Marijuana Could Be a Gusher of Cash If We Treated It Like a Crop, Not a Crime »
Posted By berkeley 9 months, 3 weeks ago in NewsOne 2006 study called cannabis the top cash crop in the nation, worth more than corn and wheat combined. It was the leading crop in 12 states, outstripping grapes in California and tobacco in North Carolina, and one of the top three in 18 others, coming in just behind apples in Washington and cotton in Georgia. So with states facing massive deficits, could reefer revenues help?
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berkeley
I agree to this Constitution with all its faults because I think a general government necessary for us, and believe further that this is likely ...
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Eagle_Eye9 months, 3 weeks ago
What a fantastic way to pay off China and stop making criminals out of sick people!
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
Marijuana growers and dealers have already offered Arnold 1 billion dollars...
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http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2007/aug/... -
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Eagle_Eye9 months, 3 weeks ago
I agree simon, it is a huge waste of tax payers money, law enforcement workers who could be spending time on far worst criminals and crime.
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Holland is a wonderful country that has successfully shown how a country can benefit from the legalization. -
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
One acre of hemp provides the same amount of pulp for paper as 4 acres of trees and hemp paper does not use the chemicals needed for paper made from trees.
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And hemp provides 20 times more cellulose than corn for biofuels as well as being one of the best sources of protien and Omega fatty acids on earth.
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Locky129 months, 3 weeks ago
We have alcohol. Why do we need another "recreational" drug?
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We already have to worry about systemic people driving drunk, now we have to worry about people driving while high on marijuana?
You want your local police officer, school bus driver, or surgeon smoking a doobie before leaving for work?-
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Eagle_Eye9 months, 3 weeks ago
"You want your local police officer, school bus driver, or surgeon smoking a doobie before leaving for work?"
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If I had to choose between a doobie and alcohol yes I would want them to smoke a doobie......how many fatal crashes do you hear about the driver being drunk or stoned....I swear some people don't have a clue and no business making comments
p.s. Alcohol tears up the entire body killing people from alcoholism.....no one dies from pot smoking related illness' -
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dawnii9 months, 3 weeks ago
how is it any different than them drinking alcohol? ever know anyone high on pot to get into a fight? or an accident? doesn't effect you the same.
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some ppl just dont know what they speak. you are one of them. -
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amazed9 months, 3 weeks ago
Locky, that's ridiculous. Anyone who would not go to work after drinking would not go to work after smoking dope. On the other hand, someone who feels the need to deal with life impaired will-- regardless of the circumstances (work) or the legality or illegality.
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I know of no one who chose not to smoke dope (or do any other recreational drug) simply because it was illegal. Those who wanted to get high or do coke or meth or LSD or even heroin did -- and it was all illegal. Those who chose not to do drugs had other reasons -- not wanting the altered state, not wanting the loss of control or fear of addiction.
All the drug laws do is make a new criminal class. They make the drugs more expensive than they need to be resulting in property crimes to feed one's habit. If you live with an addict, your life is going to suck, but in today's legal system, you not only have the baggage that comes with the addiction, but the court and legal costs that stem from the arrests.
These funds could be put to much better use for rehab and education. Smoking cigarettes and alcohol consumption is WAY down -- not because they became illegal, but because of education campaigns.
No, use is not at zero --and it never will be. A certain percentage of the population will always want to escape reality.
Oh, and don't forget the taxes that could be collected if drugs were legal -- sin taxes work for cigs and alcohol. -
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jordan119 months, 3 weeks ago
You want your local police officer, school bus driver, or surgeon smoking a doobie before leaving for work?>>>>>
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Why would you assume they would? Do they drink before leaving for work? -
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kavemandan9 months, 3 weeks ago
Marijuana should never be legal! So tired of the liberals wanting all our children turning into heorine addicts. Every heroine addict started on marijuana. It is the #1 gateway drug ever! If marijuana was so safe it would never be ILLEGAL. It amazes me people hate ILLEGAL immigrents but are ok with ILLEGAL drugs. ILLEGAL = ILLEGAL no debate needed. It is a poison that grown from the same ground that produces poison ivy, poison oak, poison mushrooms , poison berries etc. Rather than whine about drug users why not try and educate and give towards your community?
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obiefrommuskogee9 months, 3 weeks ago
I don't know about you, but noboby I know who ever smoked MJ, including gov Palin, is a heroin addict.
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Right now, MJ is a big cash crop to local law enforcement, because users are easy prey and help support the insatiable legal system. MJ users are not criminals. Neither are heroin addicts.
This silliness must stop. -
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amazed9 months, 3 weeks ago
William F. Buckley -- that cockeyed liberal -- was one of the first and staunchest of those calling for the legalization of drugs.
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A true conservative would want the gov't out of your medicine cabinet -- and your life in general. -
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
How did Sarah Palin manage to quit and not turn into a junkie?
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Natureboy9 months, 3 weeks ago
"liberals wanting all our children turning into heorine addicts."
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I am a heroine addict.
Wonder Woman is my favorite. Xena the Warrior Princess is another.
