Money, Decriminalize and Legalize non-medical Marijuana in the United States

[Librazoe1982]

Do you think that if we decriminalized and legalized non medical use of Marijuana in the United States, we could make more money charging taxes, save money on law enforcement, they could use the time and funds to go after the real bad guys? Do you think that the US could benefit economically?from this?

Decriminalize and Legalize non-medical Marijuana in the United States

I want to know your views.

[flnazrael]

There is no Constitutional authority to prohibit ANY drug, and the whole war on drugs is absolutely ridiculous. During Prohibition, the murder rate doubled. And today most crime is either "drug crime" or things people do to get more drugs (because when they're black market, the price is far higher).

But even legalizing marijuana altogether would be a good first step. They waste an untold amount of money and resources on this, when prescription drugs are far more dangerous.

[Aletheides]

Actually the government makes a lot of money for the war on drugs, and it employs a lot of people.

[RLorenzen]

Stepping away from the monetary aspect for a moment, wouldn't legalization lead to more widespread use of the drug which would in effect cause younger deaths (yes, I'm aware that many people use the drug now, but it would be a lot worse if legalized) and a population that's high all the time? Not sure that's so desirable...

lol, the financial crisis we're in now is bad enough..imagine how much worse it would be if all these executives and government leaders were high, lol.

[remipub]

I like living in a country where we are free to choose how we want to live (with the obvious exceptions). At the same time I understand why we have laws - even some that seem stupid. The question becomes, what are the indirect costs of legalizing (in this case) marijuana.

I should state right off that I've never even experimented with it, so I may be biased, but I do have intimate experience with how pot effects the lives of those who use it. Let's not kid ourselves ... pot does make a person stupid. I watched my older brother get into the habit and nearly flunk out of high school - not to mention lead him into other more damaging substance abuses. I have hired employees who had used pot and since quit. Without exception they told me that they were so much better for having quit. Their motivation level, ability to focus, perform duties, etc. So back to my initial point - if you legalize pot, of course a lot more people will use it. Then we have to consider the costs to society that will inevitably result. Diminished workforce production (something that should resonate with any entrepreneur), increased addiction problems, this one is debatable - but increased crime (this is typical with any addiction problem...legal or otherwise), and increased healthcare expenses to name a few.

So obviously in my opinion pot should remain illegal, but I admit I haven't done extensive studies as to what the actual revenue versus cost would be. But based on personal observations, I believe that the social costs alone - which will turn into monetary costs, would far exceed any revenue our country might receive from the action.

[remipub]

lol, the financial crisis we're in now is bad enough..imagine how much worse it would be if all these executives and government leaders were high, lol.

I have a feeling that a lot of our goverment officials are perpetually stoned. What other explanation could there be for some of the decisions they make?

[RLorenzen]

I have a feeling that a lot of our goverment officials are perpetually stoned. What other explanation could there be for some of the decisions they make?

Valid point.

[flnazrael]

So, it's the government's job to outlaw anything that makes people stupid, lazy, or bad workers?

What's next? Outlaw reality television? Fatty foods? Cigarettes? Alchol? Where does it stop?

There's a point where the government needs to get the hell out of people's lives (and businesses, but that's another topic) and let them either flourish or self destruct. I'm not interested in a theocracy or a nanny state telling me what I can and can't do to my own body.

Legalization would actually lead to a much different scenario than what the Sean Hannity types think - look at the countries where drug use is legalized, or at least left alone, like Amsterdam.

[flnazrael]

Actually the government makes a lot of money for the war on drugs, and it employs a lot of people.

While America's infrastructure is crumbling, the DEA is arresting dying cancer patients in Washington for using medical marijuana which their own state's Supreme Court has allowed - is that your idea of employment and efficient tax spending?

What if we made a government agency whose job it was to just sit around and watch aerobics tapes all day? They'd be employing people - would that be good?

The government spends 100x more on the "war on drugs" (which is and always will be a complete failure, not to mention a Constitutional violation) than it "makes" - it does not really "make" anything. It just auctions off some of the seized assets for pennies on the dollar, then imprisons the dealers for years (federal drug laws are extremely harsh, and there is no parole) at $23k a year and growing.

Read about cases like Weldon Angelos, who got 55 years without parole for selling 1.5lbs of marijuana to an undercover. That's a cool 1.2 mil plus, not even counting inflation.

[StealYourDreams]

Let's not kid ourselves ... pot does make a person stupid. I watched my older brother get into the habit and nearly flunk out of high school - not to mention lead him into other more damaging substance abuses.

