What could Marijuana do for our country?

[Chazumi]

I listen to the news all the time, TV at night and in the wee hours of the morning, also in my car whenever I am driving. Everyone is upset about our economic situation as a nation, but even my city is talking about how they are 19 million short just for police funding. Things like education need more funding, road work, government projects, etc.

So I was thinking today, if marijuana was legalized, would that be a viable source of income for cities? I mean if you slapped like a 28% tax-rate on it, or something. Could it also help out some farmers who are losing out? The only thing I could think of why this wouldn't work would be that the government would have to beat black market prices to "compete" of sorts but I think if it was legal and you could just buy it from a gas station or something...not many people would want to sell it on the streets anymore.

Is there anything I am not understanding about why this hasn't been explored?

 

[skadistic]

The only economic impact would be from hemp production. Selling pot and taxing it won't work. Those who grow in closets will sell and bypass all taxes. Others will simply grow their own for use.

Why hasn't it been explored? You can't play on fears if the over-hyped evil addicting life ruining plant is shown to not actually be be.

 

[demokratickid]

It is impossible to tax something like this primarily for the reasons stated in skadistic's post. With tobacco, nobody grows that stuff at home, so its easier to tax. All this would do is create an even bigger problem for the government...

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

How much would it cost to grow one's own?

 

[downtown]

The only economic impact would be from hemp production. Selling pot and taxing it won't work. Those who grow in closets will sell and bypass all taxes. Others will simply grow their own for use.

Why hasn't it been explored? You can play on fears if the over-hyped evil addicting life ruining plant is shown to not actually be be.

Bingo.

You might be able to save a little bit of money on law enforcement as well. Maybe.

There are plenty of arguements to legalize pot, but making money isn't one of them

 

[skadistic]

How much would it cost to grow one's own?

Very little depending on how techy you want to get. But all you need is,for instance a closet, a few plant grow bulbs at about 15 a piece, a 5$ timer a pot some good soil and some care.

You can also get far more expensive with sodium lights and hydroponics. But you will get a better yield.

I'd say for 100$ you could propagate a good crop in a closet for a long time.

Weed can be cloned so once you separate male plants out simply clone you best female over and over again. Sure you'd have to get new soil every so often and maybe some ferts or minerals. But after initial cost of set up its pretty smooth.

 

[nivi]

Nah, I don't think people will grow their own pot for the same reason they don't grow their own tomatoes. Besides, if you legalize it you already remove the "illegal" premium that is payed for it, so it wouldn't be as profitable to sell it illegally, and those who would would cause about as much trouble as those who smuggle cigarettes, not a whole lot.

 

[philippe]

I think the system in holland is an example for the world. (with some tweaks though) (like state-owned plantages)

 

[demokratickid]

I think the system in holland is an example for the world. (with some tweaks though) (like state-owned plantages)

Care to elaborate?

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Remember though, legalization does not mean completley unlimited consumption. The government will probably set up new laws regulating how it can be bought and sold, as well as quality control. Most importantly, they'll no doubt slap a legal age limit on it. So no, legalization doesn't mean 15 year old kids can smoke it in broad daylight.

I never found out, but is there a legal age for cannabis in Holland?

 

[raketooy]

Remember though, legalization does not mean completley unlimited consumption. The government will probably set up new laws regulating how it can be bought and sold, as well as quality control. Most importantly, they'll no doubt slap a legal age limit on it. So no, legalization doesn't mean 15 year old kids can smoke it in broad daylight.

I never found out, but is there a legal age for cannabis in Holland?

According to my friend who knows the Netherlands well and is moving there, at coffee shops they sell to over 18 year olds only. But the legality of cannabis there is not very simple, so they probably don't have a set limit on that. But if cannabis was sold to minors, the police would certainly intervene if they knew about it.

 

[philippe]

from my own personal experience in coffeeshops, you gotta be 18 (and they are strict about that, I'm 20 and I still have to flash my I.D.) you can't buy more than 5 grams (good for an week (or two if you smoke it occasionaly)) but the plantages self are still illgeal and there are certain laws on how much a coffeeshop can have of stock... (but it's being looked into)

I personally want it completely state-owned, I'm willing to pay the governments price for it, (as long if it's good quality) and I'm sure,as of many others will go to the legal circuits (besides, drugdealers are such an hassle, you wait two hours in some dipshit bar to get 25 euros of . .. .. .. ..) (and if you find any on encounters, they are rip-offs, (be aware USA tourists)

 

[Theige]

Farms would certainly drive out the guys growing it in their closet.

The only reason its profitable to sell it out of your closet is the illegality, which makes the price very high.

 

[MobBoss]

Can they make a bio-fuel out of it where the exhaust from the vehicle makes the world a more happy place?

 

[philippe]

Can they make a bio-fuel out of it where the exhaust from the vehicle makes the world a more happy place?

I hope they can make beer out of it

 

[CaptainF]

I think if it were legalized, there would still be a BIG market for people just going into shops and buying it...not everyone wants to dedicate the time and resources to grow their own (though I certainly would assuming it were legal ). Also the people who grow their own are usually more of the heavy smoker/medical patient variety...not everyone uses that much weed.

I remember reading that the marijuana market functions much like the alcohol market does in that 20% of the customers supply 80% of the business.

 

[Archbob]

Lots of tax revenue, thats what.

 

[downtown]

I think if it were legalized, there would still be a BIG market for people just going into shops and buying it...not everyone wants to dedicate the time and resources to grow their own (though I certainly would assuming it were legal ). Also the people who grow their own are usually more of the heavy smoker/medical patient variety...not everyone uses that much weed.

I remember reading that the marijuana market functions much like the alcohol market does in that 20% of the customers supply 80% of the business.

Buy why buy it from a govt store and pay extra in taxes, when you can guy from your same dealer who's been getting you weed since before it was legal?

The black market has already been established, and its going to be cheaper than the regular market. Who would buy "straight" weed?

 

[Chazumi]

Lots of tax revenue, thats what.

My thoughts exactly. I mean, even if it only generated say 1 million dollars over a period of 365 days in a small-medium city, think of all the money that would be SAVED by police, the man-hours, investigations, court costs and court time.

Another thought occured to me...legalizing gay marriages but putting a 10k$ "fee" to register as "domestic partners". Even more mind-blowing costs if they wanted to adopt a kid from one of our overflowing orphanages.

There is money everywhere cmon people!

EDIT:

Buy why buy it from a govt store and pay extra in taxes, when you can guy from your same dealer who's been getting you weed since before it was legal?

The black market has already been established, and its going to be cheaper than the regular market. Who would buy "straight" weed?

Well not that I would know...but I would much rather pay 5$ more than call a guy....wait for a call back....set up a meeting place....have him be late...have it be underweight....have it be crap material... I don't think the government would charge terribly much more than what the black market does. And I agree the reason the black market charges so much is because of inflation from the mass producers of wherever until it hits martinez on 8th street.

 

[zjl56]

Do you think if marijuana is legalized that there would be a large deflux of tobacco smokers?