How would the legalization of marijuana positively affect the world?

Question

See my answer to allergic2stu...in this category about the war on drugs.

Answer 1

Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?
Examining a Recent Study on Legalization
The war on drugs is an expensive battle, as a great deal of resources go into catching those who buy or sell illegal drugs on the black market, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail. These costs seem particularly exorbitant when dealing with the drug marijuana, as it is widely used, and is likely no more harmful than currently legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol. There's another cost to the war on drugs, however, which is the revenue lost by governments who cannot collect taxes on illegal drugs. In a recent study for the Fraser Institute, Economist Stephen T. Easton attempted to calculate how much tax revenue the Canadian government could gain by legalizing marijuana.
The study estimates that the average price of 0.5 grams (a unit) of marijuana sold for $8.60 on the street, while its cost of production was only $1.70. In a free market, a $6.90 profit for a unit of marijuana would not last for long. Entrepreneurs noticing the great profits to be made in the marijuana market would start their own grow operations, increasing the supply of marijuana on the street, which would cause the street price of the drug to fall to a level much closer to the cost of production. Of course, this doesn't happen because the product is illegal; the prospect of jail time deters many entrepreneurs and the occasional drug bust ensures that the supply stays relatively low. We can consider much of this $6.90 per unit of marijuana profit a risk-premium for participating in the underground economy. Unfortunately, this risk premium is making a lot of criminals, many of whom have ties to organized crime, very wealthy.

Stephen T. Easton argues that if marijuana was legalized, we could transfer these excess profits caused by the risk-premium from these grow operations to the government:

If we substitute a tax on marijuana cigarettes equal to the difference between the local production cost and the street price people currently pay--that is, transfer the revenue from the current producers and marketers (many of whom work with organized crime) to the government, leaving all other marketing and transportation issues aside we would have revenue of (say) $7 per [unit]. If you could collect on every cigarette and ignore the transportation, marketing, and advertising costs, this comes to over $2 billion on Canadian sales and substantially more from an export tax, and you forego the costs of enforcement and deploy your policing assets elsewhere.
One interesting thing to note from such a scheme is that the street price of marijuana stays exactly the same, so the quantity demanded should remain the same as the price is unchanged. However, it's quite likely that the demand for marijuana would change from legalization. We saw that there was a risk in selling marijuana, but since drug laws often target both the buyer and the seller, there is also a risk (albeit smaller) to the consumer interested in buying marijuana. Legalization would eliminate this risk, causing the demand to rise. This is a mixed bag from a public policy standpoint: Increased marijuana use can have ill effects on the health of the population but the increased sales bring in more revenue for the government. However, if legalized, governments can control how much marijuana is consumed by increasing or decreasing the taxes on the product. There is a limit to this, however, as setting taxes too high will cause marijuana growers to sell on the black market to avoid excessive taxation.
When considering legalizing marijuana, there are many economic, health, and social issues we must analyze. One economic study will not be the basis of Canada's public policy decisions, but Easton's research does conclusively show that there are economic benefits in the legalization of marijuana. With governments scrambling to find new sources of revenue to pay for important social objectives such as health care and education expect to see the idea raised in Parliament sooner rather than later



Its been proven many times that it is not nearly as bad as once said

The only reason that it is Illegel is becuse of old myths and raceism back in the early 1900's when it became illeagle there were many lies written based on raceism saying things like "***** feines rape WHITE women becuase of Weed!" it was in local newspapers and such, and then the myths grew with movies like Refer maddness where the star smoke two "hits" and goes crazy and kills people and acts crazy

Answer 2

It would get many good productive people released from jail to free up room for real criminals like rapists and murderers. It would free up the courts so we don't have to wait 1-2 years for a trial for a real crime. If the government taxed it, it would pay off the national debt in 15-20 years. Use would probably actually go down because kids wouldn't see it as "rebellious" anymore and would loose interest. Plus, many people would be able to go out and smoke a joint and hang out instead of going out and getting wasted off alcohol and trying to drive home. Marijuana is much healthier and safer than alcohol. If one is legal, so should the other be. So we should either outlaw alcohol, which didn't work, or legalize marijuana, otherwise it is very hypocritical.

Answer 3

It might give a contribution whatever to the financial system. Production, processing, packaging, advertising, distribution, income and a majority of these movements might be authorized now and as such side of the GDP. Of path, in comparison to the complete GDP, I do not feel this progress might be visible, but it surely might nonetheless be whatever of a constructive end result. There is one case, nonetheless, where it could have a fine end result at the financial system. And that's weed tourism. If you are speaking whole legalization, then any one might be ready to shop for it who is now not underage without reference to nationality. This would imply that men and women might begin coming from international to shop for weed. While it is well for the financial system, travelers who're continuously prime could now not be what your nation needs, so you'll be able to restrict this through simplest promoting to citizens (just like the Netherlands does to any extent further). But then increase there is going your tourism. Lower jail populations might have a constructive end result at the executive's funds, and lots of assets might be freed up if the police or the DEA did not must combat towards weed anymore. This would additionally affect the financial system: the newly freed up assets (e.g. cash) would deployed someplace else in which it honestly advantages the financial system (like making an investment in infrastructure), or rather taxes would be diminished rendering the nation extra aggressive. Although new bills might additionally come up with the have got to honestly keep watch over weed and its intake now, this would traditionally be protected through a tax on weed. If this tax is prime ample, now not simplest does it duvet those expenditures, it additionally brings in a few further income. I'm guessing prepared crime might weaken since a gigantic bite in their industry might with ease disappear. This might additionally now not be dangerous. Overall, financial system smart legalization might be not anything however a well concept.

Answer 4

There are places in the world where marujuana is regulated, but legal. I think the effects of weed are less harmful than alcohol. You don't see a bunch of high kids starting fights in bar parking lots...Well, I never have. They say weed is a gateway drug. Well, alcohol is a gateway drug to alcoholism. People don't become physically addicted to marijuana. People can become alcoholics.
Now, I think that rather than trying to answer your question you should look into countries where weed is legal: like the netherlands. See how it's worked for them.

Answer 5

marijuana makes me feel as if i'm having a heart attack. so if it was legalized.. i would probably never leave my house.

Answer 6

Because then people with cancer that can't afford it from a doctor can just get it the **** from off the streets. DUuuuuuUUUUUHH!!

Answer 7

Same as Tobaco