Why I Support Legalizing Marijuana Now
by Kristin DavisI approach the issue of marijuana legalization as an economic conservative and libertarian. It is an estimated $5 billion underground industry in my home state of New York. I say legalize, regulate and tax it to create new revenues so New York’s more regressive income and property taxes an be cut.
When economic recessions decimate state coffers, politicians usually turn to their traditional streams of revenue to replenish their budgets. In other words, they raise taxes and strain the very system that is already overburdened. Currently, New Yorkers carry one of the highest tax burdens in the country, and city and local budgets all over the state are straining for every dollar. It is clear that New York State has reached critical mass in the taxation of its citizenry. New York needs innovation and recent developments in California can serve as a model for our state.
Californians who use marijuana are asking the government to tax and regulate its use as a potential solution to their current budget crisis. New York should follow suit.
I know talk of legalization of pot immediately sets off a clamor among the anti-drug crowd, but their rhetoric is generally exaggerated, erroneous or plain wrong. They are misinformed and the unfounded fears surrounding marijuana use has stuffed our prisons full of nonviolent people and saddled our state with outlandish incarceration costs for decades. The demonization of marijuana must stop. There is a plethora of scientific opinions that debunk marijuana myths, but the true tragedy is that marijuana criminalization has been an epic failure.
The disinformation surrounding marijuana use must be dispelled. No body of evidence supports its reputation as a “gateway” to other harder drugs. It is no more addictive than coffee. The health risks of alcohol and tobacco dwarf those of marijuana. It has proven medical benefits. And it was legal for many years.
The revenue potential is enormous. We would eliminate a huge class of criminals , save wasted millons in law-enforcement costs and empty out costly jail cells while also collecting taxes on marijuana use while cutting the income and sales tax.. New Yorkers deserve a tax break so let’s innovate. I say regulate and tax marijuana use now.
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601 Comments
Legalization would certainly lower crime since so much of the crime rate is currently related directly to pot being illegal, but don't call yourself a libertarian if you are going to advocate new taxes.
I have never used drugs, other than caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and codeine(with a prescription). For a period of time I was contemplating a career in the FBI. Now that I'm older there must be some way at the state level to legalize this narcotic for specific purposes in a controlled manner and study its affects. We can no longer afford continue on this path.
Legalize it. But why tax it? So we can give government more slush funds to spend from? So we can create more bureaucrats? They will estimate a $10 million profit from taxing pot and use that as a reason to spend $50 million. Let the people keep their money. Sin taxes are ridiculous…they imply that people cannot make choices for themselves and should be punished for having certain habits.
If you think they are going to cut other taxes because they are making money from pot, then you need to wake up.
Regulations are not the answer. Decriminalize it and get out. If they try to regulate it like they do cigarettes it will remain a black market industry because people are not going to pay ridiculous amounts of money for something they can get elsewhere for cheaper.
Also, hemp is a great way to make cheap paper from renewable resources, which is one of the reasons it was declared illegal in the first place.
The damage done by pot depends completely on the user. It turns many into non-motivated, "Family Guy" watching slugs. I've seen it over and over and over. But we cannot legislate that. The stuff smells bad, but is harmless. It's too easy to grow anyway…so the war against it is pointless.
Legalize it.
Any debating legalizing of marijuana CANNOT contain any pretense of saving money or raising any substantial tax dollars!
The costs for law enforcement, like driving accidents, will far exceed any tax revenue from a product that will grow literally anywhere. It took the government many years to eradicate marijuana as it is in fact, a weed!
Here we go… we were all having a good time united in our common goal of anti-liberalism and then some libertarian just HAD to defecate in the pool.
Please leave the "let's legalize drugs and all our problems will go away" arguments to a more suitable medium and let the rest of us get back to "Let's take our country back…" discussions that we can all agree upon.
Sheesh!
Dirty little secret, Dems will never go for marijuana legalization because it would effectively immobilize at least a quarter of their voting base.
