Map reveals multi-billion dollar economic growth potential for states that legalize

Map reveals multi-billion dollar economic growth potential for states that legalize marijuana, hemp

[align=left]Friday, December 06, 2013 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer


[align=left](NaturalNews) It is a fact that, legal or illegal, marijuana will always be around. Those that grow, sell and buy it will always find a way to, well, grow, sell and buy it, no matter how the government feels about the issue. The question is, do the individual states want in on this lucrative industry and the immense economic benefits it can bring for their citizens, or do they want to continue to flounder on the wrong side of history?

According to the latest statistics, cannabis continues to be the nation's most valuable cash crop, even though it is still mindlessly regarded as illegal for recreational use by 48 states and the federal government. A recent "infographic" published by the Floating Sheep blog illustrates how the marijuana industry, both in its legal and underground form, is worth some $120 billion annually or more, a hefty sum that outpaces the entire value of U.S. corn and wheat crops combined.

Obviously, the vast majority of this $120 billion still constitutes black market transactions, which contribute virtually nothing to local economies besides perhaps an increased presence of street gangs and more revenues for local prison systems. As far as legitimate benefits are concerned, however, states that still cling to the outmoded ideals of prohibition are not only losing out on the benefits of marijuana but also stifling their citizens from prospering financially.

"Keeping marijuana illegal is possibly keeping billions of dollars out of the economies in the most rural parts of the United States, preventing these regions from banking on America's 'biggest' cash crop," writes Chris Miles for PolicyMic.com.

The Floating Sheep infographic basically uses varying shades of yellow and green in a "heat" map format to illustrate the price of street cannabis in locales all across the country. Based on these values, the blog came up with an estimate of what the entire national market for marijuana is worth, based on the limited data that is available for this mostly underground industry.

Some of the most inexpensive places in the country to purchase marijuana are on the West Coast, where it is generally more socially acceptable. But there are also major pockets in Eastern Kentucky, Western Tennessee, and elsewhere, not only where street cannabis is less expensive than other areas but also hot spots for growing cannabis, illegally of course.

Ending marijuana prohibition would produce billions in new revenues, not to mention cut billions in enforcement costs

If marijuana were legalized nationwide, these popular growing areas and many others like them, which at the current time are mostly poor, would have the opportunity to breathe new life into their local economies. Regions of the country that are currently regarded as economically anemic, in other words, would quickly become boom towns with new opportunities in farming, processing, distributing and selling cannabis and cannabis-related products.

Similarly, all the government expenditures and waste associated with enforcing marijuana prohibition drain local economies of much-needed resources that could be used elsewhere. On a national scale, the federal government has flushed down the toilet some $1 trillion dollars on enforcing marijuana prohibition since 1970, the direct result of anti-marijuana propaganda perpetuated by the Nixon administration.

Marijuana legalization would reduce government expenditure by $5.3 billion at the state and local level and by $2.4 billion at the federal level," explains a Marijuana Policy Project report published back in 2005 that assesses the budgetary implications of marijuana prohibition. "In addition, marijuana legalization would generate tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco."

floatingsheep: The Price of Weed[align=left]
Map reveals multi-billion dollar economic growth potential for states that legalize marijuana, hemp




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Detroit should just legalize and stay out of bankruptcy. :twocents:

hello. The disgusting reality of prohibition for our entire nation is that the monies from illegal revenues are funded into killing people around the world. This is ironic satanism from the most peaceful organic herb on the planet. End prohibition NOW, and end economic collapse everywhere.:wtf:

10 things to know about Colorado's recreational marijuana shops - CNN.com

Denver (CNN) -- Colorado began allowing the sale of recreational marijuana on January 1 to anyone age 21 or older.
Residents can now buy marijuana like alcohol -- except the cannabis purchase is limited to an ounce, which is substantial enough to cost about $200 or more.
It's a big moment: Colorado became the first state in the nation to open recreational pot stores and became the first place in the world where marijuana will be regulated from seed to sale. Pot, by the way, is the third most popular recreational drug in America, after alcohol and tobacco, according to the marijuana reform group NORML.
And what about the feds?
It's always been a murky relationship between the feds and those states with laws authorizing medical -- and now recreational -- marijuana. Federal law says the drug's possession, manufacture, and sale is illegal, punishable by up to life in prison, and its mass cultivation is a sensitive subject among growers, experts say.
But in August, the U.S. Justice Department said it won't challenge Colorado or other states with laws legalizing recreational marijuana. Instead, federal officials will focus on serious trafficking and keeping the drug away from children.
Does this confuse you?
It should, one legal analyst says.
"They should be confused," attorney Alan Dershowitz said. "The federal government still takes the position technically that you're violating federal law if you're complying with the state law. But the Obama administration, I believe, has recently has taken a turn on its approach to drug enforcement."
....