the taxes brought in from so many consumers would be huge. Or for another view on mar1juana and 'cash in your pocket' which somehow trumps all the other arguments your are ignoring: "It is estimated, that if mar1juana were legalized, and prices were dropped a fair 50% and usage increased only a little bit, mar1juana sales could gross anywhere from $50-$53 billion dollars (Rosenthal, p. 39). That is a huge amount of money that would no doubt aid the United States’ economy. However, there are other direct benefits to consider. The $50-$53 billion would only come from sales alone. The government could make more money by charging vice, manufacturing and state taxes. It is believed that taxes and fees such as these would gross about another $7-$10 billion (Rosenthal, p. 39). Many other benefits could also be directly related to the legalization of mar1juana. If it were legalized, it would create a whole new industry. And of course, this new industry would need employees, which means more jobs for the unemployed (Maertz, Jim “interview w/ Ms. Wara, 10/29/98). Also with this new industry would come the ability to legally export this drug. Due to the advancements in American farm technology it is believed that we would become main exporters of mar1juana. Rather then spending about $5-$7 billion per year on illegally importing the drug, legalization would...generate (up to) $1 billion dollars, and at the same time save that $5-$7 billion spent on importation. The legalization of mar1juana could help balance the U.S. trade deficit (Rosenthal, p. 42)...There are countless economic ripples such as these that would help out the economy, but when looking at the economy as a whole, we can’t only look at how much we bring in. It is obvious that both direct and indirect revenues would aid our economy, however, we must also look at the amount of money we would save if mar1juana were legalized. Of course the legalization of mar1juana would mean the cost of drug enforcement would drop (Marshal, p. 92). More than 20 federal agencies are involved in the enforcement of mar1juana laws, and legalization would mean that these agencies would not have to spend as much on drug enforcement. The government spends about $30 billion dollars per year trying to fight mar1juana; if it were legalized, this money could be spent on better things like education. The cost of arrest and conviction of violators is also very high (Thompson (ed.), p. 157). It can cost up to $450,000 dollars to keep an offender in jail. In the book Why mar1juana Should be Legal it adds up the total cost as follows: “Arrest/Conviction: About $150,000; Additional prison bed: about $50,000, depending on the jurisdiction; Annual prison expense: about $30,000 per year (Avg. sentence of 5 years), that’s another $150,000” (Rosenthal, p. 43). And thing of how many mar1juana cases there are per year! All of this money save could be put towards better things (Rosenthal, p. 43). There is also the loss of productivity to consider. When a drug offender is arrested, he must take time off of work to go to court and handle all of his legal affairs. Believe it or not, 82% of arrestees for mar1juana possession have jobs. So, when using an average salary of $19,228 per year and about 30 days of lost work time, the loss of productivity adds up to about $1.1 billion (Rosenthal, p. 45). Money that is spent on mar1juana law enforcement could be better spent on things like violent crime, or education (Marshal, p. 93). The fact is the government would save billions if mar1juana were legalized."
I did read the thread, but I didn't find any answers. I certainly read some nicely worded opinions for legalization, but nothing that convinced me of anything or changed my opinion. First of all, I do believe that mar1juana use will significantly increase. I don't think this can be disproven. I never said "everyone" will be doing it. Also, I agree that legalization will save the government money. I never said it wouldn't. I've read excerpts like the one you posted before, and it definitely sounds like a perfect scheme. If I believed that education would noticably improve, violent crimes would noticably go down, or the amount of taxes I pay would noticably go down, I would <i>consider</i> legalization. Unfortunately, I don't trust that the extra money would be used exactly as it was so eloquently outlined in the paragraph you provided. Call me a skeptic. Basically, what it comes down to is that I'm fairly certain of the negative effects that the legalization will cause to me and my loved ones, while I'm not so certain of the benefits. And what makes you so sure that I'm "ignoring" all the other arguments? Maybe I just simply find "all the other arguments" lacking or perhaps I just completely disagree with them.