No. Legalizing marijuana is a trojan horse for unintended consequences. Please look at Brixton, a borough in London England, of how well that experiment works.
England, declassified pot in Brixton and found that pot use went up, crime went up, illegal entry into the country went up, gangs got bigger, more illegal handguns were bought. It didn't work on many levels. In fact, the declassification was reversed just recently.
This is one of those things that sounds good on the surface, but reality steps in and takes a bite out of it…
Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. And making pot illegal illustrates this perfectly. Making booze illegal spawned a criminal industry and infringed on peoples' rights. It was repealed because it was a stupid and unjust law.
Now we have a criminal industry centered around pot, and laws that make ordinary citizens criminals for wanting to smoke a joint and watch football on their day off.
This is common sense for chrissakes, just legalize it already. You can cram the taxes though….
1) We could lower crime rates as well, by decriminalizing prostitution and abolishing statuatory rape laws as well. Just think of a crime free society…..it can be achieved if nothing is a crime anymore.
2) If you think taxing it would lower taxes, then you are willfully ignorant. Governments would all have their hand in that pie, spending more than taking in, then creating excise taxes to compensate.
3) Legalizing pot would be a trial lawyer's dream. "how dare you discriminate against my client for using a legal substance!".
4) The only thing keeping millions of people from gleefully burning a joint, is the fear of reprisals from police, employers, parents etc. Smoking pot is very unhealthy, and it impairs your judgement. Once you legalize it, it would become so widespread, that even if it were to be proven later to cause homicial mania, you'd never be able to reinstate its prohibition.
5) I hate pothead hippies, that have nothing better to do that be a pot smoking hippie…..and go to anti war rallies.
I'm all for it.
Alcohol is far more damaging all the way around
If I were a woman, what I did with my womb (and the baby within in if I were pregnant) would be deeded to be my own business. Why isn't the same true of what I do to my lungs? The entire War on Drugs is utter balderdash at best; at worst it has provided the pretext for some of the most egregious assaults on personal liberty imaginable. The Federal Leviathan will KILL you over a little baggie of pot – and it has proven willing to do so many times already. We have more people in prison today than any other country on earth, including communist China with a population three to four times larger than our own. More corruption, more death and destruction, and more property crime has been committed because of drugs than you could possibly imagine; AND I'M REFERRING TO WHAT THE GOVT HAS DONE IN ITS WAR ON LIBERTY!
Exactly…
Wow! I am not used to such ignorance on this site. Much of the "body of evidence" mentioned is antiquated in light of the THC content of current marijuana compared to when all this research was done. Marijuana available today is around 20x more potent than what was used for research 20 years ago. So research done on having one beer would indeed prove alcohol to be non addictive, not be involved in domestic violence, not lead liver problems etc. But do the same research on 20 beers and the results are disastrously different. A simple tour of a few addiction treatment facilities will find MOST with some abuse and dependence issues with marijuana. Agreed – incarceration for addiction is counterproductive, most in jails in prison need treatment not incarceration.
Thats because it was still illegal elsewhere in the country, giving these gangs a base for a profitable black market
Legalize it everywhere, these problems disappear.
Actually, marijuana isn't a weed. Just sayin' is all…
truly consistent libertarians don't discuss taxing and regulating things
"…so New York’s more regressive income and property taxes an be cut."
If you give your government more tax revenue, do you really believe they will cut other taxes? History says that they will just spend more money.
I wonder if the author was high when she wrote this article….the third sentence has a spelling error…I'm not the Spelling Police, but if you want to argue that marijuana isn't bad, please, proof-read your post!!!!
Once upon a time conservatives would have considered this a freedom of personal choice issue. Those conservatives have since been pushed into being called Libertarians to make room for people who believe that the government shouldn't dictate how you live your life, but other conservative should.
This is the difference between Libertarianism and Conservatism. This is why the libertarians, thank God, will never rule this nation. They agree on 95% of everything. They differ on 5%. That 5% will keep them forever at each other's throats.
