My sentiments exactly. And at the risk of being flamed by FReepers (or worse), this "War On Drugs" has gone absolutely nowhere. Accomplished absolutely nothing. Drugs are still as prevelant as they were in the 60's and 70's and perhaps even more so now, since the smugglers and producers and marketers are far more organized now than they ever have been in the past.
Hard drugs aside, there is no point in continuing the prohibition on the production, distribution, and use of Marijuana. I say: legalize it, allow legitimate marketing of it, then TAX the SMITHEREENS out of the distributors of the product!!! Just like is being done with tobacco and alcohol currently, and in some pervese twist, as formerly illegal gambling has now become a cash cow for the States (Lottery, Casinos, ect)
A Modest Proposal, perhaps ... but the current state of affairs ain't working out so well (a WOD 'quagmire'?), so why not just make the stuff legal and then government regulate and tax the s**t out of it!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
There's no "putting hard drugs aside."
I agree wholeheartedly. This is clearly an issue where the lack of facts or real life experience, and emotion rule the day.
If, as you say, the WOD has "gone absolutely nowhere. Accomplished absolutely nothing", then why "hard drugs aside"? Seriously. Why not legalize all drugs?
The truth of the matter is that drug use would go up with legalization. I think you know this. You're simply willing to tolerate an increase in the use of marijuana but not an increase in the use of hard drugs.
That's fine. Just don't say the WOD "isn't working", that's all.
"then TAX the SMITHEREENS out of the distributors of the product!!! Just like is being done with tobacco"
Good point. And what's happening with cigarettes? They're being driven underground because of the high taxes and the government then collects ... zip.
If legalized, I think taxes on marijuana at all levels of government (federal, state, county, city) will add up to be quite high. Actually, I think the potential tax revenue will be how legalization is "sold" to the public (just as state lotteries were sold and riverboat casinos were sold). Besides, do you think parents want cheap marijuana?
Unlike alcohol and tobacco, however, an underground already exists for marijuana. It will be very easy for the black market to reactivate this underground to sell tax-free marijuana.
Currently, 30% of marijuana users are underage. Legalize it (which will be interpreted by teens as society saying that marijuana is OK) and making it cheap could increase that percentage -- maybe to 50%.
Now, with half the marijuana market being underage and illegal, you don't think the gangs will move in to service it?