The market will determine the price.  That's capitalism.  Drug stores will be competitive.  Let's assume your reasoning on inflated prices is correct.  It won't change the supply and demand effect on pricing.  Is it cheaper to buy drugs illegaly or legaly in Amsterdam?   Sure if some one wants to lower their price and sell to a local street dealer they can.  But at the very top of this chain are a bunch of business professionals.  Do they want to sneak around and kill their way to profits or set up an LLC and use federal express. 

Why?  Why can't Columbians and Afghanies sell to the US?  Why do you call the Columbian Gangs "illegal"?

Look at the way amsterdam handled their "heroin alley".  They don't have a black market of any consequence.   The US government will collect sales tax.  Maybe decades from now they will create a BS safety/edu tax long after the black markets are vanguished.  I just don't see where you are getting your opinion that a legal market isn't going to stamp out the illegal market.  Do you have examples of this happening in history anywhere? 

I'll assume you've seen breaking bad & scarface, just for fun, imagine what Walter White, Gustavo Fring, or Tony Montana would do in real life is prohibition ended... don't kid yourself. They'd be at the secretary of state's office signing a business license faster than you can say "los pollos hermanos".

Amsterdam still has a VERY big illegal drug trade. 

Most drug cafes get at least some of their Marijuana illegally for example. 

This got even bigger after Amsterdam instituted purity laws and banned stronger marijuana.  (Again showing purity laws wouldn't work.)

and keep in mind Amsterdam doesn't even tax illegal drugs at all.  Also this is freaking Marijuana, which has one of the lowest profit to production ratios out there.

And no... the free market wouldn't decide the prices.  That's the point.

Unless you think we'll be walking around with about zero taxes on illegal drugs and selling Cocaine for $5-10 bucks for a pure gram.  You comfortable with that?

Secondly, wasn't one of the big pluses of this supposed to be that it gets the money out of the hands of illegal gangs?  As for the Breaking Bad crew.

They're dealing in Meth.  Meth is a factory created drug that can be created with household items.

We aren't talking about something that's being provided outside the country for cheaper then it could ever be grown legally.  Legalizing meth and not other hard drugs might work a bit, as it'd push people over to Meth, but the downside is... Meth is just the worst drug out there really.

Why can't Columbian gangs and Afghanni Gangs sell legally in the US?  Uh, that'd be because they're giant illegal cartels that control parts of their country that the governments don't want them controlling.

It'd would be like if Amsterdam signed a deal TODAY to ship Heroin and Marijuana with the MS-13.  (That's an illegal hispanic gang.)

My understanding of Amsterdams illegal drug trade is limited to knowledge of selling illegaly to nonresidents. I've never heard of amsterdam's purity laws, i tried googling it and found nothing, but assuming you're correct. That would be a niche market and crime, especially violent crime, would drop. Does Amsterdam have gangsters and thugs and turf wars? That's the whole point of ending prohibition. Making the streets safe again!

What decided the prices of marijuana in washington and colorado? They're the same as they were on the street. The street prices then are the deciding factor. What basis do you have for cocaine being 5-10 dollars a pure gram? There's more involved than just manufacturing cost there's; shipping, book keeping, lawyers, many many employees and of coarse the ceo is gonna wanna get filthy rich right? He's gonna squeeze as much as he can for himself. They are going to sell as high as they can get away with and do so legally because it's better.

Yes. The whole point is getting the money out of the hands of killers and thugs........by making them into legitimate business men. Like i said, they would be first in line at the SOS building getting licensed. They wouldn't hire killer anymore, instead they'd be recruiting college grads. There would be no point in killing each other over profit because they could use the court system if there's a problem. There'd be contracts... and so on and so forth. Just look at the end prohibition in the 30s, it worked! Organized crime was severely damaged because the smart ones went and became legitimate entrepreneurs.

So in order for a U.S. business to buy from a foreign producer, the producer would have to demonstrate that they are a good and moral capitalist firm, correct? Well gee, if that's not giving an incentive to turn things around and join hands, then I don't know what is...

A) Your understanding is wrong. There is still plenty of crime involved... and that's just pot with it's low crime margins.  Just look up "soft drug" crime statistics in the netherlands.

Additionally, Amsterdam NEVER had gangsters and turf wars.   That's sort of the thing people miss in those arguements Amsterdam would have far lower violent crime rates with or without drug legalization. 

Meanwhile Property crime in Amsterdam saw a huge increase after legalization .   Marijuana shops tend to be magnets for property crime, which coincidentally is why cities have greatly reduced the number of shops they allow in the netherlands.

B)  Because that's how cheap cocaine is.  Cocaine is ungodly cheap.  It's cheaper to produce than a 2-liter of soda.  Though thanks for listing a bunch of things that raise the price of legal drugs that illegal drug dealers don't have to deal with like book keepers and lawyers and actually having to pay people decently. 

