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The case against legalizing marijuana in California (Philadelphia Inquirer)
EXCERPT:
Prop 19 pushers argue that by taxing and regulating marijuana, the state will reap a tax windfall. But the act would let every landowner grow enough marijuana to produce 24,000 to 240,000 joints a year for "personal consumption." Who would pay the $50-per-ounce tax on marijuana (a 100 percent tax) when he could grow it himself or buy some (illegally) from a neighbor.
Regular tobacco does not carry its economic weight. In 2007, the government collected $25 billion in tobacco taxes but spent more than $200 billion per year to cover health and other tobacco-related costs. It is the same with alcohol: In 2007, governments collected $14 billion in alcohol taxes but spent $185 billion to cover health, crime, and other alcohol-related costs. The economics of legalized marijuana will be no different, and perhaps worse. Just imagine explaining what is the gravity bong to the people.
Then there are the practical problems of Prop 19. Homeowners growing pot in their backyards will become targets for pot thieves and attendant crime, just as areas immediately around medical-marijuana dispensaries have already experienced an uptick in crime. And there remains the very real fact that possession, cultivation, and consumption of marijuana are still crimes under federal law – an inconvenient truth the act simply ignores. What are federal law enforcement officers to do?
Many opponents to marijuana legalization believe legalizing marijuana would serve little purpose other than to worsen the state's drug problems – addiction, violence, disorder, and death. Nor will such legalization produce a tax windfall for the state; rather, it will end up costing Californians billions in increased social costs.
Popular marijuana businesses across the nation, including Smoke Cartel, believe the exact opposite. They in fact support the legalization of marijuana fully.
Read more at: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/20101003_The_case_against_legalizing_marijuana_in_California.html
16 Comments
I'm confused… why are there no articles in support of the legalization bill? Shouldn't a religious liberty website be talking about the rights of Rastafaris, for whom marijuana use has religious significance?
I'm confused… why are there no articles in support of the legalization bill? Shouldn't a religious liberty website be talking about the rights of Rastafaris, for whom marijuana use has religious significance?
I can certainly appreciate concern about pot being a gateway drug. Since the 50's it is apparent that there is a link between using pot, a fairly benign drug, and the truly hard drugs which lead to overdose and brain damage. But I would suggest that the link is not the drug, but the mileau that leads one from pot to hard drugs. People do not fall off a truck one day and say "I think I'll go do an eight ball". Usually, a person goes from being introduced and turned on by friends for free, to having to purchase it themselves. They then seek out a "dealer" and are required to go to their dealer's house. It is at the dealer's house where they are introduced to the harder drugs. If you take the dealer's house out of the equation, i.e., people buying drugs are now buying drugs from establishments registered and regulated by the State, there is no mixing of pot and hard drugs, hence, no introduced. For National Security reasons alone it is a good idea to finally legalize this contraband that gives the Mexican Mafia billions in profits. The Mexican Mafia and it's competing cartels are infiltrating the Mexican law enforcement, the Mexican government, and here in America, we have neighborhoods full of individuals pledged to loyalty to the Mexican Mafia. How soon before we see the terrorism that goes on in Mexico going on here? The way to crush the Mexican Mafia is to starve it financially. Oh sure, they'll have the harder drugs, but the demand is lower, law enforcement can focus, and our "War On Drugs" can redefine itself freeing up tax dollars currently spent on its useless efforts.
I can certainly appreciate concern about pot being a gateway drug. Since the 50's it is apparent that there is a link between using pot, a fairly benign drug, and the truly hard drugs which lead to overdose and brain damage. But I would suggest that the link is not the drug, but the mileau that leads one from pot to hard drugs. People do not fall off a truck one day and say "I think I'll go do an eight ball". Usually, a person goes from being introduced and turned on by friends for free, to having to purchase it themselves. They then seek out a "dealer" and are required to go to their dealer's house. It is at the dealer's house where they are introduced to the harder drugs. If you take the dealer's house out of the equation, i.e., people buying drugs are now buying drugs from establishments registered and regulated by the State, there is no mixing of pot and hard drugs, hence, no introduced. For National Security reasons alone it is a good idea to finally legalize this contraband that gives the Mexican Mafia billions in profits. The Mexican Mafia and it's competing cartels are infiltrating the Mexican law enforcement, the Mexican government, and here in America, we have neighborhoods full of individuals pledged to loyalty to the Mexican Mafia. How soon before we see the terrorism that goes on in Mexico going on here? The way to crush the Mexican Mafia is to starve it financially. Oh sure, they'll have the harder drugs, but the demand is lower, law enforcement can focus, and our "War On Drugs" can redefine itself freeing up tax dollars currently spent on its useless efforts.
seriously? what about people lives being destroyed just because they had a little pot? dont be stupid whats wrong with you people…
seriously? what about people lives being destroyed just because they had a little pot? dont be stupid whats wrong with you people…
seriously? what about people lives being destroyed just because they had a little pot? dont be stupid whats wrong with you people…
It is absurd that we are chasing people down and incarcerating them over a freaking plant yet Big Pharma is able to rush all sorts of drugs onto the market that have nasty, horrible side effects. Hypocrites.
It is absurd that we are chasing people down and incarcerating them over a freaking plant yet Big Pharma is able to rush all sorts of drugs onto the market that have nasty, horrible side effects. Hypocrites.
Those who have established their preconceived notions on this topic are mind-washed through Genesis 1.29: "God said, "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food." Typical religiosity hypocrisy that ruins it for those who truly seek God and God's gifts bestowed (ie. natural medicine).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSkCM2IORHE&feature=related
Those who have established their preconceived notions on this topic are mind-washed through Genesis 1.29: "God said, "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food." Typical religiosity hypocrisy that ruins it for those who truly seek God and God's gifts bestowed (ie. natural medicine).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSkCM2IORHE&feature=related
I think we really need to legalize marijuana because they are just coming out with synthetic marijuana and kids are getting sick off of it. Just make it like alcohol. Must be 21 to buy and use
I think we really need to legalize marijuana because they are just coming out with synthetic marijuana and kids are getting sick off of it. Just make it like alcohol. Must be 21 to buy and use
so if people wont pay the tax because they can grow their own then why do cigarettes sell? because uts much more conveinent to just buy at the store. even at 6.50 a pack
so if people wont pay the tax because they can grow their own then why do cigarettes sell? because uts much more conveinent to just buy at the store. even at 6.50 a pack