Why stop at Marijuana? Legalize all drugs, end the war on drugs, release all non-violent drug-related offenders from prison, and save all that money.

I did the math a few months back and JUST doing this would provide enough revenue to keep SS solvent forever.

Pretty much. There are more than a few examples of it being 'Meh, whatever' after legalization. I know guns are one of them.

Because unlike most drugs, there really isn't a reason for Marijuana to be illegal.

Ecstasy? Turns you into a vegetable.
Cocaine? Ruins lives in general.
Alcohol does the same.

etc

Except you don't factor in the cost of all the increased drug treatment programs that will have to be created for individuals who are exposed to the now legal drugs. Plus, one thing they don't tell you is that, while legalizing drugs helps solve some crimes, it actually increases theft and robbery since many individuals who no longer have that source of income will attempt to get money in other ways.

You're int he wrong place man. Especially seeing most people here are probably >15 years.

the 2% tax rate is subjective based on your local area. some places already have insanely high tax rates and you do not want to add more to it. i'm not sure if sacramento still has it, but it used to have a "double sales tax" that included a 3% state capital tax just to make a little extra money. increasing the tax rate for everyone makes everything more expensive, so you better make sure that they can afford it before you do it.

my region already has a 9% tax rate and i barely buy anything except food anymore because it is exempt from tax. i am reluctant to buy clothes until it is on sale and i really need it.

as for cannibus, i think it is fine as long as you regulate it properly. most people oppose the regulation because the people who grow it make a lot more money as long as it is illegal and there is already an established stigma against it. once it becomes legal, any licensed grower (there will be tons of them) will be able to grow it and it will be available and cheaper. i think cannibus is better than tobacco though because i think tobacco is a lot more harmful.

Wouldn't there *technically* be no increase of crime then?

Because 1 - 1 + 1 you still get 1

The one valid case study available on full legalization is Portugal (I think). Over all there was a significant drop in crime, drug use and cost because prevention/treatment costs are only a small percentage of punishment costs.

But, just because it works in 1 place doesn't mean it will work in larger more developed countries. This is not a one size fits all situation.

There isn't a reason for any drug to be illegal. As long as I can legally sit in my house and pound down doughnuts until I die, the government has no ground to stand on telling me what is and is not ok for me to put in my body.


Private costs are private, and we already have laws against theft/robbery/whatnot. Show me a study that demonstrates that these "related" crimes drastically spike after broad-scale legalization. My belief is that no one has ever said "Oh man I've always wanted to get hooked on crack, but it's just too bad because it's illegal". That's a nonsensical argument, imo.

Except when you lose control over yourself and start enforcing yourself onto others' lives.

Its not like the recent school shootings are any example of that. You're currently thinking with a clear logic, whereas if you were under the influence of whatever, I doubt you would be thinking the same.

EDIT: Especially considering the drugs I've listed literally change your brain chemistry therefore changing how you think.