You know, I had never thought about legalizing as a way to help the economy. Thinking about it does bring about several things that make sense. Perhaps this is an option the government really does need to consider.

So long as the legalization is regulated (just as alcohol is regulated) I see no problem with this, especially if it helps us move past the economic issues we are dealing with!
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Although it would help increase so many jobs, it would cause a lot of problems.

Legalizing marijuana would just encourage other people to protest in legalizing other drugs - saying that it would help with the "financial crisis" -

however I do agree that it would be an excellent way of making jobs, for helping this situation, and there is little difference between marijuana with smoking and alcohol - they both affect your health. Brilliant question and interesting to consider for the future...and it may become legal in a way of encouraging money to help fund the country.

cjd
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Yes. We all know it's out there. Why not bring it out of the dark and treat it just like the rest of the drugs they sell at drug stores? Is marijuana any more harmful than alcohol or cigarettes or synthetic stimulants?
Source(s):
IMHO

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If we've legalized and taxed the hell out of alcohol, gambling and smoking--three things that have destroyed many more lives than marijuana--then I can't see why we wouldn't regulate this vice.

Things to consider:
1. Millions of Americans are abusing prescription drugs, which are much more dangerous.
2. Thousands of people are being killed in drug wars in the United States and Mexico over this.
3. Law enforcement officials are putting their lives at risk trying to fight the war on drugs.
4. The cost of incarcerating and processing minor drug offenders is absurd and wasted.
5. The money from taxing the hell out of marijuana, and other non-deadly drugs, would easily pay for a gap in building a national health care effort.
6. We let people smoke and that kills many more people that marijuana ever could (especially considering people who are taking weed here in Los Angeles are doing it without smoking it now).

It's really a no-brainer on so many levels. My gut tells me that we should let each state come to their own decision about this. If California wants to allow it and Texas doesn't fine--people can choose where to live based on it if it's that important to them.

Same way I feel about speeding. If Utah wants to have 80 MPH and New York wants 55 or 65 that's just fine. Give the states the ability to make a decision on this issue.

In California it's already basically legal. There are dispensaries everywhere and the local newspapers are FILLED with doctors ads to give prescriptions. Clearly people are not taking out newspaper ads unless they have customers (nor would these dispensaries be everywhere).

From what I understand Obama is not going to address this in term one, but might in term two if he gets it.

If you look at other societies that have decriminalized these "lighter" drugs, they seem to have less problems with them.
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I agree. Making it a criminal offense, while leaving tobacco and alcohol legal, doesn't make sense. They cause somewhat similar effects, and you could just treat being high in public like intoxication in public.

It seems like a waste of money to be arresting people for marijuana usage, because legalizing it and taxing it like cigarettes and alcohol would be a huge financial success. Plus, if it were taxed and regulated, it would cause the downfall of many shady dealers.

Even though it's illegal people use it, anyway, and they're not going to stop. The government can either continue spending money on fighting it, or get a piece of the money pie.

I'm sure there'd be an uproar from some people in the religious right, though.
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I'm absolutely 100% in favor of legalization.

Aside from the monetary and legal results (all positive if you ask me), marijuana is a wonderful painkiller for people who need it. It's also used in things from shampoo to textiles to even food!

I've often wondered why we don't legalize it. The taxation of legal marijuana alone could turn the recession around in a few months, not to mention the jobs it would create and also help the American farmer (who is in dire need of assitance in these modern times.)

Everything that people think is bad abut marijuana is simply not true. It's propiganda and is in truth better for you than drinking alcohol. There are so many positive things about it and so many websites to glean real info about it, I'm hoping we'll see it legalized in my lifetime!

PLEASE check out NORML for more info and the truth. Education is the best thing for all of us!!
Source(s):
http://norml.org/

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Absolutely, positively yes! I'd legalize all "soft" drugs. And prostitution too. It only makes sense.
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The only reason I would disagree would be that there will be no way to regulate it. How can the officer pulling over someone know if it has been taxed or grown in the backyard? If it were to become legal, many people would start growing it themselves, and the taxes would be lost.

On the other hand, look at the money we would save in not having to prosecute and jail all the offenders.
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I dunno. My guess would be they wouldn't see nearly the amount of taxes they are expecting for the simple reason that this recession isn't hitting just the government pocket-books, but the people as well. People are in on hard times, and are ingenious when it comes to finding a way to save a buck. Since it doesn't have a "brand-name" I could easily see people growing a little plant or two in their house/backyard. Also, those that are already growing it would be selling it under the table without the taxes. They won't make the profit they do now...but, they also wouldn't face the same risks they do now...probably a fine as opposed to jailtime...