Don't legalize. Just keep people caught with a small amount of it out of prison, where they can be "converted" by the Islamists, and radicalized.
Proud to be a conservative …
Consider how well our government works right now. If you turned regulating pot over to the ATF it would probably cut the drug's usage in half. Nobody would want to put up with the Bull!
The whole article is simply a trojan horse written by Mrs. Davis in an attempt to get marijuana legalized by appealing to fiscal conservatism. The larger question is why does the state of NY and CA need another revenue stream? Do we really think that the same politicians would use a new revenue stream responsilbly? The problem is not low taxes or even a low revenue stream. The problem is out of control government. I am not quite sure how legalized marijuana solves that problem. It simply provides those politicians addicted to tax and spend a new hit. The very premise is the opposite of fiscal conservatism.
Recent studies suggest that marijuana is a gateway drug and does have dangerous side effects.
Just what we need is more DUII deaths.
Okay, it's legalized, then what? Does it fall under the FDA? Who is authorized to grow, to process, to distribute and to sell it? The only way that any taxes would be rendered from this process is if the majority of people currently involved in the trade are willing to work with the government and hand over most of their profits for the priviledge.
For that matter, how is greater government regulation a Libertarian position?
Legalizing marijuana is the argument of the weak. Why not then make oxycontin, vicodin and other drugs over the counter as widely available as marijuana would be? A leftwing girlfriend of mine had moved to Toronto from NY several years ago and this girl is all for legalizing pot, cocaine, heroin, etc. She moved back a year later and was telling me that Toronto is a gutter. She said many of the kids were on drugs and seemed more like bums. We have enough problems with kids, and adults, abusing drugs not to mention alcohol. Legalizing pot would be a travesty. At the very least it should be decriminalized so we're not filling prisons with stoners. The stoners should be placed in boot camps.
"Now we have a criminal industry centered around pot, and laws that make ordinary citizens criminals for wanting to smoke a joint and watch football on their day off. " It does not "make ordinary citizens criminals for wanting to smoke a joint", these citizens are completely aware that they are committing a crime have decided to ignore that law and to smoke a joint because of the effects and because they should not have to obey laws with which they do not agree. That like saying that DUI law make an ordinary citizen a criminal becasue he wants to have a dozen beers, watch football and then drive home. Both activities have been illegal long before the "ordinary" citizen engaged in them. Whatever you opinion is to legalization don't try to paint users a unwitting criminals that were involved in some activity which suddenly without their knowledge was made a crime.
Pseudo intellectualism rules the day on this issue. Yeah lets legalize pot so we have even more dope heads on the streets. Legalize it so the government gives approval to bad behavior. Think crime will go away? Yeah like the pot heads are going to pay taxes! How many more raids will we have when they grow and distribute it legally from their home but don't pay taxes? So crime will not just evaporate as people would have you believe. Let me remind people legalizing alcohol did nothing to curb the mob. They are still here and still in operation. So forgettaboutiit!
Good question!
1) Correct
2) Correct
3) Correct
4) Correct
5) Totally agree
got any more points there Scotty,….you are on a roll
Marijuana is not a narcotic.
It is a quasi-psychedlic hallucinogen.
and alcohol isn't? alcohol doesnt have dangerous side effects?
BTW…the logic of this author, or lack of logic, is stunning. Show me where increased taxes on cigarettes and alcohol has decreased property taxes or any taxes of any sort? It hasn't, and most certainly not in California. She offers no proof either that legalization will suddenly make politicians good stewards of our money.
I'm not painting anyone as anything, but people during prohibition were doing the same thing. Were they really criminals? Are the folks that want to smoke a joint after a long day at work any different that those that down a 6-pack?
Your DUI analogy is completely senseless. "Both activities have been illegal long before the "ordinary" citizen engaged in them"
WRONG. Learn the history before making these statements.
Taking a shot of Tequila,……………..know exactly how I will feel after.
