A budget cure: Marijuana taxes?

[Razgriz_37]

In this desperate economy, some argue that legalizing and taxing marijuana could plug multibillion-dollar holes in federal and state coffers.

See MSN Article

[Tiger]

It would work, but it's never going to happen. I suspect that the reason is that individuals within our own government stand to make a whole lot of money if marijuana is illegal (keeping prices high), but if legalized there would be competition that they wouldn't be able to eliminate. Consider the case of Border Agents Compean and Ramos. Why else would Border Agents be prosecuted for doing their jobs? Apparently, they weren't supposed to catch Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila who was smuggling 800 lbs. of marijuana into the U.S.

More than two weeks after the incident, Christopher Sanchez, an investigator with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, received a call from a Border Patrol agent in Wilcox, Ariz. The agent's mother-in-law had received a call from Aldrete-Davila's mother in Mexico telling her that her son had been wounded in the buttocks in the shooting.

Sanchez followed up with a call of his own to the smuggler in Mexico.

In a move that still confuses Ramos and Compean, the U.S. government filed charges against them after giving full immunity to Aldrete-Davila and paying for his medical treatment at an El Paso hospital.

[american]

It;s not going to happen also because of the gateway theory. Which many claim that it;s not true but i think it is. You know where most drug addicts start small (Mari) And just build up until they get to the dangerous drugs.

[Razgriz_37]

Obama doesn't like the Idea, but there are going to be somemany backing it of course to have available at their personal use. Taxes are going to be damn high on the drugs getting them shipped in but the local guys here sell it dirt cheap, possibly because they've added their own substances to it.

[Space]

Doesn't like it? Do you know the history of his AG? Was police chief in Seattle, and told his coppers not to mess with peeps and posession AT ALL! Got my vote!

[J9_Hammer]

S!

I wouldnt give a crap about the money,I do care about tens of thousands of regular people in jails with their lives in shambles because of pot.People who go to work,pay taxes and salute the flag and would still defend that flag if needed.

As far as being a gateway drug my view is it wouldnt be if legalized. When I was a kid I never went looking for other harder drugs but it was all laid out side by side at the dealers house.

There are good arguments for both sides but our country is supposed to be free and allowing adults to make their own choices has worked well for over 200 years

[Prop2u]

Lets legalize stupidity that will fix em

[Wailwulf]

[quote="Prop2u"]Lets legalize stupidity that will fix em[/quote]

And then we could tax it. The Govt will be rolling in money :)

[ScrewBall]

It's always been my belief that with regard to pot, if enough people start demanding legalization and taxation, as well as supporting representatives who favour it, for long enough and insistently enough, the powers that be will eventually bow to the expressed will of the electorate and it will be done.
Yes, I realize my last is a tad optimistic, but it worked to end Prohibition, which should actually have served as an object lesson with regard to other substances, as well. As was said earlier, we are, after all, adults; IMHO it is not the business of the government to tell its adult citizens what they may or may not use to alter their point if view (so long , of course, that they are not driving or operating heavy or dangerous machinery whilst the aforementioned point of view is under alteration).
Also, the tax revenues and tourist revenues would go a very long way to boost the economy, as well.
A Canadian inquiry known as the Ledain Commission was set up in the late 60's to examine the impact of drugs of all sorts on society; one of their recommendations, when the commission's final report was released in the early 70's was that all offenses with regard to cannabis products be removed from the Criminal Code of Canada immediately; the conclusion being that the social and financial costs of prohibition would do more long-term harm to society than leagalization and taxation would.

*steps down from soapbox, having added his 2 cents*

[Space]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sh21hJYQ5c