Cannabis News: Post: Vincent J. Lavery: No One Has Ever Died From Smoking Marijuana: Marijuana Prohibition Makes as Much Sense as Alcohol Prohibition
This post was originally posted at FRS FreeState on WordPress, May, 2011
The idea that we lock people away in prison for several years for smoking, growing or selling pot, when we have overcrowded prisons with two-million people locked up in prison and many of these offenders being non-violent, when we don’t lock up people for drinking, possessing or selling alcohol or smoking tobacco, which are just as dangerous drugs if not more so, but for some reason aren’t considered narcotics, is more dangerous than illegal narcotics itself.
Alcohol and tobacco are both very addicting and can cause of serious diseases, including addiction. But also heart disease, liver disease, lung cancer, diabetes and others. Plus the problems alcohol and tobacco bring to the society. With our economy with people being less productive because they are sick from drinking too much. Or have clothes that smell like nicotine.
And so many other issues facing this country, with multiple economic problems, seems very ironic to me, it tells me the reason for marijuana prohibition is about politics and ideology rather than policy. That politicians can’t come out on favor of marijuana legalization because they are worried about looking “soft on crime”. And if we legalize marijuana, "that could lead to other drugs". Really? see that actually that happens with alcohol and tobacco. Again both legal.
If we legalized with regulation and taxation of marijuana and treat it like alcohol, what happens, less people going to jail and prison who didn’t hurt anyone. Which saves us a lot of jail and prison space. Money that could be spent on other priorities. We now spend more on our corrections system than our education system. More tax revenue would be collected because of the sales tax on marijuana. More well-paid jobs would be created, producing, growing and selling marijuana.
With these workers paying taxes off of their income. Instead of making all of their money on the black market not paying taxes, unlike people working in the alcohol and tobacco industry’s. We would save money on law enforcement because instead of going after people for marijuana activities, they could spend their time and resources on actually going after dangerous criminals. Who are actual threats to society.
With these workers paying taxes off of their income. Instead of making all of their money on the black market not paying taxes, unlike people working in the alcohol and tobacco industry’s. We would save money on law enforcement because instead of going after people for marijuana activities, they could spend their time and resources on actually going after dangerous criminals. Who are actual threats to society.
I’m not arguing that we legalize marijuana today and let the chips fall where they may. What I’m saying is that we treat like alcohol. And give the marijuana industry no special advantage over the alcohol or tobacco industry. 21 or over to smoke, sell or produce marijuana. Licensed to sell or produce marijuana. No driving or flying or operating any vehicle under the influence of marijuana etc.
A significant tax on marijuana, because we are not talking about spring water here. Marijuana does have negative side-affects. This would be a much better approach than prohibition. Just look at alcohol prohibition of the 1920s and 30s, that didn’t work either. Because if people want to do something bad enough, they’ll find a way to do it and the hell with the consequences. If you're a true believer in limited government and a true disbeliever in big government, then your for legalization with regulation and taxation of marijuana. Because support letting people live their own lives, as long as they are not hurting anyone else with their freedom protect everyone's freedom.
A significant tax on marijuana, because we are not talking about spring water here. Marijuana does have negative side-affects. This would be a much better approach than prohibition. Just look at alcohol prohibition of the 1920s and 30s, that didn’t work either. Because if people want to do something bad enough, they’ll find a way to do it and the hell with the consequences. If you're a true believer in limited government and a true disbeliever in big government, then your for legalization with regulation and taxation of marijuana. Because support letting people live their own lives, as long as they are not hurting anyone else with their freedom protect everyone's freedom.
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