Smoking pot is a lifestyle choice. Just like there are many who don't drink or smoke, there would still be people who wouldn't want to use pot even if it was legal. And while there would be more people that would be open to trying it at least once, that doesn't mean that they will become casual users as your assumption implies.
THe government must have sound, verifiable reasons why any practice by citizens is outlawed. (How is alcohol any less 'mind-altering'?) I've never smoked it, but I think others should have the right to do so if they choose (but not in bars and restaurants ). And if I ever have to undergo chemo, I would like the freedom available to me.
I don't know if this is of subject, but I think they should legalize growing hemp. Government should regulate it like hell if they want to win the 'war' on mary jane, but this is a great product that grows in bad soils. Use it for clothing or paper or whatever, just use it(not to burn).
What are these negative effects on you and your loved ones? I can see one sure one - if you have kids, they will try pot at some point. THAT may happen anyway. Anything else? Personally, I'd like to see the government (which spends too much money anyway) spend money on more useful things.
Right ... legalization would cut into the profits of the forest industry, the ever growing prison industry, and pharmicutical companies. That is why mar1juana is illegal.
What we should really consider legalizing is cocaine. Think of how much money could be injected into the economy with a product that is worth more than its weight in gold. Plus, since it is highly addictive, the industry would develop very loyal customers. Since the government could regulate it there would not be all of the guesswork on the purity, so overdoses would be greatly reduced. People would also be more productive as they are zooming around on there coke highs. Best of all, we can save all of that money on law enforcement and all of our DEA operations in South America.
You're being sarky, aren't you? I actually mostly agree with this post, even though it isn't serious. Oh dear.
I'd be interested in knowing for all the people who are against legalization, have you tried pot? If so, what were the circumstances and how did it go? If not, how can you really offer up an opinion?
Have you tried having anal sex with Ron Jeremy? Why is trying something a prerequisite for having an opinion on it? Is it okay that I voted for legalization without trying pot?
Cost of enforcement < social productivity benefit. Legalize, rather; de-criminalize. I don't want to spend 1 dime on morals. Criminal law should be based on actual and not implied damages. Enforcement budgets should be tied to the value of actual damages. Imagine if the drug war budget went to fight insurance fraud. Double billings, false claims, inflated costs - prosecuted with mandatory felony sentencing without parole. I'd expect you'd have much lower heath, auto, property and worker's comp insurance costs - of much more benefit to you in your daily lives, and a cost benefit that would trickle down to lower overall product and service cost throughout the economy, and allow even greater overall employment and benefits. I'd much rather see law enforcement attack very large dollar damage problems than waste their time chasing drug traders and users.
WHOOOOOA THERE COWBOY!!! REGARDLESS OF CONTEXT, SHOULD THIS STATEMENT EVER BE MADE IN A THREAD IN ANY SHAPE FORM OR FASHION, THE THREAD SHOULD OFFICIALLY BE KILLED!!!!!
-EDIT- TheHorns, I apologize for refering to you know what in my reply. If someone came to me and said you're really missing out because having anal sex with Ron Jeremy is freaking awesome, there would be no way I could refute it, given that I haven't tried it, and no way I'd ever be able to refute it as I will never try it. When something (smoking pot) has benefits as well may cause problems, how could I accurate judge whether or not the benefits of it are worth the possible problems it may cause without experiencing such benefits for myself. Certainly, to an extent, you're point is a good one. I wouldn't expect people to have to try Crystal Meth to decide whether or not it should be legalized, but for something that seems to so on the fence, I'd certainly prefer the people voting against legalization try pot once...they may actually enjoy it and see that it can at the same time be done responsibly
HOLY ****! ! ! ! Some one stop the madness. This has gotten even worse. I was certain that the next post would be a kill. I open it and its gone to anal???? I tell you what, this thread is about to make me go out and get heroine just to get the thought/image of this thread out of my mind!!! Anyone know of a good drug house on the west side????
Sarcastic, in the antipodean parlance. I got 740 in the GRE verbal, dude, and I have no idea what hebetudinous means. Is that even a word?
