Captain Ed questions the cost of keeping marijuana Illegal.
About Lance
I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com.
I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college.
I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting.
I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us.
I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere.
Lance
i think that marijuana should be legalized. by keeping it illegal, the government is losing money. but if they would just legalize it, they could just tax it and make money off of it like they do w/ cigs. its really not that bad for you. it can help w/ some cancers. it doesnt kill your brain cells. you just act wierd for a couple hours and then if fades off. it helps people who get depressed b/c it maked people happy. if the government is worried about people abusing it, then they can set limitations. like no driving under the influence and you can only have so much in your system at a time. so lets just make this process easier on the people and on the government. lets save everyone some money and just legalize it. theirs nothing bad about it.
I agree with you entirely. However there is one minor problem, if the goivernment makes marijuana legal they will have to compete with the street dealers. But if they were to issue a lisence to dealers allowing them to deal it it would be okay.
Here’s what I propose we do:
1.) Legalize marijuuana.
2.) Make it so that you must be 21 or older to carry marijuana on you legally.
3.) Establish government regulated pot shops.
4.) Issue a tax on it.
How can the government argue that marijuana is bad for people yet they allow cigarettes to be legal. If the government was really concerned about its citizens health then why are cigerettes legal? Here’s why they make us get sick with cancer by using cigarettes then they tax the hell out of us on our medical bills when we need kemo. Our government is f***ed up. We need to stop this madness if you agree with me sign the “legalize marijuana” petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/Legalize/petition-sign.html
Alone we are weak, but together we are strong. In numbers our strength lies.
Cassandra,
If legalizing is the way to go, why regulate it? Why tax it anymore than anything else? That goes for cigarettes as well by the way. I hate government running or granting exclusive licenses to sell alcohol, I see no reason to like it anymore with marijuana.
Ah, petition online. If you can show me one petition on there that’s ever worked I’ll sign it.
It’s filled with jokes, like mine I made years back.
Cynical Keith says that you have to allow the government to regulate and tax it, otherwise the government has no incentive to change the status quo, since it’s making plenty of money off the drug wars as it is.
Sarcastic Keith says that if you legalize it, every pothead will be complaining when hemp gets used to make bio-diesel.
“Sarcastic Keith says that if you legalize it, every pothead will be complaining when hemp gets used to make bio-diesel.”
That is a rather insightful observation Keith, sarcastic or not.
I feel that it is really no ones business who smokes weed or not, people smoke weed for the good of themselves. I honestly see no reason why it should be illegal.