Legalize and Regulate the Drug Trade

[Ganjarden]

Regarding the chilling Dec. 4 front-page article "Mexico Drug Cartels Send a Message of Chaos, Death":

This mayhem occurs as a direct result of -- and not despite -- increased enforcement of senseless policies that make drugs illegal.

As a 32-year police officer in Maryland, I have seen how the prohibition of drugs empowers violent criminal thugs who sell them in our cities and outside our borders.

If we legalized and regulated drugs, people would buy them from legitimate sources instead of from illegal ones. But until that happens, criminals will do anything to protect their profits, including murdering rival traffickers, police officers, journalists and children.

Seventy-five years ago this month, America's leaders took away the profits of violent gangsters by having the good sense to repeal another failed and dangerous prohibition, that on alcohol. Surely, it is not too much to ask that today's policymakers consider stripping cartels and gangs of the unregulated businesses from which they have been able to get rich as a result of today's "Prohibition," the "war on drugs."


News Hawk- Ganjarden http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: The Washington Post
Author: NEILL FRANKLIN
Contact: The Washington Post
Copyright: 2008 The Washington Post Company
Website: Legalize and Regulate the Drug Trade

[Profit]

Do you think there would be adverse negative affects of legalizing marijuana as well?

[Soniq420]

Originally Posted by Profit

Do you think there would be adverse negative affects of legalizing marijuana as well?

- Sales of SWAT gear would plummet
- Many prison guards would lose their jobs
- We'd have less violent crime as the police turned their attention where it belongs
- We'd need less court clerks, prosecturs, judges etc. - many could lose their job
- the prison construction industry would collapse


Oh, you asked about adverse "negative" affects...

sorry; like Rosanne Rosannadana used to say "nevermind"

[Profit]

Im not saying there would be I just thought it might be an interesting discussion to brainstom with some people and see if there might be some actual logical adverse affects. ex. What if the people who grow large quantities of marijuana for only for monetary gain now faced with a sudden abundance and a dramatic decrease in price then turn their efforts into the production and distribution of dangerous drugs. (Once again not saying I think this would occur but its a thought, what do you think?)

[Soniq420]

Hey Profit; I like to use sarcasm to vent my anger at prohibition - it's cathartic for me. I wasn't directly my comments towards you- hope you didn't take it that way.

Peace brother

[Profit]

Thats cool man no worries do you think something along those lines is possible though?

[Soniq420]

It wouldn't suprise me if some of the growers turned to other products if cannabis was legalized.

Though I'm not too worried because in my opinion more of the harder drugs being available won't necessarilly bring more consumers

Even it is does, I (a Libertarian), believe people are free to make their own decisions in life and should deal with the consequences of their own voluntary actions.

I think there will always be compasionate members of society that will help treat (hard drug) addicts via health care rather than police care. Particularly if we all aren't paying 50% or more of our income in tax confiscation.

I know the price of cannabis would plummet but so would the cost of production. Nothing would stop the existing dealers from getting into the game legally.

Think about it - no risk of arrest, no need to grow indoor anymore so electricity and legal bills would be a thing of the past.

There'd probably be competition issues because mass scale people would drive the commodity price, but there would always be room for boutique growers (i.e. like the microbrews or small winery's that sell product via tastings and tours)

Just a lot of speculation and economic conjecture on my part - but hey it's just an opinion

I love to see it play out in my lifetime

.