Mmmm...Cheeseburger...
Speaking of which...somebody wants to feed me...bye!
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.
(((hugz))) for working with children.
Why this obsession with control? Hmmm?
Exactly what is the danger of overdose? Dominos?
Do you agree with Mark Levin that states should have 10th Amendment authority to have medical mj programs? Or, do you personally think the Commerce Clause authorizes fedgov to override it?
I ask again: Which of these guys are not conservatives?
Tom Tancredo
http://www.westword.com/2009-10-29/news/tom-tancredo-wants-to-turn-marijuana-into-the-toke-of-the-town/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDi8UXojlMY
Bob Barr
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-barr/federal-drug-war-rethough_b_125458.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPRPRmr8G4I
Grover Norquist
http://counterpunch.org/gardner01292006.html
Pat Robertson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQi7A5MW2kQ
Thomas Sowell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZbHndilYsI
I know you didn't. I commented on it because it was mentioned in the article and elsewhere on the thread. I should have articulated that.
My God People defend this you must, but speak against it I will.
Not sure what you meant to say here but I got the part that you feel you must speak against legalization. That is fair enough but I was not speaking for or against it. I just can't stand when made up BS is posted as fact on this site. We get more than enough of that from the left.
there is ZERO control of such dosage.
Interesting point. Along the same line, maybe the government should define what is meant by a "bite" of a cheeseburger. Without their guidance, I'm never be able to tell if I've had too much to eat.
12: And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Rev22:2 And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
All you have to do is believe... ;^)
Was MJ made illegal for all those reasons way back when? I could buy into the Booze Industry, but not the others then.
No kidding.........
Mmmm...Cheeseburger...
Speaking of which...somebody wants to feed me...bye!
It's my hope, that in the morning you might read this, and think it was unworthy of you.
Booze makes people more likely to drive faster, take more risks and impairs far more. When mixed with prescriptions, it puts people completely out of their minds and blocks memory completely. Even someone doing their best to overdose on pot (impossible) can never get close to that level of impairment.
By your logic, we should ban driving for people with prescriptions or those that declare they drink.
Not going to happen, but I will give you the satisfaction of having the last word, thread has been very enlightning but waaaay to long.
I do.
So can you.
http://www.thetobaccoseed.com/
http://www.winemakersdepot.com/?gclid=CKnsyaD6gq4CFU6MtgodwQKw4A
I’ll be planting my own grape vines this fall, not to say the kits don’t make good wine.
No interference of any kind.
I saw Roger Waters at MSG in 2000 (lousy show, btw). The entire arena was one massive cloud of pot smoke as soon as the lights went down. And this was after the indoor smoking ban.
Or in constant pain. My friend asks the question. Would you rather me take 30mg Oxycontin X3 or a bowl now or then?
re: “It is beyond belief that there are so many liberals here at FR who want to legalize this.”
I agree. Alcohol is number one in its involvement in fatal auto accidents (not to mention hundreds of thousands maimed/blinded as a result of such accidents), near number one in its contribution to spousal abuse and child abuse, - why? Because of its accessability!
Legalizing pot may affect criminal profits some, but it won’t eliminate it (i.e. black market sale of cigarettes is huge), and worse, the accessability of pot will create an even bigger social problem.
Again, alcohol is the huge problem it is among teenagers because it is everywhere and it’s accessable to them. Yes, they can’t legally enter a store and purchase it, but it’s in the family fridge or in dad’s cooler in the garage.
You think we have drug problems now - we haven’t seen anything yet if it’s legalized. Legalization also removes much of the stigma as well. Some kids/adults won’t use it now simply because it is illegal. With that gone, many will give it a try.
As to eliminating organized crime - is it gone? I don’t think so. They move on to something else make the drug/alcohol/cigs/sex cheaper than buying it legally. In other words, the market is still there.
Legalization is a BAD BAD BAD idea.
My Uncle has emphysema, and he will die from it if something doesn’t get him first. He never smoked a single cigarette. Just pot, every day, since the early 70’s.
I smoked dope for more than ten years myself. Giving it up was the best thing I ever did. The stuff is spiritual poison and it’s horrible for your lungs. Hard to believe anyone would make the case that inhaling any kind of smoke into their lungs isn’t damaging.
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