420
/
Weed, Dank, Green, Chronic, Cheebah, Pot, Mary Jane, Hemp, Grass, Tea (popular among the beat generation), Wacky Tobacky, Endo or Indo, Trees, Bud, Ganja, Herb. I figured I would say a little something about murrra wannah...
But, besides being a recreational substance that most people have tried why should we legalize Marijuana? There are a couple of reasons:
Economic:
Harvard Professor of Economics Jeffrey Miron wrote about how the legalization of Pot would save the Federal Government over $13B per year.
Whole new industries may emerge. Buyers and distributors. Sellers and growers. Farmers could grow crops that do not need government subsidizing. This would be a conservative position, would it not? New growing techniques and strains could be developed for medical purposes (SCIENCE!!! I say, Botany class just became a little more interesting).
Social:
Portugal actually legalized all drugs (or decriminalized) which actually reduced the amount of [previously] illicit drugs used. Instead of treating drugs as a criminal issue it is considered a public health issue. Treatment instead of jail.
The drug violence in Mexico is dramatic. Morgues in cities like Ciudad Juarez, Mexico overflow with bodies (some decapitated) resulting form the drug wars between Cartel and Government Agents and Cartels v Cartels. Corruption reigns supreme as those that attempt to fight back are either bought or killed. By January 2012 over 47,000 people have died as a result of the drug wars in Mexico (since 2006).
But I guess John Fugelsang sums it up
If it was good enough for Abe Lincoln it is good enough for me. To be honest, I don't smoke pot. No real need to but why should it be illegal? The social harms are really scant. Even the medical information is surprising. Cigarettes are more dangerous than Marijuana. According to doctors at UCLA Marijuana may help lung function when used occasionally. Some of the other benefits include pain control and appetite (who didn't see that coming). So lets help reduce our deficits. Maybe we could help fund our schools with a Mary Jane Tax? If people smoking weed can help provide a better education for the kids why not?
My conclusion, treat Marijuana like Alcohol and Tobacco. Maybe a minimum age of 19 and no driving under the influence.
and just because its friday here's one more video
I
suppose Peter Tosh said it quite succinctly
The Marijuana debate has raged since (and before) the ControlledSubstances Act of 1970 where Marihuana (DEA spelling) is considered a Schedule I
drug while Opiates are classified as Schedule II drugs. Schedule I
drugs according to DEA have
A)
The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
B)
The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in
treatment in the United States.
C)
There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other
substance under medical supervision.
So in the mind of the Federal Government Marijuana is more dangerous than opium??? ok well lets first get something out of the way. Marijuana is NOT harmless. But we (American Citizens) consume harmful drugs everyday that ARE legal. This list includes of-course Tobacco and Alcohol. Prescription drugs are abused everyday. According to the National Drug Institute about 7M people use prescription drugs non-medically. Caffeine is consumed in large quantities and do not forget all the food additives whether it is rBGH in dairy products or the ever controversial aspartame found commonly in diet soda.Even though it is not "harmless" there has never been a case of someone overdosing on Marijuana. It would be silly to think that smoking pot leads to violent behavior that is often associated with alcohol. Mostly Weed leads to junk food and a new interpretation of Socrates.
But, besides being a recreational substance that most people have tried why should we legalize Marijuana? There are a couple of reasons:
Economic:
Harvard Professor of Economics Jeffrey Miron wrote about how the legalization of Pot would save the Federal Government over $13B per year.
- The report estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $5.3 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $2.4 billion would accrue to the federal government.
- The report also estimates that marijuana legalization would yield tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco.
Whole new industries may emerge. Buyers and distributors. Sellers and growers. Farmers could grow crops that do not need government subsidizing. This would be a conservative position, would it not? New growing techniques and strains could be developed for medical purposes (SCIENCE!!! I say, Botany class just became a little more interesting).
Social:
Portugal actually legalized all drugs (or decriminalized) which actually reduced the amount of [previously] illicit drugs used. Instead of treating drugs as a criminal issue it is considered a public health issue. Treatment instead of jail.
The drug violence in Mexico is dramatic. Morgues in cities like Ciudad Juarez, Mexico overflow with bodies (some decapitated) resulting form the drug wars between Cartel and Government Agents and Cartels v Cartels. Corruption reigns supreme as those that attempt to fight back are either bought or killed. By January 2012 over 47,000 people have died as a result of the drug wars in Mexico (since 2006).
But I guess John Fugelsang sums it up
If it was good enough for Abe Lincoln it is good enough for me. To be honest, I don't smoke pot. No real need to but why should it be illegal? The social harms are really scant. Even the medical information is surprising. Cigarettes are more dangerous than Marijuana. According to doctors at UCLA Marijuana may help lung function when used occasionally. Some of the other benefits include pain control and appetite (who didn't see that coming). So lets help reduce our deficits. Maybe we could help fund our schools with a Mary Jane Tax? If people smoking weed can help provide a better education for the kids why not?
My conclusion, treat Marijuana like Alcohol and Tobacco. Maybe a minimum age of 19 and no driving under the influence.
and just because its friday here's one more video