Doing a joint,……………………………….your guess is as good as mine.
The hemp used to make paper and cloth are different cultivars than those used for "recreational" stimulation.
You would need to smoke an entire Encyclopedia Brittanica printed on hemp in one sitting to get even the vaguest hint of a marginal contact high, if you even got that much of a kick out of it.
I have an idea….let's not!
the government has already voided the Constitution so let's just do away with all these other bothersome outdated laws. just think of all the money we can save.
"……….a quarter of their voting base."
Ah,.. you must have the latest data there Blackie,……..
indicating they are cleaning up their act
excellent point there freddy
pay me now or pay me later.
Kristen,
Legalize it because you think it should be legal. Period. End of issue.
But if you think the pols in NY and CA or anywhere else are going to use the new revenue to cut taxes well then….. you've been smoking way too much of it.
"I approach the issue of marijuana legalization as an economic conservative and libertarian" and "The revenue (i.e. TAX) potential is enormous" are antithetical concepts for a real libertarian. Are you out of your mind? You would decriminlaize one thing for the purpose of increased criminalization by tyrannical government at every level.
Turn in your Conservative and Libertarian moniker! You are disqualified!
Is anyone forgetting the effects of pot? Yep, just what we need is a bunch of stoned people who cant judge distance or anything for that matte while high–except for what to munch on–driving on our roads. I've already lost many friends to drunk drivers, the latest one a friend's daughter at 14 years old. How many more will die?
I support legalization if counties can still ban it's use and employers can still use it as grounds for termination. We still have dry (ban alcohol) counties and I sure don't want it here. Pulse pot users should not operate heavy equipment or drive buses.
Our experience in California has been our quasi-legalized "medical pot" has increased the crime rate, increased incidents of bizarre pot-induced behavior (read our crime blotters). No civilized country on the planet encourages legal pot. Not even the Netherlands.
Pot producers and sellers have long been required to pay taxes on this product but have never reported their illegal sales. The taxation argument is bogus. The social malaise costs are massive.
Only idiots who don't know what they are talking about and are acting merely as tools for the aggressive pro-pot crowd come out in favor of "legalization".
Take this fool-hardy scheme to some other country and let them experiment with legalizing hallucingens and have hallucigenic behavior become the new norm 24/7.
Singapore and Malaysia have a far better and effective drug policy: death penalty for any drug possession or use. They sit in the middle of the Golden Triangle. They know better and their societies benefit immensely with this severe response to illicit drugs.
Follow the money anytime you hear some bozo spout all the pro-pot arguments without thinking or confronting the realities. Pro-pot arguments show someone is just being a tool for the massive income that has refused to pay their rightful taxes all along. You are in bed with thieves when you side for pro-pot.
NO CIVILIZED COUNTRY ON THIS PLANET SUPPORTS LEGAL POT – DO NOT ASK AMERICA TO GO DOWN THIS STUPID PATH.
You are correct. Terrorists use funds from black market cigarettes. The only thing legalizing marijuana would do is expand government agencies for more enforcement of taxes.
Legalize it but don't tax it. It is like you have all been trained to like taxes or something. How sickening.
Nah I hear Oregon has the best pot!
I don't listen to whores or their pimps. Take your tripe elsewhere.
Kristen, I couldn't disagree more with you. Our youth are already damaged enough. There are many, many innovated ways for government to increase tax revenues…legalizing drugs of any kind should never be an option. Medical marijuana usage is a joke. What's next cocaine???
/
NO to legal pot: http://i41.tinypic.com/2nsnr0n.jpg
And that is precisely the problem with the other half of the Libertarian equation. Addiction is a disease so the tax payers gotta pay for rehab.
Well, we know what Kristen is doing in her down time, or free time.
God Bless America
So murder has been against the law forever but people still commit murder. She we decriminalize that as well?
Senseless taxes and regulations? Your consumption tax idea is ridiculous.
You are a libertarian in name only.
