Tuesday, 16 March 2010
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Would Legalizing Marijuana Help the Economy?
In a video on MSNBC.com, a Harvard economist speculates on how legalizing marijuana and other drugs would save the government $48.7 million by eliminating the need for enforcement of anti-drug laws. Making the drugs legally for sale would also allow the government to tax them which would contribute to the economy.
Opponents say that other costs would be incurred as a result of legalization that would make up for this gain, such as loss of productivity in the workplace and hospital bills from possible overdoses.
What do you think about this issue? Would legalization help the current economic crisis?
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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- From: Kat
- Name: Kat
- About Me: I am a recent college grad, originally from Gainesville, Florida, and I'm in New York trying to break into the world of publishing - not finding it too easy in this economy.
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Comments (18)
Well first off you cant overdose on marijuana alone. Legalizing would help the ecomony, there would be new business opening like smoke shops and coffee shops to smoke in. Companys that make bongs, bowls and other peices would be growing, and we could even use marijuana as a fuel source possibly. I think the money factor out weighs any negative factor, like alcohol we legalized it to make the money people die everyday, the same with cigs. It needs to be legalized we need a new source of income into the ecomony.
Only as much as any other non-medicinal herb or vegetable. It comes down to instant gratification, those who want weed on spot will purchase it. But those smart enough will just grow it themselves. Unfortunately the fact that its a plant and does not require any processing or expensive machinery/labor to cultivate makes it pretty much un-taxable. Not to mention other sections of the government would suffer without marijuana being illegal. The huge groups of non-violent drug offenders (for marijuana charges) would be absent from the prison system, and privatized prison would lose revenue. Also, cannabinoid based products such as tylenol and other pain medication could be replaced by freely grown plants. And on and on and on, if it was beneficial to make marijuana legal it already would be. That is why more harmful products like cigarettes and alchohol are legal. Not everyone can distill and produce alchohol but most can place a seed in the dirt.
@Void_Contraction@xanga - I think you summed it up better than anyone I've ever talked to.
@alaskamommy@xanga - Well thank you, its good to hear that truth is still worth something
As far as legalization goes, I wouldn't recommend it going beyond being a controlled substance such as being available for medical prescription only.
Full legalization would result in more widespread use and the potential problems could easily outstrip any potential benefits. For example, with alcohol being legal, we already see the effects of its widespread abuse and its infiltration into our youngest age groups. Do we really want the same thing to happen with pot?
Would you want your aircraft pilot, train/bus driver, or doctor/surgeon freely using pot before provide service for you? This is why it needs to remain a highly controlled substance.
people stuff there own cigs, and ppl can make there own alchol. And legal or not the people who do it arent going to stop Id rather buy it from the goverment then support a drug dealer and they could make it so people would have to purchase a liscense to grow it for so many months or a year. And I dont see surgeons going out and drinking before they preform anything, just like anything there would be restrictions no driving while high and so on. Jus because its legal doesnt mean you have to smoke it.
@loverface08@xanga - yea, but they still have to pay for the tobacco, which is taxed. Yes people CAN make their own alchohol, but its an artform not easily mastered and sacrifices quality. And where are the tax dollars to enforce squads of civil servants to go door to door looking for pot plants? looking for licenses...
@SoullFire@xanga - yes, i would prefer that to them doing it illegally. Can you possibly tell me how many of these people who operate heavy machinery and all the things around you are currently stoned? you would be quite surprised. Id prefer stoned pilots and drivers to ones hooked on prescription opiates or even drunk for that matter.
Since it's not much different than beer, what is the problem. I'm all for it. Maybe people would laugh a little more too!
@Void_Contraction@xanga - Good point, but it's actually harder to grow than you think.
@loverface08@xanga - Good point. There's a conspiracy theory that industries don't want it legalized because hemp would take over the market. It could be used for paper, clothing, fuel, all kinds of things.
@GIR - No it isnt hahaha. Atleast not to me
@Void_Contraction@xanga - Guess the "friend" that told me that didn't have much of a green thumb.
@GIR - Well, lets just say if you're interested, there are many online communities who can help you out *cough* grasscity *cough* 420chan *coughcough*
1. You can't overdose on marijuana.
2."It comes down to instant gratification, those who want weed on spot will purchase it. But those smart enough will just grow it themselves. Unfortunately the fact that its a plant and does not require any processing or expensive machinery/labor to cultivate makes it pretty much un-taxable."
This is a culture of instant gratification! People can cook dinners, grow tobacco, and brew their own beer, but there are still restaurants, cigarette companies, and bars. Sale taxes from selling mj would make a lot of money. Not to mention money from taxing companies that would result from legalization (like companies manufacturing bongs) and licenses for establishments to allow pot smoking on their premises (think hookah bar, but with pot). All of that is money money money.
3. Not to mention the money made from hemp products and taxing those.
4. Prisons losing prisoners is bad? WE HAVE TOO MANY! and privatized prisons only make up for the cost of prisons, they don't make profit. ACTUALLY, we put a ton of tax dollars into our prisons. Imagine being able to use that money for other things.
5. You don't want drunk ppl driving cars, but alcohol is illegal. There would be laws restricting the use of pot as well.
Pot is illegal b/c of propaganda campaign. If you apply most if not all the reasons for prohibiting mj, you should also be prohibiting alcohol and cigarettes.
Why would you legalize other drugs?
But, as much as I want MJ legalized, don't you get more money when you're charged with possession of marijuana?
And honestly, I know more people who abuse marijuana than use it for recreational uses. ]: Ruins the fun for the reset of us.
Legalizing marijuana would help the
economy a lot, in my opinion. A lot
of people would buy it, just to try it
if they haven't, just because it's legal
so the government would make a profit.
Also, bongs, pipes, filters and all that good
stuff would be a good profit also. (:
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