[The Other Harry]

Are we really spending 'billions of dollars' chasing pot users? I know we're spending 'billions of dollars' trying to criminalise tobacco, FWIW.

I'll say this...

MJ is less harmful than booze.

The MJ that is available in Amsterdam is quite good. I would never have found the hotel room if one of us - which was not me -- had not stayed straight. Everything is a "gedracht", and they all look the same. I'd still be there.

Walking thru the red light district when you are ripped is an experience you will never forget. Surreal. There's no need to engage. Just looking is enough.

[barkeep]

Yes, we are literally spending billions. The feds don't break it down by drug, but the federal share of the drug war was 15 billion last year and that does not include cost of incarceration. As the most popular drug by far, we can assume much of this 15 billion was spent chasing pot.

Why would anyone think legalization would increase use? As far as I can tell, and I really am a barkeep, I hear a lot, any fool who wants the stuff now doesn't have any problem finding it. Seems to be primarily the young and dumb who get caught, I have friends who have smoked for 30 years without a bust, just by being reasonably cautious. Philosophical arguement aside, this a huge waste of tax money.