#1) It was not marijuana that caused your brother to nearly flunk out of school. It was the fact that he was lazy, possibly bored, and had no ambition to do anything. It was not the drug, it was the user.

Also I think the whole marijuana as a "gateway" drug is utter bullshit.

So back to my initial point - if you legalize pot, of course a lot more people will use it.

Is this proven fact or an assumption on your part?

Then we have to consider the costs to society that will inevitably result. Diminished workforce production (something that should resonate with any entrepreneur), increased addiction problems, this one is debatable - but increased crime (this is typical with any addiction problem...legal or otherwise), and increased healthcare expenses to name a few.

If I were a betting man, which I am, I would wager on the fact that crime would go down. No corner dealers fitting over turf and far less tax dollars keeping people who participate in the manufacturing or distribution of the drug in jail.

Finally, let me say this: The people I hung around with, both in high school and in college all smoked weed; myself included. We were all straigh A students, played sports, and didnt melt into the couch.

I've yet to discover the downside of being an entreprenuer in venture backed development stage company. /rant

[Fanatik]

It's interesting to read this thread and to comment about this topic since I work in the field. Some of you make comments that people will be high all the time, will become stupid, etc. Well - let's take a look at how alcohol is viewed in society. We have laws governing the use, production, and sale of alcohol. If these same types of rules and regulations were placed on Marijuana, I think we'd be ok.

If people used it 'all the time' of course we'd have a problem. But if it's regulated in the same manner that other socially acceptable drugs are used - would we not be in a better position?! If people drive under the influence of MJ, they get a similar knock on the hand that a drunk driver does. Make sense?

Obviously we'd have rules and regs applied - but I think it'd be a great advancement to have it legalized. Look at Amsterdam. They keep it regulated, and the Ams love it

Instead of having a cold beer at the end of the day in your own home, why not have something a little different? Have you met a pissed off person under the influence of MJ? Because I know plenty of angry drunks!

J

[remipub]

I for one have ZERO desire to live in a country like Amsterdam, so that arguement does nothing for me (no offense intended to the Dutch).

I admitted I am biased from the beginning - but I base my bias on real life human experience. I have seen both sides of the extreme and in my own experience, we are better off without it. Obviously not everyone would become abusers, but a percentage will.... to deny that is not facing reality. There will always be casual users, legal or not. And smoking pot doesn't make someone a bad person - not in the least. But you have to look at this as a generalality, not individually.

And I agree that there is some validity to the notion that if it was legal and regulated there would be less of "certain types" of crime. Using the example of alcohol ... it's legal and most people drink responsibly. But a percentage do not - and that percentage costs society - I can only guess, but probably billions, not to mention lives lost and/or destroyed, to which a price cannot be fixed. Why would we want to add another incapacitating subtance to the mix - as if we don't have enough problems already?

[Fanatik]

Then to play devils advocate - why not ban Alcohol? It serves no medical purpose, it costs us lives and money, and does little for society. However, you're failing to realize that society needs it's 'release'. If everyone rode the straight and narrow day in and day out, did nothing that involves any type of risk, and didnt have some sort of outlet to relax, we'd be royally screwed. Your next line will be "I said don't add another to the mix." Well, that's a valid point; however, if you add that to the 'mix', you're opening doors for both good and bad equivalencies here.

Why is it that MJ is illegal and Alcohol is not? Alcohol has caused plenty of strife in America and all over the world. It's proven in clinical studies that alcohol damages the liver, causes numerous physical scarring, and even death.

Marijuana has been 'theorized' to cause a lot of hardships, but it's also been PROVEN to be a valid medicinal drug as well. Alcohol falls far short of this one, my friend. So, let's substitute Alcohol and bring in MJ -- because MJ at least has a valid medicinal use. Of course, I say this after I just had a Sam Adams

J

[flnazrael]

The question, "are drugs good?" is one for the family, and the individual - it's not one for the government. People are asking the wrong questions.

Show me where the Constitution gives the government the right to tell me what I can or cannot put in my body.

Half this country's problems are caused by it trying to save people from themselves.


remipub,

I think you're looking at it the wrong way... look at what happened to the crime rate during Prohibition. Legalization would not add to the problems, it would drastically reduce them, and free law enforcement to pursue things which are actually crimes, and not personal choices.

[The Great Bear]

You can't tax marijuana- so no. The government figured this out about a century ago- along with everyone else.