| mrstickball said: To be fair, a business can regulate the usage of drugs by their workers. They do it now with cigarettes and alcohol. For example, if a worker came in drunk as a skunk, do you think they'd get fired or suspended? Of course. Likewise, any legalization of pot would see the same restrictions. The problem I have with the illegalization of pot is the blowback effect it has caused in relation to crime and gangs. Everyone that says 'no' to the legalization of pot needs to get a history lesson from the prohibition era. Pot is not much different than alchohol - it has very little great public benefit, and causes many issues for people on it. Therefore it was banned. However, for every action, there is a reaction. Because it was illegal, there was great profit for those that chose to brew their own alcohols, setting up mobs and crime rings to become very, very strong. Overall, prohibition was seen as being largely ineffective in achieving the desired result (less drinking and less problems from drinking). Pot is no different. Here is why: Right now, we have a war going on about 5 feet from our border in Mexico. Drug cartels have an incredible amount of power and wealth due to running drugs in America. In fact, the drug war in Mexico is claiming incredible amounts of people - as per Wikipedia, over 18,000 people have died since the start of the drug war in 2006. Due to the insane amount of profits to be generated from the drug trade, the war will go on indefinately until there is less incentive to sell drugs. Furthermore, we find many unemployed people turn to drug trafficing for employment, as there are great profits in the trade, and its relatively 'easy' to build a supply-demand relationship.
If pot was legalized, a lot of things would happen that would positively effect the situation. First off, the prevelance of drug usage would not increase. From all the data I've seen, the legalization of pot in European countries has not effected actual usage of the drug. So arguing against the negative impacts that it would cause society are ill-founded. Secondly, profits from marijuana would go to legitimate businesses. During prohibition, we saw mobs and cartels run the trade. After prohibition, we saw Budweiser and other reputable businesses sell alcohol. Such businesses are wholly under the supervision of the federal government, and are taxed. Also, despensiaries of alcohol must pay incredible licensing fees for liquor. If pot were legalized, we would see honest businesses despense the drugs, instead of the social retards and trash that now ply the trade. Overnight, we would strike a major blow to the lowlifes that grow, sell, and distribute the drugs. Thirdly, we would deprive criminal gangs of a major source of funds. Much in the way of the repealing of prohibition dealt a severe blow to mob activity, the legalization of drugs would deal a severe blow to organized gang activity and cartels in Mexico. Due to the loss of huge profits in the drug trade, the gangs would go to other, more dangerous activities. Eventually, gangs would have very little ability to organize, as other illicit trades are far less profitable. Fourthly, we would legitimize drug treatment and rehab programs. The one thing I never got was the fact that the people that need help may not get it simply because the activity they are involved in is totally illegal. I would imagine that there is some fear of prosecution and stigma related to the fact its an illegal activity. Finally, we would save US taxpayers a ton of money. Not only would you have increased revenues due to taxing of pot (through dispensiaries), you would save money on drug enforcement, as there would be far less illegal activity, and less money paying for expanding our crowded penetentiary system. As it stands, a significant number of people are incarcerated for drug-related crimes....Each of these criminals cost big money for tax payers. If it was legalized, we would simply see less people go to jail. Cops would have more time to deal with more pertinent crimes, which would increase the services of our police forces.
Those are why its a good idea. I totally agree there are a lot of lowlifes that use pot and other drugs. But I know far more lowlifes that drink themselves silly, which is just as bad, or worse of an activity. The problem is that we're legislating morality in a very grey area. I cannot fathom why we ban pot, when cigarettes and alcohol are legal, when they are just as bad. Furthermore, should we not ban every other activity that could be deemed as 'bad' for people?
@Gnizmo - As for your 'weed is easy to grow' analogy - that may be the case, but at the same time, you would find that a large number of drug users would prefer to buy their weed as opposed to growing it. Pot quality really varies by strain, and various growing characteristics. In a legalized world, people would want the 'best' weed which would be obtainable only from legitimate retailers which can spend money on R&D of various drug strains. So tax receipts would still be applicable. Plus, in America, we still have moonshine runners that get arrested. I would imagine that private growing laws would be very restrictive, and we would still see that require certificates. Imagine how much money taxpayers would save if there was a $5,000 'pot license' for growing your weed at home
FYI, graphic video of the drug war. The one we're financing by making drugs illegal: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b25_1200803502 (Tijuana shootout 3km from the US border) http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=7a6_1192797773 (huge firefight using multiple fully auto weapons)
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Oh I am definitely for the legalization for all the reasons you listed. I know a few people who make quite a pretty penny off of it. One of my friends was staunchly against the legalization of pot until after he graduated as he wasn't certain how he would be able to pay for college if they did.
I still think the market would stay in a neighborhood kind of thing. Mostly because of the variety in flavor and quality. Growing your own perfect strain would be highly tempting, and relatively easy. There likely would be a huge savings in wasted court time, and jail space over a non-issue. The commercial license is probably the best way to guarantee a steady stream of money. Price it reasonably so people do it just to be on the safe side.
