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Why isn't MJ legalized already?

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I've always heard that the drug cartels contribute to political parties/candidates to prevent this very idea.

If legalized and taxed, it would be one way to pay off some of the mountain of debt.

I've always wondered if there would be more or less usage if legalized - if not forbidden, it might lose it's attraction.
 
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Let's see... can't tax it effectively, too easy for people to grow and use themselves, industrial hemp would hurt big businesses... there's more but the main reason will always be $$$.
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The laws of economics would fix this pretty quickly. As soon as there are big growers the cost of marijuana would not be worth the hassle of growing it yourself. Once that happens they could easily tax it.

I'm not sure if weed is any easier than tobacco to grow, although I doubt that it is. The only reason why it's grown (weed) by semi-ordinary people is because it's illegal.

I bet it wouldn't take much longer then 10 years for the gov. to see significant revenue from taxes on MJ after it is turned legal.
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It is the same as anything, really.. there is a ton of stuff you can make yourself but don't because someone else will produce it more efficiently and of a better quality. Beer, for example. If marijuana were legalized you'd get some talented growers producing some excellent weed, probably for cheaper than it would be for you to produce it if you factor in the cost of your time.
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And then you have a whole 'nonther argument over what is "better quality". Like any other plant, this can be bred for certain characteristics, such as the amount of THC. That radically changes the outlook and expectations.
 
Originally posted by: Modelworks
One reason is the nightmare it would cause for the legal system.
Imagine all the people that would want a new trial that were in prison for MJ.
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Would imagine it would be similar to prohibition and it's demise in the early 1900s.
 
Originally posted by: soonerproud
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: soonerproud
Originally posted by: Ns1
It's actually the sole reason I switched to Dem ^_^
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You better consider switching to Libertarians then. Legalization of Marijuana is part of the party platform.
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I like to pick parties with a chance of winning
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They would have a chance of winning if more people switched instead of using the excuse of staying in a party with a chance of winning.

The Republican Party was a third party in the 1860 election so it is not like a third party has not become mainstream before.
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Democrats and Republicans FTL. My party doesn't stand a chance of winning, but I can't stand supporting either one of the two main parties.

Join another party. Get some new ideas flowing.
 
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
Originally posted by: Modelworks
One reason is the nightmare it would cause for the legal system.
Imagine all the people that would want a new trial that were in prison for MJ.
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Let them all go free.
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With a nice apology. And a nice big bag of newly legalized weed.
 
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Let's see... can't tax it effectively, too easy for people to grow and use themselves, industrial hemp would hurt big businesses... there's more but the main reason will always be $$$.
Click to expand...

The laws of economics would fix this pretty quickly. As soon as there are big growers the cost of marijuana would not be worth the hassle of growing it yourself. Once that happens they could easily tax it.

I'm not sure if weed is any easier than tobacco to grow, although I doubt that it is. The only reason why it's grown (weed) by semi-ordinary people is because it's illegal.

I bet it wouldn't take much longer then 10 years for the gov. to see significant revenue from taxes on MJ after it is turned legal.
Click to expand...

It is the same as anything, really.. there is a ton of stuff you can make yourself but don't because someone else will produce it more efficiently and of a better quality. Beer, for example. If marijuana were legalized you'd get some talented growers producing some excellent weed, probably for cheaper than it would be for you to produce it if you factor in the cost of your time.
Click to expand...

I was replying for the sole reason of showing him his points were not very valid.
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Well they're more valid then the perceived notion that it is illegal for our own good, thats pretty clear without even getting into the hypocrisy of alcohol and tobacco being legal at the same time. Don't fool yourself either, you can argue my first 2 points but hemp IS a valid reason why it's illegal.
 
See if you had shot all the prisoners w/ more than a 5 year term, you wouldn't have this retrial problem. Not to mention you'll have a shit ton of money for education funding.
 
Originally posted by: seemingly random

I've always wondered if there would be more or less usage if legalized - if not forbidden, it might lose it's attraction.
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I would guess more. Tobacco use is still pretty widespread and it doesn't even really DO anything but get you addicted to nicotine. By contrast being high is actually pretty awesome...for some. In any case some real and perceivable mind alteration is going on when one tokes. For my money legal marijuana would be vastly superior to a mostly useless habit, and this is coming from a cigarette smoker. Likewise, legalized marijuana would probably scoop up all those other folks for whom legality and social perception are the only barriers to use.

 
Is the approach of 420 bringing out all the potheads of ATOT or something?

There have been quite a few drug threads lately.