Thank you for the information. It stands to reason anything one burns becomes a carcinogen.
I agree wholeheartedly. The long-term effects of marijuana are bad news–not only does it's use lead to other drugs, but it's worse than cigarettes for the lungs–and those examples are just for starters.
Decriminalize it–yes, but legalize it? Hell, NO.
Excellent point! Over all but God is the Constitution in the eyes and hearts of Constitutionalists. We all know now is the time Liberty should prevail in the question of legality for MJ – far less destructive than alcohol. Revenue and taxes should play no role in what should be a Constitutional issue – although we all know that the financial benefits are enormous in eliminating litigation, law enforcement, and Department of Correction costs. Taxation is a free market benefit, but only in the fact we can eliminate other taxes, not add new revenues for the spend-hungry bloated government. We should NOT count new revenue from the MJ sources as adding to the balance – thus, we should welcome the ability to reduce other taxes as an offset.
Part of "Let's take our country back…", has to do with prohibition. Prohibition (such as marijuana) must be stopped. I totally agree with legalizing it (and no, I don't use it, nor plan to use it).
However, the higher taxing of alcohol, cigs, and the proposal of taxing marijuana, should also be leveled. A fair, or flat tax would resolve this. The only benefit I see in saving $$$ through legalizing is the reduction of law enforcement efforts. It would be great to see law enforcement focus on more socially damaging crime such as murders, theft, etc… instead of going after marijuana users.
Urine and hair tests can identify a history of pot use, but is there a way to determine (beyond reasonable doubt in court) if someone is stoned right now? Like the blood or breathalizer tests for alcohol?
Pot impaires function, just like booze. It isn't going to be legalized until law enforcement can cheaply and effectively determine if you were operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of it.
Legalize it and all our problems will go away? They will just begin.
For instance, at what age is it legal to use, 21 like alcohol, or 18, since kids are suppose to be adults and can vote and join the military. Legalizing mj raises more problems then it solves.
Just because it sounds good, doesn't mean it is good. Have any of you read "Brave New World"? REALLY??!!!
… Amsterdam. Lower pot use, lower crime, etc, etc, etc…
Just imagine the benefits to the pizza and snack food industries. I'm surprised that Yum Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell) don't have a well funded lobby in place for this.
Lets just make it legal on election day.
Legalizing it isnt going to create any more or less smokers. Anyone who wants weed now can get it.
lol did you really just say that Singapore and Malaysia have a better system becasue they kill people for smoking some dope? Are you out of your mind?
Yes they were at that time really criminals – look the word up.
The analogy is correct – Marijuana has been illegal for some time as has DUI – So if an individual decides to "smoke a joint" or drive while intoxicated they are commited an act which they are aware is illegal.
What history?
1) decriminalizing prostitution yes, abolishing statuatory rape no
2) AGREE!
3) Illogical. You can't show up to work drunk on beer… Marijuana would be same way.
4) Use would probably go up initially, then it would go back down and level off. Not everyone will want to do it anyway.
5) You have everyright to hate anyone you want. Just don't force your beliefs on me… Don't Tread On Me!
Milton Friedman the economist and genius (no relation to Tom Al-Friedman of NYT Bathhouse infamy) supported the legalizing of drugs.
Milton Friedman – Why Drugs Should Be Legalized http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLsCC0LZxkY
and
"Every friend of freedom must be as revolted as I am by the prospect of turning the United States into an armed camp, by the vision of jails filled with casual drug users and of an army of enforcers empowered to invade the liberty of citizens on slight evidence. "
and
"I'm in favor of legalizing drugs. According to my values system, if people want to kill themselves, they have every right to do so. Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal. "
He has some very excellent points and in truth, just as with liquor, the responsible use of drugs is something quite contra-distinct to rampant abuse of drugs. The punishment should be for abuse, not use, just as it is today for booze.
