What are your thoughts on the legalization of pot?

Question

How can it be utilized as a cash crop/export? What will it mean for prisons, taxes, and United States farmers? What will it do to the tobacco and beer/wine companies? How is NORML making this happen?

Answer 1

First off, we need to delete the word ``legalization'' from our vocabulary because the prohibitionists distort it to mean installing marijuana vending-machines aside lockers in the halls of our nation's schools. I prefer the phrase ``repeal bad laws in order to regulate commerce and stop squandering criminal justice and law-enforcement resources on a lost cause.''

As far as marijuana goes, it can be said with relative certainty that—not only are the majority of Americans in favor reforming the laws to allow for its medicinal use but—its recreational use is accepted by mainstream society. In other words, it’s not just the drug-of-choice of negroes, Mexicans, and hippies anymore--the intended targets of persecution when the laws were originally enacted and escalated . What should come as no surprise to anyone is the recent disclosure that domestic marijuana cultivation is America’s #1 cash-crop—worth $35.8 billion—more than corn and wheat combined [http://www.drugscience.org/bcr/index.html ].

The costly media campaigns aimed at young people have been proven to be ineffective many times over. Drugs are prevalent everywhere ... especially in the schools but in a controlled, regulated market similar to alcohol and tobacco, that would no longer be the case.

NORML has pretty much become an educational foundation since the inception of the Marijuana Policy Project. They are doing great work and making progress in ending this terrible injustice.

The government is aware that the tide of public opinion is slowly, but surely, turning against the status quo and those whose careers are vested in the drug war are fighting tooth-and-nail against any and everything that would cause budget reductions and downsizing of their departments and bureaucracies. They are not above violating the laws which prohibit the use of public funds from being spent to influence elections when such measures are on the ballot.

The prisoner population is at 2.2 million and steadily rising mostly for drug ``crimes'' because violent and property crimes have been steadily declining for years. How much higher does it need to go before we come to our senses … three million … five million … ten million …????? http://november.org/

The private prison industry and guards' unions lobby for stricter laws and fund campaigns against reform initiatives. They have a lot to lose with repeal of Prohibition. But how many realize the REAL LOSER is the US taxpayer?

American farmers would enjoy unprecedented prosperity with the ban on hemp removed. The benefits are too numerous to list. Read ``The Emperor Wears No Clothes'' by Jack Herer.

Answer 2

If you want to know what NORML is doing, go to the link.

My thoughts: legalize it.
I don't smoke the stuff and I could care less if you do.
But the fact is, the so-called "war on drugs" (anyone remember when President Nixon started that?) is a costly joke.

Why not tax the hell out of the weed?
Regulate it and legalize it and you solve a lot of the problems such as over-crowded prisons, crime, drug addiction.

I am NOT in favor of legalizing the heavy narcotics such as cocaine, heroin, etc....

I AM in favor of rehabilitation programs over incarceration.
It is abundantly clear that some people had addictive personalities and that by locking them up will not solve the problem.
Deal with the problem: addiction.
Funnel marijuana tax money into rehab programs.

Answer 3

I think it should remain exactly how it is, but decriminalized. In other words, mere possession won't equate to jailtime. That should sufficiently take care of our overcrowded jail situation, as well as leave officers to handle more important business and real crime.

Legalization will lead to the government eventually taking control of it and using it's label as a 'narcotic' to tax the bejeezus out of it, over and over and over again. You will not be paying what you pay now for it...you will easily see 2-3x the price in taxes alone. Look at what they're doing to cigarettes. I realize they're different, but look at how it's become almost $8 to buy a pack in NYC, but it's still $2.30 in Delaware, 200 miles south. Then, it will get to be where it's banned within 1000 feet of a school, because we don't want little kids learning about it too young. Then, it'll become taboo to smoke outdoors, where people will surely complain about some civil rights violation when they sit near someone who doesn't smoke...everything is a civil rigths violation anymore.

Taking that into consideration, also think about how we'll handle it. These people that the government has been tracking, killing or arresting for 2-3 decades are now going to become our suppliers? Think about it. There will only be one route for pot to enter into the US (on paper and in the gov'ts mind)...through their (the US's) hands. The growers and sellers will be able to do whatever they please with the pricing when they sell it to the US, and under the guise of "this will create lower taxes", the US will tax pot severely in order to make their money back. Then, surely someone will come in under the radar and produce it themselves without going through the government...what then? Will they still be punished? Will there be free trade and commerce allowed, where private individuals will be able to grow and sell, or will the US want to be the sole provider? I'm not much of a conspiracy guy, but with all of this yapping about the government tracking people, wouldn't you think that the government being the sole supplier of a narcotic would lead to your name being put on a list somewhere?

There are too many variables to take into consideration. I have no idea how so many people in 2006 can have such a horrible image of the government and think that they're useless, but then continue to think of new and worse ways to give them more power.

Answer 4

To many people who have money are making to much money the illegal way. Pot comes in from several countries and the big wig growers have enough money to pay everyone off. It's all about money and greed. And the prisons would go out of business, they want the Federal funding. So it's all a viscous cycle. GEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZ,........... If people would stop and think.... if people want to smoke pot they are going to do it regardless of the law. Supply and demand works in this situation. It's not as lethal as alcohol, but there is money to be made and that is what is happening.

Answer 5

I think it should be legalized and heavily taxed, just like tobacco. This means that offenders in the prison system for marijuana would be released, which means less tax money going to the prison system (keep in mind that taxing pot would bring in more revenue as less money would go to prisons). I doubt it will be used as an export, seeing as most countries have marijuana illegal, and even if it was legalized everywhere, it's a plant that can grow almost everywhere, so everyone can grow their own. It won't really affect the tobacco industry or beer and wine industry. It's not like people are going to stop drinking beer and start smoking pot, they'll probably just do both.

Answer 6

Pot is the top cah crop in the US right now. Why not take the money out of the hands of the criminal elements who grow it en masse and into the hands of the government? I am not a user, but I believe the restriction of this plant is insane.
Make it legal, subsidize its growth, and tax the holy hell out of it.

Answer 7

It will never happen, because the US government can't make money off taxing pot. Let's be real, you can grow it in your closet. Right now, they are making money off fines paid for possession. My kid bro paid 3000 dollars for possessing 16 OZs of pot...he walked on a misdemeanor. Yes, he was going to sell it.

Answer 8

It is not a very dangerous drug... it is not physically addictive like tobacco and it does not cause violent irrational behavior the way excessive alcohol consumption can. I know many pot smokers who are good workers and parents. No one should be in jail for pot... it is a waste of our law enforcement resources.

Answer 9

It will never be legal because if it were everyone would have their own garden. You don't have to process weed like cigarettes, alcohol so our friendly government could never profit from it. The only way they profit is by keeping it illegal.That is why it will never be legal.

Answer 10

Forget all the good intentions or justifications. Why do we let a government prohibit a plant that grows anywhere?

I think we need to get our collective common sense back and get rid of people in government who believe they know best.

The problem is, as long as we believe the government should provide our job protections and health care, we are giving them a vested interest in how we run our lives.