Why marijuana shouldnt be legalized

[APTUtah]

For everyone that didn't check out the link from my previous post here's the basics to end the money debate:

-----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.

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. -----

So maybe if you follow the old money trail it will lead to continued prohibition, but I don't think a Harvard University professor is going to be ignored especially with this:

-----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."-----

Our government has kept us in the dark for a long time, but I, for one, am pulling the blindfold off. I would hope that fellow cannabis advocates would do the same, and realize we are the generation that will do this, and we are the generation that will get that $10 to $14 billion a year for our government, and we are the generation that will be running these massive pot fields, not these old jerks, it will be us deciding if we want to produce the best, organic, grade A+ buds, or if we want cannabis to end up like tobacco is now.

We better take hold of the situation now, before all the conservatives get on board and try to legalize cannabis with a system so regulated that it becomes meaningless (Bill O'Rielly is already on his way). That is where the debate needs to go. Not if and when it will happen or not, because it already is, but how to regulate and run a nation wide cannabis system that allows the best buds possible and the most distributed profit for small cannabis businesses, as well as allowing the homegrowing hobbyist to do as they please. We need to look at the strict regulations at the end of alcohol prohibition, some that still exist, and make sure we don't have some of the same limits that happened at the end of that prohibition, at the end of this one.

Chris,
Advocates for Progressive Therapy, [email protected]
www.myspace.com/aptutah www.geocities.com/aptutah

[daves19]

passionate grower is right -the so called "drug war" is an industry. too many other industries have too much to lose. it doesnt matter who you vote for, because all politicians are pussy sellouts getting fucked in the a$$ by big corporations. Sad but true -this country is not controlled by the people anymore-its controlled by big tobacco, big pharma, the food industry,andthe petroleum industry.

well in canada we have a better chance with politicians, as we have a big percentage of voters...

[daves19]

but if nobody vote for them they won't be elected, and if they are not elected, big corporation won't have any puppet to play with the strings, so when people, and only when they will realise pot is really not as bad as we hear all around, they will make pressure to legalize it...Still politicians no matter how deep they lick the ass of big corporates they need to lick our ass too to get them elected..

[passionate grower]

and FUCK YOU for not offering your life in honnor of the plant, by defending your rights to use.

believe me, if i ever get busted, you'll know it. i wont go down for pot, not alive.

Ask me nicely and I'll think about it.

Seriously, I am an active supporter of NORML, MPP, and libertarian platform issue #1,...so what's your problem with my post? You don't believe the list of profiteers I cited? You don't believe that all the Drug War supporters aren't equal scumbags to dealers selling to kids on the street?

[DazedandConfused]

I'd be fine if more places had the same view as the Netherlands, like places in the US. and then the US would have shops that wouldn't be bothered. that would be really cool, i wouldn't grow it, i think that would cut down like all the people growing it you know? anyone that grew for personal use only, wouldn't have to grow if they could walk up town and buy a couple grams. and then if they would let growers grow for the shops, just like they let people grow for the medical things. that would be awesome! lol

[hihigh]

can't wait for the ignorant hypocritical babyboomer generation to die out so us, more informed, individuals can take over the reigns in the upper administration and government. Hopefully we can finally talk some sense into the administration and legalize a PLANT.

[beachguy in thongs]

Because it has more rights to this planet than puny earthlings, having survived Dinosaurs and the Ice Age.

[daves19]

can't wait for the ignorant hypocritical babyboomer generation to die out so us, more informed, individuals can take over the reigns in the upper administration and government. Hopefully we can finally talk some sense into the administration and legalize a PLANT.

please some lil respect for people who have been brainwashed...you would have been just the same as them if borned within those years...they are not ignorant, jsut misinformed...big difference dude

-peace out :dance:

[Charlie Horse]

errr, "the point of weed"? the point of weed is to fucking get stoned. if companies and/or the government distributed weed and if it was as potent or more than the weed we have now, then why the hell not? do you realize that if the government legalizes and sells pot, that it would get rid of over 60% of drug dealers? and it would get rid of a bunch of people who don't need to be in prison, saving a SHIT LOAD of waisted tax money.

a real stoner, or anyone who enjoys pot, would want it legalized.

[intheclouds]

hey yall how old is a babyboomer??????so i know if i be one. I had my first J in 1974. Hell yall they dont have to say Legal, Just stop fucking with us. All I want to do is smoke a little bud, hey no big thing. Right Guy's??!!!!!! Hell Yea!