As far as affects on people...it's true that the physical affects are limited, and not dissimilar to those of smoking and alcohol...but the marijuana culture which has arisen will not go away overnight. While yes there are the functional who smoke, there are far more who are not...think half-baked on a wide-spread scale...

Also, it's much harder to detect someone who is high as opposed to someone who is intoxicated. This is going to have serious consequences for both job safety and productivity...

I guess in my own disorganized way of thinking, this is what I'm trying to say. They are going to make some money off of it with taxes, but not as much as they think they are. They need to consider some of the wider consequences to business and regulation before jumping on it. And weed may not be physically dangerous, but there are definate cultural and psychological dangers which can't be ignored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_qD9uZ8kB8
Source(s):
My $0.02 and a misspent childhood

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I favor legalization 100%. It can be very good for the economy and for health care.
I say regulate marijuana and tax it. That way the government can actually earn some money from it rather than wasting money arresting stoners and putting them in prison.
I disagree with what people have said that this will bring on people to want to legalize other drugs. The truth is that Marijuana is safer than alcohol and most prescription drugs. The same cannot be said about deadly substances that should remain illegal such as heroin and cocaine.
And medically, marijuana can provide a relief to cancer patients, glaucoma patients, and those with mood disorders. There needs to be more medical marijuana research. It shows promise for pain and inflammation management as well as mood management. And not only that, but marijuana can be cheaper than medications manufactured by drug companies. So it can help the economy by lowering health costs.
Right now, with the promise that marijuana has shown in medicine, it wouldn't surprise me that some of those lobbying for tougher marijuana laws might be pharmaceutical companies.
For now, it seems the federal government has taken some promising steps toward at least tolerating medical marijuana as the AG has stopped DEA medical marijuana raids. We'll see how it goes.
Source(s):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29433708/
http://drugpolicy.org/homepage.cfm
http://norml.org/index.cfm

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I would also legalize it. It would not solve the recession, but it would contribute in the long run.

I also strongly believe that harder drugs will be more limited on the market, if people can find (and pay heavy taxes for soft drugs) normally.

I knew people who were having only soft drugs, but the dealers always tried to sell them harder drugs. And some people will fall for harder drugs when they are less in control. And that may lead to serious problems.

The Netherlands already profits out of legalizing soft drugs.
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I would support the legalization of marijuana even if it didn't help the financial issues our country is having. The fact that it would have an impact in that area only makes it even better.

Lots of people want to, and are *going to*, smoke marijuana whether it is legalized and regulated or not. There is no reason why we shouldn't be profiting from that use, when more harmful drugs are already legal.
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Having never used illegal drugs, I think Marijuana should be legal, because I think our government should not have that much say in our lives. Is it really their business if I wear a seat belt or listen to an ipod while crossing the street? A government with say over details like the transfat in foods I buy is way too totalitarian (i.e. Everything in the state, nothing outside of the state). Government is to protect human life, not to mother us.
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I think, it's about time America starts talking this way about Marijuana, it was only made illegal less than 100 years ago for very racist and irrational reasons, I think it's about time it gets legalized.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGKeq2HrBxA

I watched an interesting interview on CBC (Canada) about Marijuana and the interviewees made an interesting point the only people who don't want Marijuana legalized these days are the actual criminals themselves who are making money off selling drugs. If the government can step in and oversee the growth the distribution of Marijuana it creates legitimate jobs, it can tax the hell out of it and it can start being honest about Marijuana and it's dangers, the dangers are a mix of tobacco and alcohol, your inhaling smoke and you probably shouldn't drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_x0uItrBJk

So many problems will be solved and so much money will be saved. I remember reading a story once about a man who in the early 80's got caught smoking a joint (the cops found a roach on his property) for some zany reason he got life in prison, he's already gone through a hand full of cellmates including a man who killed his own mother, the man was only in 15 years, yet the pot smoker is still being bars.

Also once, America starts to reform their drug laws it releases the shackles that countries like Mexico and Canada are attached to, most of our drug laws are influenced and even enforced my America. For Canada look up Marc Emery, and for Mexico just look at how the drug lords are taking over using terror.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz10HtQiSk8
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Thanks for the clarification for the "unhelpful" button. Sometimes I get confused and use it as more of a "thumbs up" "thumbs down" button.

Yes I would absolutely support legalizing marijuana. This does not mean I support using it, nor does it mean it's good for you. But should it be ILLEGAL (and should we spend billions of dollars fighting it)?? No.

Alcohol is worse for you (remember we tried prohibiting that, and it didn't work-and making marijuana illegal isn't working either).

