I think its because they cant keep people from selling it in the underground like they do now and so they would never make any money off the tax because people would buy it untaxed from teenage kids. what are your thoughts on this?
2006-11-11 19:57:33 · 12 answers · asked by crf250sk8er 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Marijuana IS government regulated!!! As with other drugs that are "illegal" Once confiscated, it is resold on the streets and that is the vicious cycle of why these drugs are ILLEGAL...therefore making the government money "ILLEGALLY" by arresting, charging and sentencing a person to jail and fines as restitution for their possession of illegal drugs.
2006-11-11 20:19:27 · answer #1 · answered by Ang 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That doesn't explain how they benefit from keeping it illegal. They'd still get some amount of tax revenue, which is better than none.
There are a few main reasons the government keeps pot illegal:
1. It would cut into the profits of tobacco companies. The tobacco companies have fought hard to make sure pot stays illegal. It's far safer, it a fair bit more effective as well, so tobacco can't really compete with it.
2. It's associated with certain stereotypes that the government doesn't like. Everyone knows that the only people who smoke pot are hippies and high school screw-ups. It's not as though it has proven medical benefits for terminally ill patients or anything.
3. They think it's often a gateway drug. This is flawed thinking. It's generally not a gateway drug. The only reason it sometime is is that it's illegal, and so it's a step towards other illegal drugs because once you're in the habit of breaking the law it doesn't seem quite as bad to do something just a little bit worse. Of course, if it were legalized, it would no longer be illegal, and hence no longer a gateway drug.
4. It gives them power over the people who smoke it. They like having power. The more people they can threaten with drug charges if they don't cooperate, the easier it is to make people cooperate with law enforcement.
2006-11-11 20:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
If they packaged it nice and made it legal, people would buy it just like booze and tobacco... governments are in the pockets of Big Business, and BB (read here chemical & pharmaceutical companies, among others) don't want you using drugs they ain't pimpin' (research the medicinal properties of cannibis). Also, stoned workers aren't usually good workers, which ain't good for business. And with prices going up, pot smokers have less money for consumer products... not good for business, either.
What with anti-tobacco legislation and and all that anti-drug propaganda they've been pushing all this time, Government would look awfully silly legalizing pot... be happy simple posession has been decriminalized, dude.
And, after all, in the long run it's no good for you anyway. Government IS supposed to be looking after our best interests.
By the way, if it were legal, everyone would grow their own, putting your teenage dealers pretty much out of the weed business, anyway.
2006-11-11 20:37:33 · answer #3 · answered by frumious@nl.rogers.com 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I think that's a minor factor. Sure, marijuana is a weed, can be grown anywhere, and therefore hard to tax. But more immediate is that while it is illegal, there is an excuse to hire huge numbers of cops, prison guards, "recovery" counselors, probation officers, clerks, prosecutors, administrators and bureaucrats of all kinds, all of which would be put on unemployment if marijuana were legal. They can also confiscate the property of dealers, trash the lives of those who are arrested and their families, causing them to go on welfare, and supporting a whole second bureaucracy that way.
The government does not care nearly as much about what would happen if it were legal as what happens right now with it being illegal. They have control. They can bust someone and therefore strip him of his rights (including the right to vote), or they can threaten to bust him and use him to get to his supplier. It's all power trips and budgets.
2006-11-11 20:10:58 · answer #4 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is going to be regulated and texed by making use of the government. it may get this united states suitable outta debt!! fainstl, that became right into a fantastically judgmental fact. i attempted pot as quickly as whilst i became into 17, so um, no i'm not a pothead. I nevertheless think of it is going to be legalized. Scientists will decide a value-smart thank you to computer screen utilization...it is 2009! in the event that they get severe approximately legalizing it they are going to arise with a sturdy gadget. don't be this form of judgemental prude.
2016-10-17 04:29:43 · answer #5 · answered by swindler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF the government did make it legal and had trade agreements with the countries which grow it, then the street thugs would not have any supply to sell.
It would be bought legally and the government would tax it and make money on it.
2006-11-11 20:19:45 · answer #6 · answered by pj_gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You got it, I will keep growing my private stash, untill a tax is laid on it, cause then it is a Felony IRS Conviction. Goverment is a good business to be in, if you aint makeing money off it, make it ilegal, then you make money off it anyways.
2006-11-11 20:10:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they don't allow it because they are conservative, and because there is a idea fix about how smoking weed leads to worse drugs.
but by turning drugs into something you can only buy illegally, they support a world of crime, a huge amount of money that is not taxed
2006-11-11 20:02:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that too many people would be upset about it. Most older generations would have a major problem with that. I think it is in the near future though...
2006-11-11 20:00:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It should be legal and free. Remember, it is a plant. Plant's come from God. And God gives for free.
2006-11-11 20:13:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