Don't buy the hype on pot legalization

CNN ^ | 10.19.2010 | Jeffrey A. Miron

[wolfcreek]

On November 2, California will vote on Proposition 19, a measure to legalize marijuana. Advocates believe Prop 19 will generate a major budgetary windfall and unleash an economic boom in marijuana-related industries while reducing crime, corruption and Mexican drug violence.

Prop 19 opponents fear it will increase marijuana and other drug use via the gateway effect and spur the alleged negatives of use, such as crime or diminished health.

Most claims on both sides are exaggerated or misleading. Legalizing marijuana is the right policy for California and the nation. But in considering Prop 19, everyone should start with a balanced assessment of its likely impact.

[wolfcreek]

Just sayin

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The hype we should consider is that if this passes it will be Federal Hippies vs. State Hippies.

Time to make some popcorn, grab an ice cold Coke, sit back and watch the fun!

[curiosity]

Great article, as usual, from Dr. Miron.

[cripplecreek]

I smoked pot for 20 years and I can spot the bullcrap a mile away.

[curiosity]

Yes, it will amusing to watch Obama crack down on a large segment of his base, even though on this issue (and it's the only one), I actually agree with his base.

[yesca]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw

[RobRoy]

I smoked the stuff in the early 70’s off and on for about four years. I never “gatewayed” (HA, I verbed a noun) to anything harder and stopped cold turkey. I haven’t touched it since.

I think it should be legalized as alcohol was. I see it as a liberty issue, pure and simple. We claim to live in a free country, but laws against possessing things that can actually grow naturally are beyond stupid - at least when limiting adults.

I never heard of a marijuana problem in the 19th century, wehn it was actually legal.

[forgotten man]

How much tax would there be on an ounce of pot if Proposition 19 passes? The tax amount is not mentioned in the article. If the tax is too high the illegal growers will continue underground. If the tax is about right, people will pay it. The “Medical” marijuana outlets are raided on a selective basis. I suspect that the pot shops that pay thier sales taxes get raided last.

[wolfcreek]

Care to add to that statement?

[battlecry]

I’m convinced it is not a tax issue as much as a placeholder in the ballot to improve democrat turnout in two weeks.

[stuartcr]

Right, like we would be able to get anything balanced on this issue. It would be great though.

[stuartcr]

Then you must know all the fear is bull.

[wolfcreek]

I’ve read the current average price per oz. is around $395 X 8.25 percent sales tax = $32.59 (I have no idea what the tax in California would be)

[SeeSharp]

The problem with the tax is not the money. It's the measures that the state will implement in order to insure they get paid. Those measures will drive all the small producers out of business and will destroy any semblance of privacy in the industry.

How many small cigarette companies do you know of?

[yesca]

"I never heard of a marijuana problem in the 19th century, wehn it was actually legal".

Now where getting somewhere, I love "thinking man" statements like that, even wehn spelt rong.

Btw- if you don't smoke it but rather eat the high quality oil or apply it topically to skin cancers, etc., healing happens, easy, peasy, japaneasy.

This is one way so many w/o health insurance are staying quite chipper.

All hail, the underground health movement, hip, hip, horaaa!(owwww, my hip)

[Maverick68]

According to many pro-legalization advocates, if this Bill passes, it should be the end of MOST criminal activity in California, no?
I mean, gang activity (which is bankrolled through drug deals) should cease overnite and California will FINALLY be the Utopia it has always promised......

[halfright]

$395 an Oz?? What kind of THC content are we talking? I haven’t bought it in years. Was $40 when I was growing up. For $395 it better come with a girl.

[Captain PJ]

“I see it as a liberty issue, pure and simple. We claim to live in a free country, but laws against possessing things that can actually grow naturally are beyond stupid - at least when limiting adults.”

Well said. There is no perfect society. Some people will choose self destruction, but it is their choice to make.

[Responsibility2nd]

I did not click the link. I scanned the excerpt.

All I need to know about the author: “Legalizing marijuana is the right policy for California and the nation.”

_________________________________________

Dismissed.

[adamjefferson]

If it becomes legal, anyone with a small garden plot or a sunny balcony will be able to produce way more than can be personally used. The stuff grows like a weed, hence its nickname! I think this should be a states rights issue.. and I’m willing to see what happens when a few states start allowing their citizens the right to ingest this particular plant. The feds may want to bust some people, but my guess they will have to focus on the people with ties to other criminal activity.