Our state and federal government is spending Millions of tax dollars fighting a war on drugs that includes Marijuana, yet our streets are still full of it. The drug trafficers are getting rich and millions of people are having their lives ruined for something that is not really causing any harm that I can see. Would it not be better to let the Marijuana user have the right to grow a few plants for their own use. Still keep it illegal to transport, sell or trade if the Goverment so wanted. But allow the user the right to have posession in their own home for personal use in their home confined to their property. Would this not take a big chunk of money out of the foreign traffickers, would it also not free up a lot of prison space and tax dollars? Would it also not free up a lot of man power and more tax dollars to go after the harder more harmful adictive drugs? I think it is time for a change. Let the smokers grow their own. and focus on more important things. What do you think?
2007-02-10 15:45:14 · 10 answers · asked by Drifter 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Don't care for it myself, although I have friends that use it. They are not criminals, it's just their way of unwinding after work. I prefer a beer, or margarita to unwind, and to me, there is no difference. And yes, OUR tax dollars are being wasted on a stupid law. Plus, if legalized, it can be sold and taxed, raising revenue, for those who choose to not grow it. I don't make my own booze, nor do most people, and in buying it, I pay taxes on it. Billions a year in revenue for our government. How much would we taxpayers save by letting all pot smokers out of jail, re-directing our police to real crime solving problems, plus how much will we earn through taxes, as is the same with booze and cigarettes??
2007-02-10 16:30:57 · answer #1 · answered by greg j. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll go ya one better - legalize ALL drugs, tax 'em and sell 'em cheap enough so the junkies can afford them...then give them a place to shoot up and die.
Just think of all the money our country would save....our prisons and jails would soon clear out, leaving room for the serious murderers and felons, our law enforcement officers could stop chasing druggies and get down to capturing the murderers, rapists, burglars and sex offenders. We could use the money saved (like - billions) to increase the size of the police forces, open serious drug rehab places where people could actually be helped, if they wanted help, that is.
As for marijuana, it is no more harmful that a scotch on the rocks. As with alcohol, one can overdo weed...and if it were legal, there would be those who would. But marijuana is so innocuous it's hard to believe it is still illegal.
Before a lot of folks jump on me - no, I am not nor have I ever been a druggie..... Like a lot of my peer-group, I dabbled in weed in the 60's but found in the 70's that I much preferred a fine single-malt. Never have done any hard drugs, don't take any kind of "prescription drugs" and never would.
I just believe that we can make better use of our legal resources than chasing street-corner dealers, buyers and border-hoppers.
2007-02-10 16:08:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES! It's not nearly as dangerous or addictive as legalized hard drugs like cigarettes or alcohol. We saw that prohibition didn't work with alcohol, so it is surprising that few people seem to realize that the prohibition of marijuana is just as much of a failure. America has the highest incarceration figures in the world. 25% of all the prisoners in the world are in American prisons. Many of them for non-violent drug crimes. This is ridiculous. There is also an economic aspect to this as well. Whenever there is a high demand for a product that is illegal, a black market will naturally be created. This creates problems with street gangs and drug cartels. If marijuana were legalized, and sold at your local Walgreens, all of this would go away. This new legalized competition would also create better quality products, so it is possible that those in the legalized marijuana business may create even safer marijuana products. Also, many of our drug laws are unconstitutional.
2016-05-25 08:15:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree 100%
Right now, all the profits from this multi-billion dollar industry go to unsavory people. The Mafia was "born" during Prohibition b/c there was big $$$ in smuggling liquor. Same w/ smuggling drugs.
However, the pharmaceutical company would be in an uproar if people stopped buying their Prozac and other fancy drugs and instead decide to do their own homegrown herbal therapy. It would ruin a lot of rich people's day...that is who the government protects after all.
*sigh*...this country is so misguided in many ways.
2007-02-10 15:59:59 · answer #4 · answered by ♥austingirl♥ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hell yes! And tax it to death and accually make money off of it too- it's much less harmful then alcohol and Tobacco- in fact, that's why it was outlawed in the first place- tobacco lobbies.
It's common sense, which is why it won't happen.
Jail overcrowding is another biggie that it would solve.
2007-02-10 15:49:54 · answer #5 · answered by The Big Box 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been working at this since 1979, but I lack the wherewithall to make it work
2007-02-10 15:55:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I agree it should be legal and treated the same as alcohol.
2007-02-10 17:49:03 · answer #7 · answered by Doug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Tax it and treat it like alcohol.
2007-02-10 15:49:03 · answer #8 · answered by Gerry S 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You got that right. But until it is legal, it has to be treated as such.
2007-02-10 15:48:46 · answer #9 · answered by Konswayla 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No way!
Pot is for losers, and we need to keep it illegal so we can lock the losers up.
2007-02-10 15:49:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