Let me start this blog by saying that I am not writing strictly based off the fact that I am an advocate for legalizing marijuana. I have noticed of late that this has become a national issue, it has been decriminalized in California to certain extents for medical reasons.
In California, marijuana is the largest cash-crop, generating an estimated $14 billion. At a 10% tax that would make California alone $1.4 billion. Now take that number over all 50 states and imagine the money marijuana would generate
In 1919, the 18th amendment was established and alcohol became illegal to manufacture, transport and distribute nationally, thus creating a black market for it. Alcohol was still accessible but it became a violent business to become part of. In 1919 the number of inmates at Sing-Sing was 1,100 and in 1920 that number jumped to 1,500, then 1,600 buy 1922. That was not cheap on the tax payers to cover the cost of the inmates in prison.
In 1933, the 21st amendment was established that lifted the ban on alcohol, the black market disappeared along with the violence. That should have been enough of an example for the American government to realize they should not ban something the American people want. Yet in, 1937 they decided to create the "Marijuana Tax Act", making marijuana illegal and highly punishable.
In America we spend about $150 billion in funding for the courts and police and $68 billion in corrections. 1/3 of these criminals being corrected are locked up for a nonviolent-drug related charge and 47.5% of arrested are marijuana related. Marijuana is not a dangerous drug, it does not create health issues and in some cases even help with health.
So why the hell are we spending so much taxpayers money on fighting against something that is safer than alcohol and tobacco? It seems to me like the economic crunch we are in has opened up the eyes of some of the politicians in America. California's debt sits at at-least $136 billion, I think that instead of pumping money into the locking up the "criminals" who sell and produce marijuana, the government should consider that stats based off of California's profitability off marijuana. If California could generate $1.4 billion off of marijuana alone, imagine how much more money they would have when they stop arresting people for it.
While it appears California is catching on, I hope it can progress on a national level. In America, marijuana produces about $36 billion per year, thats more than corn and wheat combined. There is no evidence of any damage to public health by legalizing marijuana, the penalties for marijuana cause more damage than the drug itself. Think about no one robbing anyone for marijuana, you don't see people robbing anyone for cigarettes!!!
86% if high schoolers say marijuana is easily accessible. Aaron Houston, an American lobbyist for the legalization of marijuana presented a very valid argument to counter that stat. Legalizing marijuana but regulating it just like alcohol, making sure the purchaser has proper identification and is over the age of 21. This would combat the problem of having marijuana so accessible to teenagers.
I don't want to sound like a broken record by trying to fight for the legalization of marijuana, it has been a topic of great discussion through out the nation for many years. Looking at this, as Obama calls it, economic crisis America is in, making a few bucks off taxes for marijuana does not sound to bad.
Imagine a United Nations meeting and all the world leaders are kicking back and smoking. The only fights will be over who is buying munchies.
YouTube Video of Aaron Houston's proposal:
HMMM...I believe there are several flaws in the theory of taxing marijuana for the purposes of generating more tax revenue. How about the government taxes us too much on the fucking job that he have now. Instead of government looking for new ways to tax the hell out of us, they should be considering how they can reduce spending to free up additional funding for necessities like defense spending, health, education. The law is stated like it is because adverse health effects have been reported and studied before the law was enacted. For instance, when anyone puts any types of carcinogens in their body it will effect them negatively.
ReplyDeleteI do think that marijuana should be made legal but not for taxing purposes. California did not end up in that mess of a budget because of marijuana, and marijuana will not be the saviour for California. Government should decriminalize marijuana and ramp up the restrictions on the more allusive drugs and more addicting drugs. The drugs that will kill you with a quickness.
Lastly, I want to comment on what the age restrictions and why you think that will make marijuana less accessible. If something is readily available and not against the law it will become more accessible through different avenues of travel. For instance alcohol was banned and then legalized. And you say that prisons and costs associated went down once legalization of alcohol was amended. What about the domestic abuse charges related to alcohol? What about the driving drunk and deaths associated to alcohol? Was there a discrepancy between when it was legal and when it was not legal? Was there a drop in deaths because it was illegal? I think this should be the starting point for any drug related taxation or law.