Think legalizing marijuana will make America more free? Not quite, as proposals before state legislatures aim to double the price of marijuana through onerous taxes, create a bud bureaucracy, burden dealers and growers with paperwork and exorbitant licensing fees, and threaten unlicensed dealers with excessive jail time. Read my article at TakiMag that points out that decriminalization, that happy limbo where stoners need fear neither lawmen nor taxmen, is the best that marijuana enthusiasts can realistically hope for.

I spent a month in Sweden in the early 80’s visiting a friend and was surprised at how many people produced and sold their own high quality hooch.

The reason for the product, I was told, was that the government had taxed, feed or otherwise outlawed the sales of many of the alcoholic luxuries that the Swedes no so exclusively loved.

Having to already operate outside of the law, it’s not a stretch to think that pot entrepreneurs are just fine and dandy doing business in an environment where more profits through less government regulation and theft outweigh the risks.

The linked article was a great read and, as usual, unusually thinking of pot legalization outside of the box.

“The state’s tax collectors estimate the bill would bring in about $1.3 billion a year in much needed revenue”.

That’s funny. Because California currently spends $9 billion a year on supporting their illegal underclass. But that somehow must work using liberal math and related economic constructs.

The only thing that will rescue California’s economy will be to refuse free schooling, medical care and jobs to illegal aliens. Shutting down the borders would help as well.

I will never understand this obsession with pot. Never have so many,spent so much time on something so stupid. I'm not refering specifically to your article, but rather the whole issue in general.

Putting aside whether it is harmful or not, I'll never be convinced it's not addictive when so many people will and have risked jail time and large fines to get it. People can't be bothered to march in some type of poltical protest but make it about legalizing pot they'll come out of the woodwork. On top of that they hide behind the whole "medical use" excuse when all they want to do is get wasted.

I'm sorry but I find this whole thing moronic.

This is interesting....

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/05/05/the_cias_fight_with_obama_96333.html

I agree with you on this. Smoke - don't smoke. Sell - buy. Who gives a fat rat's a$$!

But, per this post, it's clear that there are bigger political, social and financial considerations to pot use and exploitation.

Like any vice: there is power in the bud!

Capital markets are unstable. In the past there was no way to make them stable. But today we have computer power that can be used to make them stable.

By using the greater computer power of today we can have a much higher turn over of capital in the capital market. This higher turnover will make the market harder to game or control and the market will no longer have the unstable run ups or declines. Who can change or control the market when say 20% of the capital is trading each day?

So now that we have the compute power to provide for all these transactions that will smooth out the market how do we force people to turn over at a rate of 20% a day? Easy, put a cap gains tax of 0% (zero) on all gains of 7 days or less and put a cap gains tax of 90% of all gains of more than 7 days.

The likes of Yahoo, Micosoft and/or Sun Micro Systems will give us the systems that will provide automated software agents to support turning over one's investments every 7 days (based on the specs you give the agent).

A system like this will make the financial markets work as smoothly as the local fruit market.

Legalizing, or de-criminalizing, marijuana would release law enforcement from the grief of prosecuting so many people for what is deemed a trivial pursuit. I wonder though if employers will treat this in the same manner and if this habit would be viewed as alcohol? The idea de-criminalizing it would create a taxable commodity for the government is specious. Growing M in your yard would be easier and less dangerous than building and running a still. While I am not a user and do not care much, my concern would be about tension created by the neighbor growing weed with his tomatoes only to have it picked by the neighbors kids. Would certain liability issues present themselves in such a case? Given popular prevailing attitudes and that we have a president who is a professed smoker and coke head, this is an eventuality in short order.

I am not ashamed to admit that under doctors orders I have used marijuana twice in the last three years. They (two doctors) informed me that they could get me a prescription, but it was much less of a hassle to get it from someone I trusted.

