A Smarter Way to Deal with Pot Than Arresting 20 Million People

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Let the cig companies switch to growing pot. It probably costs near nothing to grow an acre of pot. The government could tax the heck out of it and we would be out of debt in about six weeks

It certainly would create a new economy.

[IAMX 3,055]

Effecitively, taxes would be cheaper SRVT. You are paying via your taxes to have 20 million people processed through the law. Paying a sales tax on good dope would be a vastly more cost effective way to go.

That's great if you're the only one paying for it, but you're overlooking one big thing -- pot smokers are very generous. Cigarette smokers aren't as much.

Oh, really? 20+ million dope heads use and pay nothing at all? Clearly you have been smoking a little too much there SRVT

Most people who smoke don't just go to the streets and buy it. They know someone who grows it in their own house and buys it from them, and generally not at an expensive price at all. Hell, the people who brought over the stash they did during the Halloween party had very good deals, and it was from people across the street from them. Since, unlike cigarettes, and most akin to alcohol, pot is mostly a social drug, more people share, so you end up paying less overall.

Anyways, it can be legalized, it can not be. Increasing numbers of people are smoking pot and will continue to regardless of whether or not it's legal. Just like speeding.

Unlike cigarettes, pot is very easy to grow individually, and is obviously cleaner, without your typical rat poison sh*t put in it to keep people reliant upon it. If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal. It's very well known there's nothing wrong with smoking pot at home or at a party. It's no different than drinking alcohol. It has beneficial uses, and it also has risks. The only problem associated with it in terms of society is people driving while high.

Edited November 17, 2008 by SRVT

[mawilson 2,133]

So having 20 million Americans in jail isn't enough to persuade you?

Arrested, Steven. Not in jail.

[IAMX 3,055]

So having 20 million Americans in jail isn't enough to persuade you?

Arrested, Steven. Not in jail.

Smoking pot is a capital offense.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

...Unlike cigarettes, pot is very easy to grow individually, and is obviously cleaner, without your typical rat poison sh*t put in it to keep people reliant upon it. If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal. It's very well known there's nothing wrong with smoking pot at home or at a party. It's no different than drinking alcohol. It has beneficial uses, and it also has risks. The only problem associated with it in terms of society is people driving while high.

Not entirely true, as there is (just as with tobacco) secondary exposure.

(lots of chemical nasties in tobacco smoke; also some others unique to charas smoke, though this is probably trade-off for some nasties unique to tobacco)

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Effecitively, taxes would be cheaper SRVT. You are paying via your taxes to have 20 million people processed through the law. Paying a sales tax on good dope would be a vastly more cost effective way to go.

That's great if you're the only one paying for it, but you're overlooking one big thing -- pot smokers are very generous. Cigarette smokers aren't as much.

Oh, really? 20+ million dope heads use and pay nothing at all? Clearly you have been smoking a little too much there SRVT

Most people who smoke don't just go to the streets and buy it. They know someone who grows it in their own house and buys it from them, and generally not at an expensive price at all.

Good grief, Steven....it's one thing to form an opinion based on anecdotal evidence but to lay claim that that represents the facts is incredulous. You and Boo-yah! (Afficianado) are not that different from each other in that respect.

[SteveLaura 0]

If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal.

It is also possible to make your own beer at home, but people still buy it. Although certainly there will be many who will grow their own, I think you'll find that, like most things, marketing would work wonders for the commercial pot industry.

[IAMX 3,055]

Effecitively, taxes would be cheaper SRVT. You are paying via your taxes to have 20 million people processed through the law. Paying a sales tax on good dope would be a vastly more cost effective way to go.

That's great if you're the only one paying for it, but you're overlooking one big thing -- pot smokers are very generous. Cigarette smokers aren't as much.

Oh, really? 20+ million dope heads use and pay nothing at all? Clearly you have been smoking a little too much there SRVT

Most people who smoke don't just go to the streets and buy it. They know someone who grows it in their own house and buys it from them, and generally not at an expensive price at all.