An interesting fact. Marijuana (all "hemp" actually) was made as an excuse to deport Mexicans, who were the main users, from Southern states. Many of the legislators who voted for it didn't realize this would stop hemp from being used to make papers-which is much better for the environment than trees.
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Mendocino County in California has a marijuana-based economy. Despite periodic raids on and arrests of the biggest offenders, the economy and lifestyle thrives. However, the county is plagued by gun crime and fires related to Mendocino's backyard and indoor pot farms.

I believe that marijuana should be legalized for medical and recreational purposes. However, illegal marijuana already contributes a great deal to the economy via shipping, facility construction, etc. Legal marijuana would affect the supply-demand balance of covert operation. So while legalizing it would increase the number of people farming, selling and being taxed, as well limit outsourcing, the cost of production and therefore the sales price would decrease. And in light of the increased crime and fire outbreaks in Mendocino, legalized pot would actually increase the financial burden of responding to these these incidents. So as for supporting legalized marijuana for economic purposes, I say nay.
Source(s):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28354324/
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/23/18572738.php

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No. At least not for that reason. Deciding whether a drug should be legal or not should not be based on whether we need the tax money.

On a broader front, I can see that legalizing it could be a good thing, because our criminal laws don't seem to be a good way to deal with the problems of addiction, use, and accompanying crime. But personally, I would hope that we have very strong laws to prevent people from smoking it openly on the street. Second-hand smoke from cigarettes is bad enough, but second-hand smoke from a mind-altering drug is intrusive and dangerous. Also, it excludes people who don't want to be part of the pot-smoking from the particular area in which it's being smoked.

I don't want to seem too negative. I'm open to the argument that dealing with the problems associated with marijuana use would be easier in a legal regime where it isn't criminal. Also, the argument that the trade has created a whole criminal economic structure. But the argument that "we can make some tax money" should not be the basis of such an important decision.
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One thing I know for sure - having an opinion on this matter can sure get you off jury duty quickly.

I was called in to fulfill my civic duty recently and I was pretty excited about it actually because I believe in a jury of your peers. Unfortunately, it was a case where the cops busted a guy who had been doing a little farming in his attic. When they were selecting the jurors they asked if anyone on the panel had an opinion on medical marijuana and I threw my hand up in the air thinking that Everyone had an opinion on the subject. I looked around and saw 35 blank stares and no other hands in the air.

I was a little bit surprised and alot dismissed.

thanks for the references - I'll check them out so I can become even more opinionated.
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No.

And I am very disappointed and saddened that the rest of you are in favor of such A large decision and so quickly.

The fact of the matter is that everything of this earth has a purpose.

Including (And as much as I hate to admit it) the rational thought and talent of our law enforcement and law makers.
(Yes not all of them are swine)

To put this in perspective lets take a look at why marijuana was classified and banned as a drug in the first place.

Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug on the basis that is has "a high potential for abuse and therefor classified as a controlled substance.

What's this all mean ?

Simple, It's addictive, Its a hallucinogenic addictive drug.

While I'm sure the powers that be didn't intend for it to be that way, It's a substance built for abuse.

Now with any regulated substance you have trafficking, you have organized crime, and you have corruption.

What we need is reform.

Not another shortcut to get us out of this recession.

_

Personal Note: I've grown to lazy to leave another personal note.
Source(s):
My Brain.

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Honestly, I've always been one to think that if you tell people (especially teenagers) not to do something, they'll want to do it more. All of a sudden it has that COOL factor of being illegal, and the risk factor of having to hide so you don't get caught. It adds this whole mystery to it.

This website shows a comparison of some drug facts between the Netherlands and the USA: http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/67 . So, take away that illegal COOL factor and at first people will go crazy with it... but then once it no longer has that mystery, people will either stick to it for other reasons, or move onto something cooler. And at least, as you say, the economy will benefit from it in the process.
Source(s):
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/67

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I have been in favor of legalization ever since the government report came out in the Nixon era that debunked the myths and rational for criminalizing it. The report was ignored, of course. Since then the government has sponsored countless studies trying to find something bad about it, and the results have been pitiful. It's just safer than so many other drugs, even over the counter ones.
I really don't think it would solve the financial crisis though. Still, every penny counts. A billion here and a billion there, as someone said. It could be taxed for quite a fair sum I'm sure, There would be big savings in the criminal justice system, especially the courts and jails. It would cut out a big prop from the violent organized crime gangs which cost a fortune to fight. On the other hand, you would have to spend some more money on health care (unless the fashion of smoking it could be changed - it's clearly bad for your lungs) and perhaps psychological care (but that could probably be prevented by regulating the strength of legal cannabis).
Source(s):
http://www.ccguide.org.uk/proven.php
http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/Library/studies/nc/ncmenu.htm

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