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Marijuana Myths
TheCollegeConservative ^ | 02/03/2012 | Alan Groves

Posted on 02/03/2012 10:57:07 AM PST by gabriellah

In 2011, Gallup reported that 62% of 18-29 year olds and 50% of the general public supports the legalization of marijuana; 69% of liberals and even 34% of conservatives also support such measures. Obviously the pro-pot movement has taken root in the American populace and especially in the minds of Millennials (even managing to infiltrate the minds of the most conservative among us).

Myth #1: Legalization Would bring in Enormous Tax Revenues

The Heritage Foundation’s Charles Stimson published an extensive legal memorandum urging for the failure of the RCTC Act of 2010, which would have legalized pot in California. This memorandum debunks the myth that legalization would eliminate the black market for marijuana and would bring in enormous revenue, therefore stimulating the economy.

Dr. Rosalie Pacula, a drug policy expert at the RAND Corporation for over 15 years, testified that under the California law: “There would be tremendous profit motive for the existing black market providers to stay in the market. The only way California could effectively eliminate the black market for marijuana is to take away the substantial profits in the market and allow the price of marijuana to fall to an amount close to the cost of production. Doing so, however, will mean substantially smaller tax revenue”(Stimson 9).

In other words, simple economics expose the assumption that drug dealers would voluntarily enter the legal market, when the cost of production is virtually zero. In fact, it was calculated that “an individual will be able to produce 24,000 to 240,000 joints legally each year” (Stimson 9). This is more than any individual could possibly consume, and it is encouraging individuals to sell pot on the side, subverting taxation. Why would anyone buy marijuana legally when they would have to pay a higher price for it? It would be a much higher price considering California proposed a $50/ounce tax on top of the list price. Why would drug dealers leave the black market when they don’t have to?

Fiscal conservatives should not be lured into such intellectual inconsistency. We are not going to solve the budget crises and pay off our $15 trillion debt with whatever change is left from a feeble government attempt to tax the un-taxable.

Myth #2: Marijuana is a Victimless Drug

Marijuana has a history of being linked to crime in the United States and throughout the world. “60% of arrestees test positive for marijuana use in the United States, England, and Australia” (Stimson 6). And while many pro-legalization advocates argue that most of these marijuana users are people arrested for non-violent crimes, they fail to note that marijuana usage is strongly correlated with cocaine and other more serious drugs, as well as murder, assault, money laundering, and smuggling (Stimson 5-6). Surely, legalization advocates do not believe that all marijuana users are little angels?

In fact, in Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most violent cities, pot is legal and a prevalent aspect of society (Stimson 6). Heritage reports that “Officials are in the process of closing marijuana dispensaries, or ‘coffee shops,’ because of the crime associated with their operation” (Stimson 6).

California’s partial legalization via usage of “medical marijuana” is beginning to show the same effects. LAPD reports that areas surrounding cannabis clubs have seen a 200% increase in robberies and a 130.8% increase in aggravated assault (Stimson 6). A drug that increases crime doesn’t exactly qualify as “victimless.”

In addition to this, local communities where neighborhoods and residential housing are dominant will be adversely affected. Residents who live in areas with extensive marijuana usage have repeatedly complained about the incredible smell put off by the plants. Even worse than the smell though, is the growing crime rate in residential areas which is induced by theft of marijuana from yards where it is grown (Stimson 6).

It may be ideologically convenient for some to oversimplify the issue as a violation against individual liberty, but when all the facts are presented, it is obvious that the only liberty being violated is the blatant disregard for property rights, law, and order.

Myth #3: Marijuana = Alcohol

Legalization advocates link marijuana and alcohol as equally mild intoxicants, suggesting that they deserve equal treatment under the law. However, as the above research suggests, marijuana is more dangerous to the health and safety of society.

For better or for worse, alcohol as been part of human history for millennia. Typically, individuals responsibly self-monitor their consumption thereof. Alcohol has also been regulated by cultural norms rather than by government. Society, culture, and religion have proven to be the best regulators of alcoholic consumption. The same cannot be said of marijuana – as seen in the information presented earlier.

