Economists call for marijuana legalization

[Phlegm]

Economists from all over the world have joined together to sign an open letter to the United States government showing the economic benefits of the legalization of marijuana.

" We, the undersigned, call your attention to the attached report by Professor Jeffrey A. Miron, The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. The report shows that marijuana legalization -- replacing prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation -- would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like most consumer goods. If, however, marijuana were taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually."

http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/endorsers.html

[Lionking]

I suggest that Spazz run this operation.

[Arlos]

RJ Reynolds, the tobacco company, already has the name "Maui Wowie" trademarked for when/if pot ever becomes legal, or so the possibly apocryphal story goes.

I don't see any major downsides to legalizing pot, and lots of benefits. Hope it happens.

-Arlos

[Spazz]

I agree with lionking

[Narrock]

[Gargamellow]

ROFL

[Naethyn]

How would this affect people imprisoned for posession?

[Gargamellow]

They knew they were breaking the law when they got caught. Just because the law would no longer BE a law, does not mean they didn't disrespect a written law to begin with, I am sure they won't be released.

[Naethyn]

Imagine doing more time than a rapist for a non existant law.

[Granh]

How would this affect people imprisoned for posession?

They would be fined for back taxes not paid?

[Arlos]

OK, Mindia.

Honest question for you. Why so against marijuana being legalized? Yes, there is some potential for people harming themselves with abuse. However, we already have legal drugs (alcahol and tobacco) which have much WORSE consequences if abused.

So, if it's not as harmful as stuff already legal, if the government can not only save billions, but MAKE billions by legalizing it, leaving police free to go after stronger drugs and/or violent criminals, why is it a bad thing?

Also, if it becomes legal, people buying it wouldn't be sending money into criminal organizations, and you'd be cutting off one potential source of funding for terorism, at least if you listen to the DHS in it's diatribes against buying pot at this point. (they claim buying pot funds terrorists, etc.) You'd be actually be giving a boost to local farmers, probably many of them in California.

So, I ask you again, in all seriousness, why the dismissive attitude?

-Arlos

[Gargamellow]

fines are a great idea...but it doesn't erase the fact that they did in fact commit crimes..however i can see fines being a way to buy your freedom from a possession charge

i think legalizing weed would be nifty..it would be an interesting experience..but i doubt they will do it

[Naethyn]

Once the government has much bigger things to worry about than gay marrage rights and marijuana, regulations such as these will disappear.

[Jay]

I have an idea that Mindia will answer to the tune of "Cigarettes and alcohol are already evil enough. We don't need a third thing."

[Minrott]

Just think of all the people that will turn to jesus to get over their addiction! Jesus saves man.

[Narrock]

OK, Mindia.

Honest question for you. Why so against marijuana being legalized? Yes, there is some potential for people harming themselves with abuse. However, we already have legal drugs (alcahol and tobacco) which have much WORSE consequences if abused.

So, if it's not as harmful as stuff already legal, if the government can not only save billions, but MAKE billions by legalizing it, leaving police free to go after stronger drugs and/or violent criminals, why is it a bad thing?

Also, if it becomes legal, people buying it wouldn't be sending money into criminal organizations, and you'd be cutting off one potential source of funding for terorism, at least if you listen to the DHS in it's diatribes against buying pot at this point. (they claim buying pot funds terrorists, etc.) You'd be actually be giving a boost to local farmers, probably many of them in California.

So, I ask you again, in all seriousness, why the dismissive attitude?

-Arlos

lol I really don't feel like hashing through this again (no pun intended).

[numatu]

There's nothing to hash at all; there's no compelling reason why marijuana should remain criminalized. It's a complete waste of resources and a waste of potential taxed dollars.

[Gargamellow]

LOL naet

p.s. i used to believe that there would be world peace if everyone smoked weed

[Arlos]

Sorry to seem as if I'm calling you out or something on this issue, Mindia, but I honestly can't remember where you ever gave a full explanation of your reasons. Most of your posts on it have consisted of 1-line (or more frequently 1 word or 1-emoticon) responses, without addressing the base issues.

Now, it's certainly possible I've missed the posts where you did, and I seem to recall you at least mentioning it's due to health reasons, but without any explanation of why then you think alcohol should be legal and pot not, when it's medically proven that alcohol is worse for you.

So again, in complete seriousness, I'm interested in your point of view, the reasons you have to back up said point of view, and am not trying to bait you, etc. at all.

-Arlos

[Tikker]

there's no real reason to uncriminalize it either



ps, i'm ok with criminalizing all mind altering narcotics

[Tuggan]

instead of spending billions, you gain billions.. thats no real reason?

[Yamori]

there's no real reason to uncriminalize it either

Besides spending billions, devoting lots of police time and effort towards it, filling up prisons to overfull status, and locking up otherwise productive citizens/workers/spouses/parents ?

Yeah, no real reason I guess.

[Lueyen]

fines are a great idea...but it doesn't erase the fact that they did in fact commit crimes..however i can see fines being a way to buy your freedom from a possession charge

i think legalizing weed would be nifty..it would be an interesting experience..but i doubt they will do it

If it were legalized on a constitutional basis ie saying that laws criminalizing it were unconstitutional then it would wipe the records, and those in prison for possesion or use would be vindicated of any crime. Not that that would be the case, but it would put an interesting twist on it.

[Tikker]

there's no real reason to uncriminalize it either

Besides spending billions, devoting lots of police time and effort towards it, filling up prisons to overfull status, and locking up otherwise productive citizens/workers/spouses/parents ?

Yeah, no real reason I guess.

Like I said before, a single bullet to the face of the offenders solves 99% of the issues(this works with pretty much every crime, even parking violations)

[Ginzburgh]

Oh so you propose shooting pot smokers in the face and killing them. Same for motor vehicle violations etc.

k, that's not too fucking crazy or anything.

While we're at it, we should wipe out all bald headed Canadians. It makes about the same sense.