Would it save our economy?

[Takun]

Not sure if a topic like this has already been posted, if so then I'll lock this.

Anyway, lately I've been hearing more and more chatter about how legalizing marijuana could save our slowly dying economy.

I think it has a big chance to, but on the other hand I think that America would be dropping very low on the moral standards that it has set for itself. What do you think, TDC?

[Deku]

It would also really put a lot of criminals out of business, and clean up the streets. If its legal, then drug dealers are out of a job.

[darkphantomime]

As the stereotypical residential hippie, I believe strongly in the legalization of weed.

The government is starting to consider the benefits of cannabis legalization and taxation, though I think we're still a bit off in terms of bills being passed.

If only I could grow my own weed... *sigh*

[Commodore Axilon]

How would it save our economy?

Not that I think it shouldn't be legalized, but that seems like a pretty ridiculous reason.

I mean, I realize it would probably bring in quite the influx of new revenue, but it wouldn't really fix anything, you know?

[darkphantomime]

It would fix the pharmaceutical companies' grip on this country. Pot can easily and inexpensively replace quite a few drugs that are commonly used and expensive.

[DW]

It wouldn't fix the economy. The only thing that would do that is a change in the mentality of the consumers.

[Pale Dim]

Maybe if we put an age limit on it. I don't know, 23 years?

I don't mean to sound like a doomsayer, but we're too overpopulated anyway.

[Fishalicious]

I wouldn't mind it being legalised, yeah, but... not much would change. people would still do drugs, people would go through great lengths to get said drugs, and the economy could still fail. sometimes it being illegal makes it more cool to do, and so a lot of the people responsible for high amounts of pot sales would drop out because it doesn't have the thrill of illegality anymore. they'll just say "hey crack'll get you high and it's still illegal..."

[Takun]

I've thought about that too, that maybe people would drop it since its not illeagal. But then I started to talk to more and more tokers, and they all said that they would continue to smoke it.

I think it definatly has a chance, and no doubt many laws and restrictions will.

As for the lots of frisky-ness caused by the stuff, I'd have to disagree. Most of the people I know just get chill off the stuff. And who knows, maybe if the world chills out a bit crime will go down.

[Darth Wyndisis]

Maybe if we put an age limit on it. I don't know, 23 years?

How about 42.0 years old?  *badum crash*

Sorry, that was a really bad joke.

As for the lots of frisky-ness caused by the stuff, I'd have to disagree. Most of the people I know just get chill off the stuff. And who knows, maybe if the world chills out a bit crime will go down.

That may be true, but I imagine productivity might go down too.  I could be mistaken though.

[MagmarFire]

I don't mean to sound like a doomsayer, but we're too overpopulated anyway.

Word.

Anyway, it most certainly would not fix the economy, since much of it is a "perfect storm" of events coming together to make it such an ordeal. Just one thing isn't a cure-all.

[darkphantomime]

This one thing may not be a 'cure-all', but sure as hell can help significantly.

[Keaton]

One of the core reasons that marijuana was illegalized was due to a smear campaign in the 20's or 30's that a politician ran in order to increase publicity.  A lot of untrue "facts" were used to "clean up the streets".

[MagmarFire]

This one thing may not be a 'cure-all', but sure as hell can help significantly.

Help significantly? I won't deny the decent likelihood of that.

Save our economy? No.

[Commodore Axilon]

One of the core reasons that marijuana was illegalized was due to a smear campaign in the 20's or 30's that a politician ran in order to increase publicity.  A lot of untrue "facts" were used to "clean up the streets".

Yeah, Harry J. Anslinger. Also, a lot of the push to make it illegal was due to racism against blacks and Mexicans, who were seen as the main users of the drug.