In addition to its lack of historical precedent in America’s historical experience, marijuana also has much more severe health effects than alcohol. 1) marijuana is far more likely than alcohol to be cause addiction, 2) it is usually consumed to the point of intoxication, 3) it has no known intrinsically healthful properties (it can only relieve pain –and artificially at that), 4) it has toxins that can result in birth defects, pain, respiratory damage, brain damage, and stroke, 5) it increases heart rate by 20% to 100% elevating the risk of heart attack (Stimson 4).

In relation to history, economics, and health, marijuana is nothing like alcohol.

Conclusion: Conservatives should not be afraid to combat the growing sentiment that supports the legalization of marijuana. Economics, historical precedent, and conservative principles are all on our side. It is up to unashamed, unapologetic young conservatives to articulate that message and continue to stand for ordered liberty.


TOPICS: Government; Health/Medicine; Politics
KEYWORDS: anslingersghost; drugs; drugwarnazis; jackbootedthugs; marijuana; reefermadness; wod; wodlist; wosd
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To: Osage Orange
Easily. Give me evidence of ONE death due solely to consumption of cannabis. Or better yet, let's have an ER nurse join the thread, and ask her how many deaths she's seen from alcohol or tobacco consumption...provable causes of death. Ask her if she remembers ONE instance of death due to consuming pot.

I'll be here all week.

Marijuana laws are welfare for law enforcement.

101 posted on 02/03/2012 12:13:33 PM PST by AnTiw1 (I lived through a mormon hell, I will not live in a country with a mormon president.)
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To: rottndog
Under the guise of 'a penny saved is a penny earned', governments at all levels would be far ahead money wise by not spending hundreds BILLIONS of dollars on the failed WOD in the first place.

As you know, you're giving Government far too much credit.

102 posted on 02/03/2012 12:14:56 PM PST by gdani
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To: Responsibility2nd
The main point of legalizing dope is to tax it and increase the size of government.

And the WOD has DECREASED the size of government???

Legalization would REDUCE the size of government.
103 posted on 02/03/2012 12:15:02 PM PST by rottndog (Be Prepared for what's coming AFTER America....)
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To: JustSayNoToNannies

No evidence there that crimes have been created rather than simply relocated. Do you even understand the difference?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No, I really don’t.

Explain to me how there is a difference in crime that was created because of LEGAL marijuana and crime that was relocated because of ILLEGAL marijuana.

Crime is crime. And if pot was legal - there would be more of it.


104 posted on 02/03/2012 12:15:23 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This mean Liberals and/or Libertarians (Same Thing) NO LIBS.))
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To: svcw

Google Marinol.

The legal version exists, and is available.


105 posted on 02/03/2012 12:16:57 PM PST by dangerdoc (see post #6)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Really? Can you grow your own tobacco? Can you distill your own booze?

Not without a ton of gubmint interference, you can’t.

Both are perfectly legal for personal consumption as is beer and wine making. Only if I decide to start selling it does the government claim to have any say over it.

106 posted on 02/03/2012 12:17:48 PM PST by Gabz (Democrats for Voldemort.)
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To: rottndog
Legalization would REDUCE the size of government.
 
 
Still wrong. Did legalization of alcohol reduce the size of government?

107 posted on 02/03/2012 12:19:32 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This mean Liberals and/or Libertarians (Same Thing) NO LIBS.))
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To: Responsibility2nd
It’s not a lie.

Yes it is - here are the facts again: according to research cited by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, of all those who ever used marijuana, 9% have at some point been addicted to it - whereas the corresponding figure for alcohol is 15%.

Did you read that Heritage Foundation report?

That's how I found that lie of theirs.

108 posted on 02/03/2012 12:19:32 PM PST by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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To: gabriellah

Weak, very weak. There are stronger cases that could be made, the author chooses not to use them. No one says alcohol and mj are equally mild. They say that relative to mj, etoh is a horrifyingly dangerous product that results in the destruction of families, properties,and lives every day.