Kinky, both of 'em. -
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jordan119 months, 3 weeks ago
Why would they turn into heroin addicts? Does alcohol turn them into heroin addicts? Don't be daft. Marijuana is NOT a poison. But alcohol is. DAMN IT. Go research it for chris*ts sake. I'm so SICK AND TIRED OF IGNORANCE!!!!
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tuliplilly9 months, 3 weeks ago
You are living in a cave, but it's in your name kavemandan. Do some research and stop reciting what you hear out of other biased people's mouths. Do you know something my dealer friends don't? Not a single person that I know that deals or smokes pot has any clue where to even start to look for heroin. They are very different drugs, very different. If you did your research you would know that. In fact most of the pot lovers I know would prefer to smoke pot than any other drug or alcohol. Legal or otherwise. Most legal prescription drugs do worse things to your body than pot could. And if someone is smoking it because they are terminally ill and might die in a few weeks.months, then shouldn't they be allowed to enjoy the last few moments of their life instead of suffering? Also just because something is illegal doesn't me that was a good choice by the government. Even the law makes mistakes.
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Eagle_Eye9 months, 3 weeks ago
"It is the #1 gateway drug ever!" VERY WRONG
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Alcohol is the number 1 gateway drug then comes the parents medicine cabinet. -
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
Let us pay taxes...sign the petition...have you ever heard of a group begging to pay taxes?
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http://druglibrary.org/taxes/ -
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fishifanb9 months, 2 weeks ago
If people actually paid all of their taxes under the existing law there would be no deficit.
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
An economic study found that the revenue from decriminalization would be between 10 and 14 Billion a year...
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http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/ -
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aimlessharmony9 months, 3 weeks ago
Look...We can go back and forth with statistics all day long, and it won't get us (Americans) anywhere. We need a plan of action...
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Here's one I like...
The government can decriminalize for home use. Once that is passed, the government can sell marijuana cigarettes in packs just like Marlboro or Camel. (You know R.J. Reynolds already has the packaging art...) Sell the pack of 20 pre-rolled cigarettes for $100 per pack. The tobacco company manufacturing the packs would get their cut, and the rest would be paid directly to the government in the form of taxes.
Now of course we could talk about different grades of the product in question, and offering different prices accordingly, but as a general plan, this would work. The country would then be out of debt in [ insert economic graph here ]. The only limitations would be from the manufacturers. If they could get the product into the market in a timely fashion and in strong supply..... the sky's the limit....-
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
$100 per pack? It's cheaper than that now!The US Dept of Agriculture determined that if legal it would cost a farmer about $4 per pound to grow,with the farmer charging $100 per pound and a tax of $100 per pound it would still be 10 times cheaper than black market price.There is a bill in congress right this minute to decriminalize adult possession(HR 5843)...here is a link to write your congressman and demand that he support it...
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http://www.norml.org/
click the link and go to "Take Action"
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amazed9 months, 3 weeks ago
Unfortunately, drugs will never be legal as long as the police and other justice dept. workers have a union. The war on drugs is a huge boon to them -- they get more money for enforcement, more people hired and more job security.
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With the RICO laws, they get the spoils from their drug busts -- including the cool stuff the drug dealers bought with their ill-gotten gains -- fancy clothes, cars, yachts etc.
Ah, but we can dream....
and, btw, I haven't smoked dope in about 25 - 30 years...-
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StevieGee9 months, 3 weeks ago
All that stuff gets sold at auction. They don't get to keep it. I think that they will still have plenty of work to do.
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The real reason that it is still illegal is that the organized criminals give kickbacks, the Mexican cartels keep the government down there paralyzed, and therefore rich Americans can still get their houses cleaned and lawns mowed cheap. Leaglizing pot here would eliminate the market for imported pot.
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StevieGee9 months, 3 weeks ago
My roommate broke her back several years ago and has had several surgeries on it and on both knees. She was taking a "cocktail" of several drugs, about 12 pills, to sleep. She now smokes about 1/2 joint before bed. She said that she doesn't sleep quite as well but feels way better in the morning. She has totally eliminated the nightly cocktail. She still takes some pills during the day but I think its mostly because of the addiction. Medical marijuana is legal here in CA but still illegal by federal law. So much for states rights. She is not a criminal!
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hefaa19 months, 3 weeks ago
I always thought cigerettes were the number 1 gateway drug. To start, you smoked em' to look cool, then got addicted to nicotine. Ask any smoker who's tried to quit if they don't think nicotine is a drug. Just because tobacco is legal doesn't mean they won't cut 20-years off your life and drain your pocket book.
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Also, someone currently in jail on a pot related charge is wasting the taxpayers money. It take alot of revenue to keep people in jail. IMHO, jails should be reserved for killers, rapist, pedophiles, wife beaters and politicians, not pot smokers.-
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mntnman4449 months, 3 weeks ago
Here is the govt response to all the level headed commentors here...not you Locky,you got what you want and after all your doom and gloom about Obama raising your taxes I'll bet you would willingly pay higher taxes to keep throwing people in jail.
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http://blog.norml.org/2008/09/15/872721-marijuana-... -
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wildman65579 months, 2 weeks ago
The money saved from legalizing weed would be in the order of 80 billion a year. Put on top of that the 20 billion in taxes raised, then we would reduce the deficit by 25%. Pretty cool.
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