While I could take medications that would fight my pain, nausea, lack of appetite and weight loss, we all know that ALL medications have side effects. I always choose to make informed choices before taking ANY medication. As far as addiction goes, I assure you that the Lorcet and Percocet they throw at me are much more addictive. Phenergan for nausea, used in high quantities causes a syndrome which makes the user appear to be like a cow chewing its cud. Anyone remember Vioxx? Need I go on?

I could go on, but I am getting tired of my government protecting me from myself. I realize that many do not make their own informed decisions, but the rest of us should not suffer for it.

For the record, I did not enjoy pot. Losing track of time and control of bodily functions is not my idea of a rocking good time. However it was nice to experience a rare event...hunger.

That being said, I would love to be able to legally grow a plant or two for myself for the bad days.

be well,

Sponge

One Grateful Dead fan to another when the grass ran out....."Hey man, this music $uck$!"

Sponge

The OVERWHELMING majority of pot smokers don't smoke it for medicinal reasons. If making it avaliable for medical use was the only issue I wouldn't have a problem, no more than any other prescription drug. But the fact is people just want to get wasted and they hold someone like you up as an example like they really give a dam about your situation, when all they really want to do is get high.

I can't comprehend why people will risk so much just to get wasted. It'd be like me risking a jail sentence and a large fine for a pizza. Stupid.

If you don't want the government protecting you from yourself then why have any drugs illegal? Why require prescriptions for any drugs at all? Why have the government test and certify any drug as safe? Some prescription drugs are addictive or whose side effects can cause greater damage? So what? The government shouldn't be protecting you from any drug you want to take right?

Opus, I see your points. And I appreciate the fact that many would use people like myself as their martyr.

Like you, I do not understand even the desire to get high...any more than I understand the desire to get drunk.

But Opus, with the Vioxx, Thalydomide, etc fiascoes the government has PROVEN that they cannot be trusted to make decisions about medications. Perhaps ask a former Phen-Fen user, if they are still alive. Or why not ask me about the dead pancreas I now have due to Zyprexa.

This is why I only take generic medicines, all the problems are known after that many years on the market. Even then, it is a risk. 20 years of high doses of prednisone have damaged my heart, liver, and kidneys.

Of course, Zyprexa is a medicine my government told me was safe and my doctor prescribed for me. Ever since I lost the use of my pancreas I realize that the responsibility for medications is mine. My doctor asks ME if I am willing to take something he offers.

Should all drugs be legal? Well, to me it would not matter if ecstacy, crack, meth were all legal. I am a responsible, THINKING adult. I would not take something like those drugs, just as I do not consume alcohol.

One issue I have always found hypocritical about many "neoCons" is that they scream that the liberals think they know what is best for us; that liberals think the government knows how to spend our money better than we do, or liberals simply want us to surrender control.

Excuse me? What the hell is the drug issue?

I know many in this nation are idiots and would abuse drugs. That being said, is not it a basic American right to be an idiot? Or is that right only reserved for our politicians?

Be well,

Sponge

I don’t think it’s necessarily the concern of government that individuals are protected from themselves. The concern is to protect other individuals from harm by others.

I understand ASDF, but following that logic should we not bring back prohibition, ban teenage driving, etc?

No, instead we have drug laws and seat belt citations. Brilliant.

Be well,

Sponge

Good point. It IS a selective brand of concern. Not to be cynical about it, but as with everything government does the concern for the public always seems to be weighted somehow with how much revenue can be generated.

What you are all missing is the fact that marijuana is so easy to grow. No one could tax it or sell it, if it was legal. Marijauna is naturally an strong plant and can withstand almost any climate. If legalized tons of people would grow their own in gardens. Eventually leaving weed as valuable as corn. $10 a bushel or something like that. Imagine that, feeling content for $10 a month. But then the worker ants wouldn't work in their factories no more, and THEY can't have that. Obviously this author never smoked weed, "sound of colors"? I think you were on PCP buddy!

You obviously smoke a lot of weed Justin Z.

Too bad we can't outlaw blogging while stoned.