The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition

[NowhereMan]

http://www.mpp.org/reports/index.html

Ending Marijuana Prohibition Would Save $10-14 Billion Annually ... Report Endorsed by Milton Friedman and More Than 500 Economists
In "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition" (released June 2, 2005), Dr. Jeffrey Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University, estimates that replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year.
More than 500 distinguished economists -- led by Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Milton Friedman and two additional Nobel Laureates -- endorsed the report and signed an open letter to President Bush and other public officials calling for "an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition," adding, "We believe such a debate will favor a regime in which marijuana is legal but taxed and regulated like other goods."
Using data from a variety of federal and state government sources, Miron concludes:
Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of legal regulation would save approximately $7.7 billion in government expenditures on prohibition enforcement -- $2.4 billion at the federal level and $5.3 billion at the state and local levels.
Revenue from taxation of marijuana sales would range from $2.4 billion per year if marijuana were taxed like ordinary consumer goods to $6.2 billion if it were taxed like alcohol or tobacco.
The full report and its full list of endorsers are available here.
http://www.aei.org/include/docFormat...5661&docType=0
An Analytic Assessment of U.S. Drug Policy full text



READ THAT MR PRESIDENT says me

NowhereMan Reviewed by NowhereMan on 07-20-2005. The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition http://www.mpp.org/reports/index.html Ending Marijuana Prohibition Would Save $10-14 Billion Annually ... Report Endorsed by Milton Friedman and More Than 500 Economists In "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition" (released June 2, 2005), Dr. Jeffrey Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University, estimates that replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and Rating: 5

[onwardthroughthefog]

http://www.mpp.org/reports/index.html

Ending Marijuana Prohibition Would Save $10-14 Billion Annually ... Report Endorsed by Milton Friedman and More Than 500 Economists
In "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition" (released June 2, 2005), Dr. Jeffrey Miron, visiting professor of economics at Harvard University, estimates that replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year.
More than 500 distinguished economists -- led by Nobel Prize-winner Dr. Milton Friedman and two additional Nobel Laureates -- endorsed the report and signed an open letter to President Bush and other public officials calling for "an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition," adding, "We believe such a debate will favor a regime in which marijuana is legal but taxed and regulated like other goods."
Using data from a variety of federal and state government sources, Miron concludes:
Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of legal regulation would save approximately $7.7 billion in government expenditures on prohibition enforcement -- $2.4 billion at the federal level and $5.3 billion at the state and local levels.
Revenue from taxation of marijuana sales would range from $2.4 billion per year if marijuana were taxed like ordinary consumer goods to $6.2 billion if it were taxed like alcohol or tobacco.
The full report and its full list of endorsers are available here.
http://www.aei.org/include/docFormat...5661&docType=0
An Analytic Assessment of U.S. Drug Policy full text



READ THAT MR PRESIDENT says me

Aaaaaaaah, but how many prison guards, wardens, cops, FBI agents, DEA agents, Homeland Security agents, people who work for companies that make the uniforms, weapons, and tools used by all those people would be out of work? Think of how many people who have staked their careers supporting our current political "leaders", and the backlash that would result of the government suddenly put them out of work.

One of the numerous ridiculous reasons pot was declared an illegal drug back in the 30's was because so many sheriffs, deputies, and cops would be out of work due to the relaxation of prohibition on alcohol. Police groups created a very vocal and aggressive political action committee that got politician's ears.

Yes, billions of dollars could and would be saved from law enforcement, but consider how much clout those law enforcement groups have with Washington D.C.. I don't see them giving up without a very nasty and expensive fight.

[NowhereMan]

Aaaaaaaah, but how many prison guards, wardens, cops, FBI agents, DEA agents, Homeland Security agents, people who work for companies that make the uniforms, weapons, and tools used by all those people would be out of work? Think of how many people who have staked their careers supporting our current political "leaders", and the backlash that would result of the government suddenly put them out of work.

One of the numerous ridiculous reasons pot was declared an illegal drug back in the 30's was because so many sheriffs, deputies, and cops would be out of work due to the relaxation of prohibition on alcohol. Police groups created a very vocal and aggressive political action committee that got politician's ears.

Yes, billions of dollars could and would be saved from law enforcement, but consider how much clout those law enforcement groups have with Washington D.C.. I don't see them giving up without a very nasty and expensive fight.

well they need not loose a job
refocus that attention on the REAL criminals and make it safe to walk the streets for people without fear of rapes and murders happening to those they love I am scared to death for my kids when they go out and about.
if the police would be able to count on the system to keep rapist locked away im sure they go along with the plan to legalize and let them NOT chase smokers of a weed
and have them take up the space to house killers in prison
ask anyone with any sense
who ya want the cops to arrest a smoker or a rapist
who ya want in prison america?
medical cannabis use is something i feel i have the RIGHT to use
the laws must be changed
peace

[onwardthroughthefog]

well they need not loose a job
refocus that attention on the REAL criminals and make it safe to walk the streets for people without fear of rapes and murders happening to those they love I am scared to death for my kids when they go out and about.
if the police would be able to count on the system to keep rapist locked away im sure they go along with the plan to legalize and let them NOT chase smokers of a weed
and have them take up the space to house killers in prison
ask anyone with any sense
who ya want the cops to arrest a smoker or a rapist
who ya want in prison america?
medical cannabis use is something i feel i have the RIGHT to use
the laws must be changed
peace

I agree with you 100%. I just realize who has the ear of the current administration...and it ain't us.

[ezjim]

Aaaaaaaah, but how many prison guards, wardens, cops, FBI agents, DEA agents, Homeland Security agents, people who work for companies that make the uniforms, weapons, and tools used by all those people would be out of work? Think of how many people who have staked their careers supporting our current political "leaders", and the backlash that would result of the government suddenly put them out of work.

One of the numerous ridiculous reasons pot was declared an illegal drug back in the 30's was because so many sheriffs, deputies, and cops would be out of work due to the relaxation of prohibition on alcohol. Police groups created a very vocal and aggressive political action committee that got politician's ears.

Yes, billions of dollars could and would be saved from law enforcement, but consider how much clout those law enforcement groups have with Washington D.C.. I don't see them giving up without a very nasty and expensive fight.

when narcs do this kind of thing http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stori...arVictims.html then they deserve to lose thier jobs ..the war on drugs is a miserable failure ..and has never worked it should have been abandoned yrs ago ..and if a few narcotics officers have to become mall cops to end it then so be it

[nicholasstanko]

What's with this medical marijuana stuff?

are we so desperate to be noticed we're willing to just accept medical marijuana? so what happenes in the event of an mj task force that seeks to find proof of a cannabis card? and i dont suppose anyone has thought about the black market for an illegal cannabis card. it'll be the same thing, only the medical industry will focus attention away from pharmaceuticals to cannabis.

same bullshit, different stink.

[NowhereMan]

What's with this medical marijuana stuff?

are we so desperate to be noticed we're willing to just accept medical marijuana? so what happenes in the event of an mj task force that seeks to find proof of a cannabis card? and i dont suppose anyone has thought about the black market for an illegal cannabis card. it'll be the same thing, only the medical industry will focus attention away from pharmaceuticals to cannabis.

same bullshit, different stink.

What's with this medical marijuana stuff?
its simple
those like me need cannabis for REAL medical reasons
not just to get a buzz and or fit in to some counterculture

i dont expect it ever be legal for just anyone,anytime soon
its one step at a time
and medical use being legal nation wide under no federal guns is 1st step

i really dont get your point
you saying ya dont want it legal,or not?