Article

2009-07-22 Economy

Is Marijuana the Answer to California's Budget Woes?

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Posted by gorb 2009-07-22 11:55|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 I'm against legalizing stuff like this, but if you want to, fine. Here's how it should work though....

1. Caught driving under the influence of any intoxicant - 1st offense - Perm. loss of Driver's license - 2nd offense - Involuntary Organ Donor/Death

2. Committing ANY such as robbery, etc under the influence of an intoxicant - First offense - Death.

3. Any cancer or illness you get that is tied to taking an intoxicant of any kind - No suing anyone claiming it's anyone's fault but your own.

Whatever is legal, make people take FULL AND TOTAL responsibility for.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2009-07-22 12:23|| 2009-07-22 12:23|| Front Page Top

#2 I don't know if legalizing marijuana is the answer to California's budget woes. Most studies say it would generate up to $1.5-$2 billion/year in added tax revenue and that's not much more than a drop in their bucket of debt right now (though I imagine every bit helps). That said, I support the legalization of marijuana and I believe it should be regulated no differently than alcohol. Compared to marijuana, I believe alcohol causes more health problems as well as more alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.

Of course there is the law of unintended consequences, which trumps all other laws. IMO, weighing the pros and cons, costs and benefits here, I think we would be better off if we took a regulatory approach with marijuana that mimics that of alcohol.

Let's be honest here, buying marijuana these days is not much more difficult than buying alcohol, it just may take a little more time in finding a supplier but once you score a "hook up", it's as easy as dialing 911. And in the case of underage users, it's often much easier to acquire than alcohol.

I'm just saying, is all.

Posted by eltoroverde 2009-07-22 13:28|| 2009-07-22 13:28|| Front Page Top

#3 A. No. Getting rid of the Democrat - Union chokehold that is killing CA is.

Sweet irony though, their incompetence has now required offshore drilling. That's big ol' can o' worms the Dems had to swallow. If we can drill of Santa Barbara - why not anywhere?

Posted by Rex Mundi 2009-07-22 14:31|| 2009-07-22 14:31|| Front Page Top

#4 Cops I know prefer arresting potheads over drunks but I think it is dangerous to your health as much as legal alcohol and tobacco. Making them illegal or denying them health care won't make a politician very popular so not likely to happen. Taxing it and allowing it to be grown as a domestic cash crop would allow us to clamp down on all the borders and coasts to keep the more dangerous drugs and other illicit cargo out, including illegal aliens. It would also free up precious prison space, cutting the incarceration cost of $78 pp/day. The tough problem is stopping the opium and cocaine--maybe we should convince the Taliban to grow weed instead of opium? A toke might even pacify them a bit.

Posted by Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2009-07-22 15:01|| 2009-07-22 15:01|| Front Page Top

#5 There is a fungus to kill cocaine plantations - the Congress won't let it be used by the DEA because fungus is ickky... (or maybe the congress-critters use?)

Posted by 3dc 2009-07-22 16:18|| 2009-07-22 16:18|| Front Page Top

#6 Legalization and the budget have nothing to do with each other. Solving the budget problem means cutting costs -- starting with the unions.

That said, legalization is a great idea. The way to get less of something is not to criminalize it. That just raises the cost. No, the way to kill something off for good is by taxing it to death.

Posted by Iblis 2009-07-22 16:22|| 2009-07-22 16:22|| Front Page Top

#7 I don't think legalizing Grass will do anything at all, people will simply grow their own, free of tax, a sorta modern moonshiner.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2009-07-22 17:28|| 2009-07-22 17:28|| Front Page Top

#8 I could care less if they do this, and it might increase munchie food sales.

Posted by GirlThursday 2009-07-22 18:21|| 2009-07-22 18:21|| Front Page Top

#9 then they'll ban munchies

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2009-07-22 18:26|| 2009-07-22 18:26|| Front Page Top

#10 Coca-Cola products and Tostito's Chips, you're going down!! LOL!

Posted by GirlThursday 2009-07-22 18:36|| 2009-07-22 18:36|| Front Page Top

#11 Personally, I believe the cost of keeping pot illegal far out ways the cost of legalizing it. The catch is, Marijuana is a weed. You can grow it anywhere and easily. Unless the government can figure out a way to keep people from growing, they will collect very little in the way of taxes.

Some people will buy it from legal dealers, but most will continue to buy it from the guys that they know. And it will be cheaper. And no taxes will be collected.

Posted by DarthVader 2009-07-22 19:20|| 2009-07-22 19:20|| Front Page Top

#12 Marijuana alone isn't the answer. There's also LSD, cocaine, quaaludes, heroin, morphine, meth, mescaline...

Posted by Zhang Fei 2009-07-22 19:38|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2009-07-22 19:38|| Front Page Top

#13 Pot leads to Pyscho problems, long time users become parinoid schzephrenic (sp). Check all the medical studies, they all reach the same conclusion. Yes my friends reefer madness is quite real. That said I see no reason why it should not comfort a terminally ill patient. IMHO there are way too many people with "back" problems that are smoking pot and living on the government dime. True I have not seen a angry stoner, but I have met many that are paranoid.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2009-07-22 19:51|| 2009-07-22 19:51|| Front Page Top

#14 Ummm, wuth every lawman against them, I'd see a Paranoid user as entirely sane, he IS persecuted.

Boils down to the old joke, "Paranoids have eal enemies too".

Posted by Redneck Jim 2009-07-22 19:58|| 2009-07-22 19:58|| Front Page Top

#15 Seems to me that a stoned legislature ain't going to be passing to many spending/taxing bills. Looks like a good deal.

Posted by Omiting the Younger9947 2009-07-22 19:59|| 2009-07-22 19:59|| Front Page Top

#16 and it might increase munchie food sales

I've got it! Legalize marijuana and tax the hell out of munchies!

Posted by gorb 2009-07-22 23:14|| 2009-07-22 23:14|| Front Page Top

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