I used to be addicted to marijuana. But I quit and haven't smoked in years. I support legalization. If I can learn from my mistakes and quit, so can others.
gunrights4us…….duuuuude don't confuzzy me with facts….my mind is…….oh looky shiney!!!!
you make a good point…..gubmint will kick down your door for a toke!!!
and all my knowledge about drugs is second hand…..duuuuude……pass that……..
terrible logic
This is the primary reason I would support legalization! Let them forget which day is election day.
mistake is the wrong term, unproductive habit is a better way to say it
So, if smoking cigs is such a big sin, since it brings on so many health issues and related costs, why isn't smoking MJ a bigger sin, since it not only creates addiction, (as regular cigs do), but adds the same effect of being drunk (I was a police officer for many a years, I've arrested tons of stoned/incoherent people who 'only smoked a little weed' and were just as dangerous as drivers than real drunks). Sure combine two bad things into one, legalize it, and multiply their associated problems by 2. That's just ingenious.
NO ONE has been executed over a bag of pot. We DO NOT have more people in prison than China. You may think whatever you please but if you post BS here someone will call you on it.
Amen to that.
And this is a capital idea? This administration isn't laboring enough to debase and dehumanize America, so WE, THE PEOPLE are now expected to continue the pattern by raising revenue by way of POT SALES??
That's not 'lowering crime and criminal activity." That's the first step in making ours an entire nation of drug pushers and pimps.
I agree with Lolo. Also, I don't want to be on the same road with more people who are driving and smoking the stuff at the same time. Notice I said "more" people driving under the influence. I know people whose teenagers smoked marijuana in the car with their buds on the way to and from school. One of those kids is now doing prison time for manufacturing meth.
"We would eliminate a huge class of criminals , save wasted millons in law-enforcement costs and empty out costly jail cells while also collecting taxes on marijuana use while cutting the income and sales tax.. New Yorkers deserve a tax break so let’s innovate."
So, you think government will actually voluntarily CUT taxes? You must be joking! Once you start feeding the government beast, you can't backtrack – only shovel in more and more! They'll find other things they "need" to spend any saved money on, assuming there really is any savings.
Well this is a silly debate. No one can win or will win. The fact is that if you've never smoked pot you are inclined to hate it and it's effects. If you have then you are inclined to defend it, at least more then someone who has no experience with the drug. It's a battle of two polar opposite ideas and it will never be settled.
It will never be legalized here so no one worry. It's embedded in our culture that drugs are bad. Parents would not stand for it, schools would not stand for it and the list goes on. It is socially frowned upon, outside of the people you smoke a joint with of course.
One solution would be to have it medically "legalized" in every state. At least that money will go to the government or some medical company rather than a drug dealers pocket. A lot more people will obtain it through the medical route so that they will not be at odds with the law. we can still have our war on drugs, it would just be slightly altered is all (and not because cops are smoking medical pot >.< ).
Please pay all of your back-taxes for being a dumbass lefty racist.
If you look at the conservative arguments for the federales penalizing personal choices, they start looking alot like liberals. Where’s the constitutional authority to legalize pot?
ohhhhh the general welfare clause…
Instead of corporate boogeymen, we have illegals ohhhh scary
The government is too big to trust except when we need more government to enforce morality.
No death panels, i want to make my own decisions! unless i am going to decide to smoke, then we need to impose a death penalty.
don’t be idiots.
lol
Money has to come from somewhere to pay for all the harm drug users do to society. We just have to keep the tax monies away from the politicians, who will spend it on everything else but public safety.
Yes, he's out of his mind. Holland isn't a civilized country? LOL!
You're an idiot. But then again most people who support prohibition are.
Marijuana use is indicated by urine/blood tests three weeks or so after use, especially when use is chronic and user has a slow metabolism and/or avg body fat content. The only way I know of to tell if someone is stoned presently is visual exam of the eyes and asking them "what were we just talking about"? If they don't know, they are probably baked.