Cocaine black market prices will just keep getting cheaper.  So your talking $5-10 a gram, OR the black market is back and as strong as whenever at whatever level we decide is the bottom rate cocaine can sell for.

Like I already explained, Cocaine, crack and drugs like that are far cheaper than drugs like Marijuana.

If you'll note.  Cocaine is illegal in Amsterdam and pretty much everywhere. 

As for the prices in Washington in Colorado you realize NOTHING has been implmented in either state yet right?  It's a little early to be talking about this like it's some miracle that's worked when it hasn't even started yet.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that in 2011 there was actually a huge crash in Marijuana prices.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-great-marijuana-crash-of-2011-2013-9

Look at just how small a profit margin is on that Marijuana.  However, Cocaine?  Cocaine's profit margins are outrageous.

C)  Prohibition is actually not the comparison you want to make.  During Prohibition, do you know how all those illegal bootleggers sold their product?  Pharmacys.  Pharmcists were allowed to perscribe booze to whoever, so while staying illegal, gangs bought a bunch of pharmacys as a front to sell their booze.

Outside which, mobs did not become legal when prohibition ended, they did not just the workforce, and they are still around today.  Nor did removal of prohibition kill the mob.  What REALLY killed the mob was the federal authorties deciding to finally take action.  They basically stopped taking bribes.

Gangs might own legal storefronts, but only as a front for their illegal drug buisness.  Which is conincedntally why states that have legal marijuana have deep background checks.

Now if we're talking full country legalization, I don't see a bunch of MS-13 gang members in suits beating out Venture Capitalists and Phillip Morris when it comes to the legal game.

D)  Or they can just sell drugs, illegally and make more profit, and not have to worry about a bunch of shit.  Oh yeah, and they can still act like paramilitary organizations and gain power that money just can't buy.  If money was all that mattered, all these fuckoff dictators like Mugabe, Assad and the Saudis would all give up being dictators and live it up in Europe or the US... these guys already have way more money then they'll ever personally need.

Also, you know.  It's not like foreign governments are going to be like "Oh you guys want to be legal buisnesses now, all the murders and slavery and illegal activities are all forgiven!  Since it's for the US!"

Doing some more research, Pure Cocaine production wise costs something like $800 tops when it comes to producing a Kilogram of Cocaine. 

http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/mexicos-cartels-and-economics-cocaine

1 Kilogram = 1,000 Grams.

So we're talking 8 cents a gram of cocaine.    So while a gram is $100 now... drug dealers can go waaaaay down to match price and still make a hefty profit.   

My understanding may be fallacious.  However, no more than yours.  I intentionally stated my understanding was limited which should help you see I'm not pretending to know all there is about dutch organized crime.  And to promote healthy discussions between us in the future we need to start providing a source with every statement.  I'll do it if you'll too.  I know you have knowledge but we all make mistakes.

A)  I stated that regardless of purity laws, crime in Netherlands dropped. (maybe I didn't make that clear?)  This is factual. source Never say NEVER,  While the there is still (to my surprise) gangsters, there is also (to my surprise) turf wars... source looks like they should legalize cocaine huh? more source  ..I'm not going to argue about property crime but rather assume you are right.  Property crime will still exist after prohibition ends.  Keeping policemen alive, cleaning up neighborhoods, and stamping out organized crime is all I care about.  That's the focus of the thread.

B) 

That $800 is for the procuring of leafs for a Kilo of cocaine.  And that's if you are buying from columbia.  If you get leaves from bolivia or peru it'll cost around $1,800.  Then you got to pay for the workers, manufacturing, and (yes) accountants and lawyers (especially in an illegal market).  Plus hired muscle, bodygaurds, weapons, distribution.  That's before it even leaves the country.  I don't know how much it costs to run a company like this but I bet it aint cheap.  The kilo then sells for $7,000 at the ports in Columbia.  $16,000 in northern Mexico.   $27,ooo in the USA.   So that means it costs anywhere from $7 a gram (plus shipping) to $27 a gram (local pick up).  But he isn't selling it buy the gram. He's selling it buy the ounce.  Which costs the little street dealer on average $1000 ( source )  Since there is 35.2 ounces in a kilo, the street dealer is making $35,200 revenue on a $27,000 purchase plus expenses.  But the real question is how much it is per gram!  The little dealer breaks his ounce in to grams, 8balls, and quarters, then sells m' for $60,  $150, and $250 respectively ( source )  which nets about $1,400 to $1,700.

Simply put.   A gram of coke is not profitable (on the street) for less then $35 a gram.  At $70 the little dealer doubles his money, which is what every little dealer wants, trust me.  8 cents a gram of leafs in columbia, $60 a gram of powder in the 13 year old's pocket at street corner, USA. My math adds up, I'm a former teenage dealer and current computer scientist.

