Legalize Cannabis

[Siro]

I've never driven high or drunk, but I imagine both are pretty dangerous, regardless of which one is shown to be more so. Driving under the influence is, and should be, illegal. I don't see the point of having that argument. Weed is not a serious health risk in other regards, and use ought to be a personal choice outside of established rules (driving, operating heavy machinery, on certain jobs, etc).

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Any research done on how much revenue it would create via taxes?

 

[GVC]

Some literature for those who are interested:

https://grannystormcrowslist.webs.com/apps/forums/

 

[GVC]

Any research done on how much revenue it would create via taxes?

Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard economist, has published quite a bit on this topic. A quick google search of his name should get you what you need.

 

[PearlWatson]

eh? Alcohol kills, cannabis does not. That alone seems like a pretty big difference to me.

Trayvon was on pot when he got himself killed.

 

[PearlWatson]

there are still hundreds of thousands of people in prison who's only offense is possession of marijuana.

I doubt that.

 

[SaltyDawg]

Trayvon was on pot when he got himself killed.

How do you know he was on pot? I doubt very much that he was high, or "on pot" at the time.

He had traces in his system. That does not mean he was high at the time.

 

[Siro]

I doubt that.

Your doubts (blind ideological reflex) are easily dispelled by facts.

https://www.alternet.org/rights/47815/

 

[GVC]

I doubt that.

As you should. There are 700 000+ people arrested in America annually for simple possession of marijuana, however.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard economist, has published quite a bit on this topic. A quick google search of his name should get you what you need.

Bro, you know I'm lazy. Couple that with the fact that it's before 5pm and I'm already drinking, and I find it would be much easier for you to just provide me with some sort of answer in the form of a monetary range.

 

[GVC]

Bro, you know I'm lazy. Couple that with the fact that it's before 5pm and I'm already drinking, and I find it would be much easier for you to just provide me with some sort of answer in the form of a monetary range.

In "The Budgetary Implications of Drug Prohibition" (2008), Miron estimated state and federal savings of $12.9 billion from marijuana legalization (from the reduction in enforcement expenditures). He estimated an additional $6.7 billion in tax revenues from the legalization of marijuana.

So...roughly $20 billion.

 

[Stoked]

I've never driven high or drunk, but I imagine both are pretty dangerous, regardless of which one is shown to be more so. Driving under the influence is, and should be, illegal. I don't see the point of having that argument. Weed is not a serious health risk in other regards, and use ought to be a personal choice outside of established rules (driving, operating heavy machinery, on certain jobs, etc).

Close enough for me.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

In "The Budgetary Implications of Drug Prohibition" (2008), Miron estimated (state and federal) savings (from a reduction in enforcement expenditures) of $12.9 billion from marijuana legalization. He estimated an additional $6.7 billion in tax revenues from the legalization of marijuana.

So...roughly $20 billion.

Per state? Obviously that number would vary greatly but still, are those numbers per state?

 

[Stoked]

In "The Budgetary Implications of Drug Prohibition" (2008), Miron estimated (state and federal) savings (from a reduction in enforcement expenditures) of $12.9 billion from marijuana legalization. He estimated an additional $6.7 billion in tax revenues from the legalization of marijuana.

So...roughly $20 billion.

The fac that this has not been done years ago is just insanity to me. 20 billion annually that could go to better uses then busting pot heads.

 

[Gameface]

I doubt that.

Okay, I don't have anything to back the number up. Are you doubting the number or the fact that people are in prison for possession of marijuana? Now, they can convict people of trafficking and intent to sell without any actual proof either was taking place based on quantity, as if shopping for TP at costco is an indication that I plan to sell TP. Anyway, people are in prison for possessing marijuana. I don't need the number of people to be high (no pun intended) in order to be outraged that my fellow human beings are being taken out of their homes, often away from productive lives, and placed in a cage because we don't approve of the particular way they treat their body. It's not just a little deal to me.

I see people getting up in arms because the government wants to take x% of their money as opposed to y% because government doesn't need to take care of us. To which I wholeheartedly agree. However, here we have a case where real people are being raided in dangerous (for them and the police) no-knock raids, convicted of things there is no proof they did (intent to distribute based on quantity and how many individual packages it's in) and thrown in prison. That's the kind of government interference in my life I worry about most, the kind where people can say they don't like what other people do and then put those people in a cage if they do it anyway.

 

[PearlWatson]

As you should. There are 700 000+ people arrested in America annually for simple possession of marijuana, however.

How many actually go to prison?

A friend who works at the prison says there is ONE guy in Utah's prison for marijuana related charges...and it was because he had a whole truck load of the stuff.

 

[GVC]

Per state? Obviously that number would vary greatly but still, are those numbers per state?

No, that's total national savings.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

No, that's total national savings.

Solid. Thank you.

 

[Bronco70]

As I have stated in other threads (which this one will be just like), I haven't used marijuana, and never will. But I am in favor of legalizing it for 3 main reasons:

1. Tax revenue and control. Easy money that could go to schools or other civic concerns, and less pot-related criminal activity.

2. Alcohol is MUCH more dangerous than marijuana. So why can an adult make his/her own decision about one, but not the other?

3. The WAR ON DRUGS is a monumental waste of time, money, and life. Ease up on the prison system by not incarcerating people who aren't actual criminals.

That's my .02.

 

[GVC]

How many actually go to prison?

A friend who works at the prison says there is ONE guy in Utah's prison for marijuana related charges...and it was because he had a whole truck load of the stuff.

Then your friend is either lying or ignorant.

Follow Siromar's link. There are roughly 45 000 people in state and federal prisons for marijuana related crimes.