Marijuana Prohibition ended in Colorado!

[Zappykins]

ArnoldRimmer said:

SamuelRSmith said:

- It gives the state more of your money. Obviously, marijuana is going to be highly taxed (I believe the Washington bill has a 25% tax at manufacturer, wholesale, and retail), and that money's just going to go into welfare programs and enforcing all those unjust laws.

That must be the most bizarre criticism I've ever heard. Yes, with such laws, the state is going to earn more taxes, and yes, that money will also go into things like school construction, welfare programs etc. But since when is that a bad thing? So far, the very same money went to drug cartels etc. instead. Do you seriously prefer that?

Probably one of the best arguments I have ever heard.  People seem to not know that when marijuana is legalized it's use usually goes down!  So people are already smoking and doing their jobs, living their lives, etc.  Now they can do the same, but they will not be commenting crimes and supporting gangs, and putting so many people that would be otherwise productive by sending them to prison.

I can personally count on one hand, the number of times I have had coffee.  I can’t stand it personally, but I don’t think it would benefit society by making it illegal.  I know people love it, use it, and can still be productive.  Sure, it has some bad qualities, but who am I to decide what people do with their bodies?  I only have authority over my own.

I leave near the Mexican border, and there are so more horrific murders committed their than Afghanistan and Iraq combined – and those are war zones.  I want those to stop. 

Sure drugs can be abused, but criminal profiteering is much more dangerous in my opinion.