Good grief, Steven....it's one thing to form an opinion based on anecdotal evidence but to lay claim that that represents the facts is incredulous. You and Boo-yah! (Afficianado) are not that different from each other in that respect.

Well, if pot is legalized, people grow it in their back yards. More room than in the house, without worry about police helicopters flying over spotting it. You really think pot smokers are all going to gleefully flock to a convenient-store-type environment when they don't have to?

Do you need statistics to tell you WHY pot isn't legal?

If you want to fool yourself, that's fine with me. Being someone who actually is around an environment with pot smokers, and them being everywhere in the Bay Area, I have all the "anecdotal evidence" I need, which is, to say, EMPIRICAL.

[HAL 9000 96]

Effecitively, taxes would be cheaper SRVT. You are paying via your taxes to have 20 million people processed through the law. Paying a sales tax on good dope would be a vastly more cost effective way to go.

That's great if you're the only one paying for it, but you're overlooking one big thing -- pot smokers are very generous. Cigarette smokers aren't as much.

Because there is no THC in cigarettes... yet.

[rocks 494]

If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal.

It is also possible to make your own beer at home, but people still buy it. Although certainly there will be many who will grow their own, I think you'll find that, like most things, marketing would work wonders for the commercial pot industry.

it is also possible to grow fruit/veggies in your backyard but most people choose not to.

[IAMX 3,055]

If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal.

It is also possible to make your own beer at home, but people still buy it. Although certainly there will be many who will grow their own, I think you'll find that, like most things, marketing would work wonders for the commercial pot industry.

True to an extent, and no doubt some small portion would buy it, but the type of effort needed over the span of growing a cannabis plant versus brewing a beer is a bit different. Not to mention perceptions of being taxed for something you can easily grow at home. If you consider all of the plants people have inside and out of their houses, or their gardens, and how efficient people are at watering those (some automatically), or pruning, it's very easy to see how most would just grow it from home and say screw buying it and getting taxed on it.

[HAL 9000 96]

I think the argument missed by some is that the decriminalization and the increased tax revenue aspects alone would create quite a windfall surplus to cover other areas to increase funding of more critical areas of law enforcement, social upkeep, etc.

[IAMX 3,055]

I think the argument missed by some is that the decriminalization and the increased tax revenue aspects alone would create quite a windfall surplus to cover other areas to increase funding of more critical areas of law enforcement, social upkeep, etc.

Also would create more police to counter the (obvious) increased amounts of hotboxing legalization would establish.

I think the problem "Steven" has with my posts is I don't take a tough stance on the issue. I'm not FOR legalization, nor AGAINST it. It's very easy to religiously argue a stance when you're that convinced.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I think the argument missed by some is that the decriminalization and the increased tax revenue aspects alone would create quite a windfall surplus to cover other areas to increase funding of more critical areas of law enforcement, social upkeep, etc.

Spot on, HAL.

[SteveLaura 0]

If the government were to legalize it, it would be grown everywhere, especially houses, where it already is. Almost no one would bother buying it from the store, and the government would not be able to regulate people growing it, as most would grow it to smoke it themselves, or give to their friends, not to sell it. Because of this, the government is aware it cannot regulate it, instead, just makes it illegal.

It is also possible to make your own beer at home, but people still buy it. Although certainly there will be many who will grow their own, I think you'll find that, like most things, marketing would work wonders for the commercial pot industry.

True to an extent, and no doubt some small portion would buy it, but the type of effort needed over the span of growing a cannabis plant versus brewing a beer is a bit different. Not to mention perceptions of being taxed for something you can easily grow at home. If you consider all of the plants people have inside and out of their houses, or their gardens, and how efficient people are at watering those (some automatically), or pruning, it's very easy to see how most would just grow it from home and say screw buying it and getting taxed on it.

All good points, but, like Rocks said, people still prefer the ease of buying the majority of their veg from a store rather than cultivating it in their own garden. The commercialised pot industry would work in the same way - "We do the 'hard' work for you. We'll put pot vending machines in bars for when you run out. We'll make you look cool for buying our brand rather than smoking that wimpy home-grown hippy stuff you got off your roommate.." etc.