This economy sucks.

I don't think anybody is ready to argue over the finer points, but the 'Drug War' is big business from top to bottom on both sides. Unfortunately the small folks 'in need' will always get squeezed.

I am a libertarian, small L, 'Do It', till it gets on me... I think someday folks will see the world that way. You wanna sniff glue, do it, just don't fuck with my world.

Purple-Days said:

but the 'Drug War' is big business

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this is what worries me

IAmKrazy2 said:

hmmmmmm. We have a multi billion dollar industry here with Marijuana sales... How long can we turn our back on the dollars and cents that could be made through legalization and taxation..

I am hoping for a nation wide legalization in the next 5 years. it could really help boost our economy.

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I have read this same argument many times before, but don't believe it. Just look at other countries where it has been legal and taxed and it adds next to nothing to the tax base.

Every contractor I hire wants "cash no tax", most weed will still be sold underground, not because it is illegal, but to avoid the taxes.

If California legalizes it and tries to collect taxes on it, all other states will be watching as more money is spent on trying to collect the taxes than the taxes being made IMO.

Not everyone is going to want to grow themselves. I would be fine if i was charged a yearly premium to grow, legally.

Tomatoes for example are grown by farmers all across the country, but we still sell tons of tomatoes in grocery stores year round. Not only that, there is a market for ketchup, salsa, pasta sauce, ect. These could maybe be compared to hash, edibles, ect. Surely, some marijuana will slip by untaxed, but people would still buy it too IMO.

Maybe the Dutch will invade the USA and claim it, and put their laws into force.... One can hope.

Edit.. u better put the pd down soon... I kept going and missed out on some good job opportunities since I wouldn't pass a drug test.

Some people think I am being pessimistic but I say I am realistic. Most say the government would make so much money if they legalize, but like Purple Days said "'Drug War' is big business" already.

I want MJ legalized just like the next guy but you just have to look at our Nations history and everything points to the opposite. This is a recreational drug, not a lab created pharmaceutical drug which was prescribed and now over the counter. I do however think more states might legalize medical marijuana, but then again they might eventually crack down and make it harder to get or even outlaw plant based cannabis and only allow accurately dosed capsules and syrups. They did the same thing with opium, originally they thought it was a cure all and doctors prescribed it in a smoked form, but then they synthesized it into morphine and eventually started regulating it further. You might say well opium is worse for you than Marijuana, well we know that of course but unfortunately the average "do good" politician has the opinion that all drugs are should be regulated and that is a stigma that will stick for a long, long time.

Here is a little scenario which has to be taken into account.

*Lets say some kid gets caught with a dime bag and gets arrested.

*Next his parents hire a $2,000-$8,000 lawyer. Thousands of money going right into the local economy.

*Then he is ordered to pay court costs, fines, and a probation supervising fees. This could cost thousands.

*Then has to do some community service, some pay it off in cash which equals profit and many do hours at government owned businesses like Sheriff Youth Ranches, Picking up trash, homeless shelters, which is free labor.

So from a measly $10 worth of weed, this kid ended up circulating thousands of dollars to the American economy, a process that statistics show he will most likely do all over again, because now he is in the system.

Good one.

Reagan-omics.

No joking, economically it makes sense,. See? We need helicopters and bullet vests and cop cars and judges and lawyers and jailhouses and guards and jail janitors... Why it all makes sense, see? It would hazard economic collapse if we gave this up.

Don't forget all the privatized prisons in the US full of drug arrests. Most of these prisons have high ranking govt. officials on their board of directors and they would not slaughter their cash cow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States

bcleez said:

Edit.. u better put the pd down soon... I kept going and missed out on some good job opportunities since I wouldn't pass a drug test.

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Coming up on a year of unemployment. Still no change. Luckily they keep extending benefits which has kept me afloat. Might have a lead on a job, supposed to hear something next week. $10 an hour with no benefits which doesn't thrill me but i'll probably take it if offered. Stopped getting high a couple weeks back. Not because of this job opportunity because they don't drug test, but i've got family that works for Boeing and they think I may be able to get hired on there so i'm cleaning my system out. The first couple days sucked but now everything is ok except for the crazy, violent dreams i've been having. Except on the nights I drink because those nights I either don't dream or don't remember.

DeepFried said:

Don't forget all the privatized prisons in the US full of drug arrests. Most of these prisons have high ranking govt. officials on their board of directors and they would not slaughter their cash cow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States

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Yep prisons too, they don't want to jeopardize that business. I wonder if the US prison system has more profit than Walmart.

When are they going to stop criminal incarceration of petty drug offenders and tarnishing their backgrounds. If it is a victimless crime then there are better alternatives such as rehabilitation with no arrest record.

Precisely, as long as corporate entities control our health care, politics and food production Marijuana will not be legalized because it is incredibly hard to profit on. Profits lost will greatly outweigh the small amount of taxes gained from sales. Not only the profits lost by privatized prisons, lawyers, courts, private security companies, saved taxes on public projects not having to hire union labor i.e chain gang but the money that will be lost by pharmaceutical companies that sell all sorts of pills for anxiety, depression, muscle pain, menstrual pains, migraines, nausea etc. etc.

Your liberal, hippy state can do what ever they want, the DEA has made it clear they don't give a fuck.