Your marijuana price crash article is interesting but wow is it naive (the reporter doesn't explain the problem clearly).  There are 3 basic grades of marijuana with variations within.  There's dirt weed, green weed ($25 an eighth), and chronic ($60 an eighth).  What this article says is that in a legal market ppl choose green weed.  Not too strong, not too weak.  When the article says, "the retail side started cutting the sale price of an eighth of an ounce of marijuana to as low as $25" and "For many, the low prices were simply more attractive than higher-priced, higher-quality product."  The article is saying that the high potency weed isn't selling like the mid potency weed so Novice retailer's/investors are lowering the price of high quality herb (which I find very hard to believe but ok).

This is actually good news.  I smoked/sold green weed all through highschool making straight A's.  As soon as I switched to chronic I failed all my coarses.  The only reason i ever finished college was I quit smoking chronic.  That stuff messes up memory and concentration especially in math and science.  Trust me that article is sensationalism and the only bit of truth to it is how it (poorly) explains that new retailers and investors don't know jack so they switched from high grade growers to mid grade growers. 

C) Prohibition isn't a comparison,  it is the current policy we live under today, in America.  Marijuana producers today use "pharmacies" too.. as one form of distribution.  Maybe not all gangsters joined the legal workforce after prohibition ended in the 30's.  But it's very rudimentary; exhibit worse criminal behaviour like armed robbery or get a job.  I understand your point about tattooed mean old drug dealers in a gang.  The reason they sell drugs is they weren't taught a decent work ethic and they wanna stay home and make their own schedule.  You have a point. I simply want them to lose customers to the point where they aren't turning a profit and they have to stop putting cops and citizens on edge.  I believe that's what we all want.  To do this we must go after their profits.

D) Yes and no.  IMO, as I have tried to demonstrate, there will be zero profit for gangsters,  customers will rather do business with a 7-11 style establishment than an ms 13 thug.  But I understand better now that a thug is a thug.  They will still be thugs after prohibition ends.  At least we will be creating fewer of them.  As for business with foreign producers.. Business is business.  It's only about making money.  Public opinion and sanctions are the only threat to a profitable contract.  If the foreign thugs have a decent operation that can supply the needs of a US company they will.  As long as there is no threat to their reputation or legal standing.   

I wrote something different for C) and D) but when I edited it on my Wii U it got trimmed. (damn 9999 char limit).  Any way that's the basic notion.  This is my closing argument.  It's all I can offer on the subject.  Take from it what you will..  I hope you enjoyed the discussion.  Take care.

A) You aren't going to stop organized crime that way.   Gangs in the US are a totally different social situation that Europeon Crime.   The modern gang was born due to segregation laws, and the violence and crime started well before it war profitable.  Until you solve the underlying social issues, gangs will always be around causing trouble and violence even without the profit.

Mostly because most drug dealers don't make much.

B)  The suppliers will cut there margins if they need to, they make crazy profits.  You are waaaaay overestimting the price of this stuff

C)   What?  No you misunderstand, during prohibition pharmacies were legal.   Pharmacies were basically like California Marijuana laws now.  You go to a doctor who will give you a perscirption for marijuana for a headache, and you could buy all the pot you want from dispenseries.   Pharmacies were the same way, you went in, saw the pharmacist about a headache or anxiety, and they wrote you a perscrpiton on the spot.

D) And... I mean, have you met a drug dealer?  I've met quite a few.  A lot of them have crazy work ethic.  They're drug dealers becuse they felt marginalized by society/it was the quickest way to make a buck.   When your young and poor and feel like society is against you, it's easy to go a little wild, and fuck up, and then once you do... espiecally if you get  felony, drug dealing is an attractive way to make some money.  

Being a low end drug dealer is way more work and way more depressing than most jobs.  Unless you are a  middle class, suburb drug dealer anyway who just sells out of his house because he buys in bulk and it's a way to pay for his habit.

A)  as a drug dealer I made $500 profit a week while getting straight A's.  They make lot's of money.  Look at the history of gang violence in the US and you'll notice it coincides nicely with illegal drugs.

B)  I used your source to get the high numbers and my own to get the low.  It ain't cheaper than soda.. it just ain't.  The suppliers can only cut their margins by so much..  They aren't going to cut profits in half, forget about that.

C) I understood,  alchohol was sold legally in pharmacies.  Sort of like marijuana is sold in pharmacies legally now (not federally but state).  I only said "pharmacies" because they are techincally medical dispensaries.

D) I just told you how many times?.. yes I've met several.  Big and little.  This is something I misunderstood. I thought you ment they didn't want to join society bc they didn't want a 9-5 job (describes me very well).  You're saying they are marginalized and want easy money?   Well then they won't have a problem working for a legal drug company.