Lets petition the gov to ban alcohol again then… "it is addictive to a segment of the population", "…causing depression and other mental health issues"
Oh, yeah, grilling in your backyard should be illegal too… it was proven that when you burn the edges of meat on the grill, that it's a carcinogen (Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs))…http://www.healthcastle.com/grilling_meats_cancer...
Lets let the government make EVERYTHING harmful to us ILLEGAL… sun tanning at the beach, driving while sleepy, using power tools, staring at a computer monitor, watching tpp much TV, alcohol, motorcycles, anything that can poke your eye out….
On the other hand, let me make up my own mind… its called FREEDOM!
Do you consider Anheiser Busch an organized crime organization? Because by your twisted logic they are.
Good point. But I'm sure someone can come up with a sure-fire way to test for it. Decriminalizing would motivate someone to come up with a way.
Legalizing any crime would inherently lower crime in that particular offense. Let's not forget that she also wants to legalize prostitution. She wants to put us on a slippery slope. Does anyone remember what Times Square used to look like before Giuliani? Do you want it to look like that again?
Poster "Guest Yank" on the next page made another good point regarding the legalization of the drug. He (or she) too, understands the seriousness of such an error.
And that sixties-style marijuana leaf with the flag inserted is so stupid as to be embarrassing–
Don't put The Man in charge of your weed, okay? Hear me now, believe me later. Price will go up (and up and up). Government is a black hole; it always wants more. Quality will go down. Government does not care if you're getting a quality high; if it legalized pot and that should be enough for you. Then, if you want low price high quality product, it will not be available from your previous source who is now out of business due to ramped up enforcement. Legal pot will only be sold by Government-approved contractors. Government does not like anyone interfering with and undercutting their revenues so non-authorized pot sales will be stamped out. Legalization will expand government. New bureaucracy in charge of pot dispensing, cultivating, sale, use, enforcement. Enforcement costs especially will go up. Don't kid yourself that "the war on drugs" will be over. They'll just give a new name, suckers. Crime will not evaporate; this will just create a new class of criminals. Hey, Joe Citizen: If you want to get high, get high. Seriously, it's not that difficult. But don't fuck up everyone else's life while you're at it. Please.
My question to all libertarians remains: why should I believe any of you won't stab freedom in the back as soon as you get a price drop on drugs, even if it takes allying with leftists?
I'm yet to hear a compelling case.
There are already considerably high imbedded taxes in alcohol, same as cigarettes.
One of the Planks of George Soros' so-called 'Open Society'? Legalizing drugs.
People, Soros spends alot of money telling you what to believe–legalizing drugs being one of those. You are being used as tools. Go read one of his biographies–he lays it all out.
I would have to say you are dead wrong on the issue of whether or not it will ever be legalized. Did you ever think just twenty years ago that a state would have had overwhelming support to have the legalization of recreational marijuana use on the balot as it is in California this year? NOPE. It's time has come. You simply cant stop progress. And if not this year then next or the year after that. But inevitably recreational pot will be legal. Unless your solution is to continue to let Mexican drug cartels corner the market on marijuana and kill people with the profits?
He probablyl doesn't drink…
I so agree. Don't we have enough psychos out there already?
Anything considered a "sin item" is doomed to taxation, cigarettes and booze are 2 key examples.
I may be going out on a limb here……
several of these fine folks have never touched POT are against it and think the author of the article is a few fries short of a happy meal….no problem….some are reformed STONERS…..no problem….
when folks gather at a "pot party" several things happen…..a lot of laffing….snack food magically disappears…so does all those leftovers in the fridge….when a knife is pulled….it's used to cut the cheese (oh crap, no pun was intended but it's kinda funny….right?)….and a few hours later no one has a clue about what went on….
now compare that to the standard cocktail get together…..food gone….leftovers still there….some laffing…until…"you laffin' at me punk?" ….out comes the cheese knife….blood everywhere….cops tasering everyone!!! clang clang go the jail cell doors….a few hours later everyone tells their side of the story to the officer…..
of course this is what I THINK happens….never been to a cocktail party……
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