Oh and all drugs should be legalized so the dumb people can slowly eliminate themselves from the gene pool
 
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Originally posted by: seemingly random

I've always wondered if there would be more or less usage if legalized - if not forbidden, it might lose it's attraction.
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I would guess more. Tobacco use is still pretty widespread and it doesn't even really DO anything but get you addicted to nicotine. By contrast being high is actually pretty awesome...for some. In any case some real and perceivable mind alteration is going on when one tokes. For my money legal marijuana would be vastly superior to a mostly useless habit, and this is coming from a cigarette smoker. Likewise, legalized marijuana would probably scoop up all those other folks for whom legality and social perception are the only barriers to use.
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Well, chemically speaking, nicotine does release Dopamine from your neurons because of its affect on nicotinic receptors in your brain. That's how you get addicted, from that release of dopamine.

This can be really evident if you do a line of snow (prevents the reuptake of the dopamine, among other things) and then smoke.
 
Originally posted by: yllus
The police, DEA, courts and jails employ a lot of people.
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Not to mention the billions of dollars every year it provides for our congress-critters to distribute. Congress has no interest in ridding themselves of a 20+ billion handout.
 
How many users actually go to jail now? Although I've been out of the scene for years, I've heard that small amounts are treated like traffic tickets.

This thread isn't about legalizing all mood altering drugs, just pot. There'll be plenty left for the enforcement/court/prison industry. I've never heard anyone suggest that meth, etc should be legalized.
 
Originally posted by: seemingly random
How many users actually go to jail now? Although I've been out of the scene for years, I've heard that small amounts are treated like traffic tickets.

This thread isn't about legalizing all mood altering drugs, just pot. There'll be plenty left for the enforcement/court/prison industry. I've never heard anyone suggest that meth, etc should be legalized.
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I suggest that meth, etc. should be legalized.
 
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: seemingly random
How many users actually go to jail now? Although I've been out of the scene for years, I've heard that small amounts are treated like traffic tickets.

This thread isn't about legalizing all mood altering drugs, just pot. There'll be plenty left for the enforcement/court/prison industry. I've never heard anyone suggest that meth, etc should be legalized.
Click to expand...

I suggest that meth, etc. should be legalized.
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Ok - start another thread.
 
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Let's see... can't tax it effectively, too easy for people to grow and use themselves, industrial hemp would hurt big businesses... there's more but the main reason will always be $$$.
Click to expand...

Why can't you tax it effectively? If it's sold on the open market, YOU CAN TAX IT. 99.9% of people who want to use pot don't want to put the effort into growing it. Your arguments don't make any sense!!
 
Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: Ns1
Originally posted by: Farang
Another source of pressure will be the medical marijuana movement, which has been more successful politically and has a good chance of changing federal law if the right people are in office. Obama, for example, might not take the initiative but if the bill were on his desk he'd sign it. A strong Democratic majority might make that happen (not endorsing anyone just making an observation).
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It's actually the sole reason I switched to Dem ^_^
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lol you switched to Dems because you think they would vote for legalizing weed?
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Most of us Dems would. It's popular to falsely portray Democrats (I'm talking about the members, ie the voters, not the politicians, all politicians are liars and crooks that will do anything for a vote or a buck). You do realize that ALL pot smoking hippies are Democrats, right? How could somebody possibly not realize that?
 
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Let's see... can't tax it effectively, too easy for people to grow and use themselves, industrial hemp would hurt big businesses... there's more but the main reason will always be $$$.
Click to expand...

The laws of economics would fix this pretty quickly. As soon as there are big growers the cost of marijuana would not be worth the hassle of growing it yourself. Once that happens they could easily tax it.

I'm not sure if weed is any easier than tobacco to grow, although I doubt that it is. The only reason why it's grown (weed) by semi-ordinary people is because it's illegal.

I bet it wouldn't take much longer then 10 years for the gov. to see significant revenue from taxes on MJ after it is turned legal.
Click to expand...

MJ(hemp) will grow virtually anywhere, and can be used for many many things other then getting high, 1/2 the reason it was mad illigial was because its useability was a threat to big businesses
 
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Let's see... can't tax it effectively, too easy for people to grow and use themselves, industrial hemp would hurt big businesses... there's more but the main reason will always be $$$.
Click to expand...

The laws of economics would fix this pretty quickly. As soon as there are big growers the cost of marijuana would not be worth the hassle of growing it yourself. Once that happens they could easily tax it.

I'm not sure if weed is any easier than tobacco to grow, although I doubt that it is. The only reason why it's grown (weed) by semi-ordinary people is because it's illegal.

I bet it wouldn't take much longer then 10 years for the gov. to see significant revenue from taxes on MJ after it is turned legal.
Click to expand...

MJ(hemp) will grow virtually anywhere, and can be used for many many things other then getting high, 1/2 the reason it was mad illigial was because its useability was a threat to big businesses
Click to expand...
Yea, that must be it. It could be used for lots of things so big business shut it down. If you stop and think about that for awhile, you'll realize how stupid that is. If it were a superior product to what was already on the market, business' would have used it to make them money, not try to make it illegal. We can make rope and shoes and stuff out of just about anything...that doesn't mean that we should.
 
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