I would like to begin by stating that I do not smoke pot. No one in my family including me have been negatively affected by someone who does smoke pot, so I might not share the same views with those of you who have and apologize. I know emotions play a strong role in your position on certain subjects, but I am looking at the pros and cons from an economic standpoint mainly. I am also looking for consistency in the laws and regulations we do have.
Medical marijuana is almost always mentioned in any argument about legalizing marijuana. I have nothing to back this up, but I'm sure there are more US citizens who would approve of legalizing medical marijuana but still not recreational marijuana.
It doesn't make sense to me why the government will not have any part in legalizing marijuana for purely medical reasons.
Why is it that we legalize and promote substances that have ABSOLUTELY nothing in it that could lead to better health. It is actually the opposite. We don't mind alcohol or cigarettes. They're okay. I believe the warning labels would get my point across easier.
The warning labels on legalized weed would look something like this.....
Some doctors claim this drug could treat several different life threatening diseases, but be careful because it might lead to different kinds of drugs.
The warning labels on legal cigarettes look something like this.....
Will cause lung cancer, Is very addictive, but be careful this cigarette may lead you to taking different kinds of drugs
Warning labels on legal alcohol would look the same just say liver disease instead of lung cancer.
That's another topic I wanted to discuss. The main argument I hear about why people don't want to legalize marijuana is that it is a gateway drug. That's impossible to say, because everyone reacts differently just like they do to cigarettes or alcohol. Some people smoke pot and never do another kind of drug in their life. Some people start boozing then get tired of getting drunk and want a different high and smoke crack. It doesn't seem like a valid argument. People also say they've seen so many lives ruined by marijuana, but cigarettes and alcohol have had the same effect on so many lives.
I want to mention I'm not necessarily all for any of these drugs, I'm just looking for consistency in the government. I feel like if we legalize alcohol and cigarettes, marijuana should also be legal. The arguments against legalizing marijuana would make a lot more sense if alcohol and tobacco were illegal at this point.
I'm just sick of people using the fact that people are irresponsible when they do this or when they do that as their backbone to any argument against marijuana or gambling or anything of that nature. We live in the land of the free, and some people are going to make stupid decisions. People are free to make stupid decisions. It's their money, their life. They will have to face the consequences. The reason they live in the United States of America is to be able to do what they want to do.
Would the economy be affected positively if marijuana was legalized?
I'm definitely no expert, but I believe legalizing marijuana would benefit the economy.
The most obvious reason is because it could be taxed. People are going to smoke weed either way, just like people are going to drink underage either way. Even though smoking weed and drinking underage is illegal in the United States, it's easy to get the supplies.
As soon as marijuana was legally sold to the public, someone would find a way to sell it atleast 1/2 of what it sold for on the streets.
Everyone wins in this situation:
- Uncle Sam gets his share, because citizens are paying taxes on the marijuana they are buying now.
- The citizen has more money.
- Uncle Sam wins again, because the citizen will use the saved money to pay for something else that can be taxed that normally would have been the extra money they had to pay on the marijuana that was never taxed.
Another obvious reason is more and more drug gangs will be off the streets and might have to get real jobs and contribute to society. Obviously crime rates would drop. Obviously more hospital beds would be empty.
That's all for now. I still have plenty of other thoughts on this issue, but I'm not sure how to put it down on paper right now.
Would love to hear all of your comments.