109 posted on 02/03/2012 12:20:12 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr. Gingrich)
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To: JustSayNoToNannies
I work with the Children of all abusers. Alcohol, Drugs, Prescription, and street. Try and explain to them its okay for all the users and abusers to control their intake and not affect others.
110 posted on 02/03/2012 12:20:32 PM PST by easternsky
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To: Responsibility2nd
No evidence there that crimes have been created rather than simply relocated. Do you even understand the difference?

No, I really don’t.

OK, pay close attention: if last year there were 50 crimes in area A and 550 in area B, while this year there were 70 in A and 530 in B, crime has simply been relocated from B to A, not created since there were 600 crimes each year.

111 posted on 02/03/2012 12:23:46 PM PST by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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To: JustSayNoToNannies

simple solution, if you use “medical” pot then you are prohibited from driving. period. no drivers license until 30 days after the “treatment stops” and six months of automatic monthly drug testing the “patient” pays for consisting of 8 random tests with 8 hours notice.


112 posted on 02/03/2012 12:24:01 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: AnTiw1

I do not post very often for reasons just like this. Do I like to use a wrong word, of couse not but if thats all you can find wrong with my post keep it to yourself.


113 posted on 02/03/2012 12:25:19 PM PST by easternsky
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To: easternsky
That's easily explained: the ones with unscrambled brains are able to hid their use.

I work with the Children of all abusers. Alcohol, Drugs, Prescription, and street. Try and explain to them its okay for all the users and abusers to control their intake and not affect others.

Should we protect the children of alcohol abusers by banning alcohol?

114 posted on 02/03/2012 12:26:23 PM PST by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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To: Responsibility2nd
Did legalization of alcohol reduce the size of government?

Inasmuch as all the tax money that was required to enforce prohibition and combat the crime it caused was then diverted to more appropriate and productive uses, or not spent at all, yes.
115 posted on 02/03/2012 12:27:29 PM PST by rottndog (Be Prepared for what's coming AFTER America....)
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To: longtermmemmory
People die now due to someone drunk and driving. Is that sufficient reason to ban alcohol?

simple solution, if you use “medical” pot then you are prohibited from driving. period. no drivers license until 30 days after the “treatment stops” and six months of automatic monthly drug testing the “patient” pays for consisting of 8 random tests with 8 hours notice.

Same rule for alcohol - or prescription painkillers?

116 posted on 02/03/2012 12:28:06 PM PST by JustSayNoToNannies (A free society's default policy: it's none of government's business.)
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To: wideawake

Prohibition CREATED the mob. THAT genie wasn’t ever going to be put back in the bottle.


117 posted on 02/03/2012 12:28:24 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr. Gingrich)
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To: gabriellah

Alcohol kills tens of thousands a year in just auto crashes alone. How many are due to pot use?

This dismissive attitude towards alcohol simply because it is a part of society is silly. Pot was part of society, too, until big business didn’t like it as a competitor.


118 posted on 02/03/2012 12:29:23 PM PST by CodeToad (NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!)
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To: longtermmemmory
A friend who had been prescribed the pill form of THC during chemo for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma said the pills (then only 4 per day at $5.00 per pill) did not work as well as the plant as an antinauseant. Back then (mid-'80s), he could also get the plant cheaper. Cheaper and better were reasons enough for him to risk getting in trouble, partly because he could not work. IIRC there are other substances in the unadulterated plant which are not in the pill.

Speaking of unadulterated, how much of the crime is due to pot that has been laced with 'angel dust' (PCP) or other chemicals?

The LEOs I know said that was more of a problem insofar as violent crime went because all the people smoking homegrown were pretty mellow, even when they got busted.

119 posted on 02/03/2012 12:30:22 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
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To: JustSayNoToNannies

The Children say YES


120 posted on 02/03/2012 12:31:54 PM PST by easternsky
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