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Could legalising marijuana save the US economy?

Four decades ago, President Richard Nixon officially launched America's "war on drugs". Generations of US politicians since have continued to crack down on illegal substances, including marijuana.

In his new book, Too High To Fail, author Doug Fine argues that the campaign against cannabis has been expensive and counterproductive.

Critics of the law have questioned both the effectiveness and the morality of it, but Mr Fine - a strong advocate for legalisation - makes an economic case against it.

The illegal marijuana market is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars each year. Mr Fine argues that is money that should be taxed and contributing to the legal economy rather than benefiting criminals.

He travels to Mendocino County, California to see how an effort to legalise the drug at the local level boosted the economy and infuriated the federal authorities.

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Added: Aug-23-2012 Occurred On: Aug-22-2012
By: spartan112
In:
Regional News, Other News, Other
Tags: war on drugs, marijuana,
Location: California, United States (load item map)
Marked as: approved
Views: 1080 | Comments: 71 | Votes: 3 | Favorites: 3 | Shared: 0 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 2
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  • Please legalize weed. Tax it. Use the money to go after the bad shit like heroin, cocaine, meth, the new bath salts crap, etc.... Just let us have our weed. Please.

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (5)

    • @dirtbiker201
      And you expect the government to do a better job with it than it has to date? I want what you're smoking.

      Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

      (0)

    • @dirtbiker201 How can you tax what people are allowed to grow themselves (it is very easy to do)you sound tolerant on this ..

      Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

      (0)

    • @Nazel_Hut I'm pretty sure even with flowerpots on the balcony and some closets in cities and fields in the countryside, there will be a market.

      I do not know for u country who is very intolerant about that, but in mine i think we are over 30% of the entire population who tried cannabis at least one time.

      Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

      (2)

    • @Nazel_Hut
      Tolerant of consumption, or taxation? Legal/illegal? Not sure which you refer to.

      Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

      (0)

    • @goofier I responded towards HIM hinting on an earlier call not to be tolerant. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c18_1345704660

      Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

      (1)

  • the problem is medical firms that are taking money from you,dont whant you to have samthing you can grow yourself.they whant you to take ther crap,to feel better

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (3)

  • legalize it! End the drug war!!!!!!!!

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (3)

  • Half a dozen POTUS have run under the pretention they would ty to help to legalize it. A simple tax like on tabacco ,and billions of dollars in revenue for them to blow is all for the taking. Its totally assine that it has not be legalized by now. I'v smoked for over 35 years and have always belived that in my lifetime it would have been. Safer alternative to alcohol, and billions are being spent weather its "legal" or not.

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (3)

  • It will never happen. Between the pharmaceutical and alcohol lobbies, it won't happen.

    Alcohol producers want to make sure they're the only legal drug in town.

    Big pharma doesn't want a comparatively cheap, addiction-free and most importantly unpatentable pain killer available. How would they hock their synthetic opiates?

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • As a pot advocate I must say...No I do not think it will "save" the economy. It could be a good source of revenue but it's not going to "save" the economy. The only thing we can hope to do to save the economy is stop fucking spending money like it's going out of style. It's not rocket science. Unfortunately neither Romney nor Obama will stop spending.

    A question to my fellow pot heads: Do you understand exactly how large of a number a "trillion" is? We're almost at More..

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • I can't stand it when legalization advicates sell out and pander to greed when arguing for legalization. It is a simple question of the prohibtion being WRONG that should be the main focus. Even if it is another argument for legalization, and a point that is very easily put because it makes sense, saying that the government should legalize weed so they can make money off it is to submit, and grovel and beg. The government has been involved in SERIOUS wrongdoing over the decades they have put peo More..

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • Simple answer yes it can

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • Although I don't smoke, anyone can see this suppression has a valid reasoning behind it. The amount of propaganda and money spent keeping it illegal raises many questions. Take it away from the cartels and pushers and the government will have to actually focus on the real drugs causing problems. All the fat lazy cops will have to go to the east side of their cities to get drug busts, but they will also have to wear flak jackets, because hard drug users/pushers carry heat compared to pot smokers/ More..

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • the drug war is a scam the government pulled on the American people to pry every last cent they could get outta em,,kinda like social security

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (2)

  • Marijuana prohibition is like prohibiting the wearing and sale and making of, T-Shirts. Absolutely bizarre!

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (1)

  • Simple answer: no. Nothing can save it. But it would definitely calm the beasts.

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (1)

  • I hate how much sense that makes....

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (1)

  • I'm still not convinced, but I'm all for hemp, because it does not have THC the active component of marijuana.

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (1)

  • "Could legalising marijuana save the US economy?"

    Probably not but then who would give a fuck?! LOL

    Seriously, I think it would have so many benefits it would change our society tremendously.

    Posted Aug-23-2012 By 

    (1)