Cannabis: Whats the harm?

international | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Friday February 04, 2011 01:01

by Ronoc

I have watched the recent BBC3 documentary about Cannabis consumption in the UK. There's interviews with people who say they are addicted and then people who are not, and in the latest episode, it was about drug smuggling and illegal immigrants who work in the house where the weed is grown. The customs manage to stop alot of weed getting into the UK but its only a fraction, and the money involved is quite alot. Its shows all the negative sides of the illegal trade and trys to make smokers feel guilty.
But I wonder if it was legal how much money could be made from this crop and how much crime would be cut...

So lots of people smoke weed or hash and only very few are addicted. Its less harmful than tobacco or alcohol but its illegal. If it was legal it could be taxed, it would cut out the work of the police (so they could attend to serious crimes and also saving money), it would cut out profits for illegal gangs and there would be less violence on the streets. People tend to call it a gate way drug but from my experience alcohol and tobacco are the gateway drugs.
In our time when we are in the midst of an EU/IMF bailout, why are we not considering serious alternatives to raise tax? People are using it no matter if its illegal or legal. If it was legal we would actually save money (police, prisons and so on) whilst gaining tax from it.

Below is a funny but interesting video...

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Comments (4 of 4)

taxing weed

by ordinary citizen

Fri Feb 04, 2011 19:16

it has been estimated that $44 billion could be made on taxing drugs in the US and the war on drugs is costing them $33billion
thats a $77 billion readjustment
when one country starts taxing weed the floodgates will open and there will be no going back as it becomes blatantly clear how much revenue can be raised this way on top of the savings made on incarceration and the whole judicial process.
The Bill in California a few months ago got 46% yes with all politicians saying no and the wording being vague and open to attack from conservatives.
there is a 2% increase annually in its legalization over there which means we have four years to wait but by then Palin or some other Republican could be in who will block the power of a state to apply its own laws in this matter as Obama is doing.
the next referendum is in 2 years in Denver, i cannot find the date but have a feeling it may be held at same time as next congressional/presidential election which again could mean its demise if a Republican gets into the White House
i think we should have two referendums here one for medical use and the other for full legalizing and taxation
i feel the first should pass but the second may require some work, especially to motivate the voter base.
if the California legalization referendum had been held in 2008 it may have passed as a large liberal vote came out and voted for Obama whereas the Tea Partyers/ Fox News/ Glenn Beck whipped up enough anger in mostly stupid white people in the last election to win back one pillar of government over there. The recession hitting hard left a lot of 2008 voters apathetic and not fired up enough vote.
the same could happen here if lets say another Abortion ref was held the same day. In such a scenario i could still see the medical use passing but would not be so confident in passing full legaisation.
Ming has a good chance of being elected and could be in a Jackie Healy Rae scenario in the future, ideally with a combination of Left Wing Parties who are more inclined to be open to such an idea. The referendum idea could be an option open to him to allow other policies of his be implemented as would be the possible case with a Left Alliance.
alternatively it could just be legalized in Europe. Countries like Portugal have decriminalised small quantities of everything and seen a 50% drop in HIV in Heroin addicts. they did this for monetary reasons as has Mexico and are not going back to the old ways as they have seen it works. so our side is growing and this concept may soon the the most popular throughout Europe and thus be brought to us without us having to do anything.
the reason i would like to see it legalised is because this would allow hemp be grown more easily. it absorbs 4 times the carbon of trees. it is being used in building breathable houses good for asthma sufferers now but could replace concrete in all our homes if the cannabis laws were relaxed, not to mention its being the strongest natural fiber in the world. i have a ten year old hemp coat in great condition. its root goes 5metres down and is a great starter crop especially in desert areas on top of not needing any herbicides as it is a weed that blocks out competing crops. it is for these reasons that cannabis may have been made illegal in the US in the 1930s using logic that would be laughed at if tried in the modern age.
ref. "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" Jack Herer www.jackherer.com

put the politicans on the spot on the doorsteps or on facebook etc

by flash gordon

Mon Feb 07, 2011 22:11

Why dont you ask all the independent candidates where they stand on this issue? They are all looking for votes and if enough people email them and annoy them on facebook they will know that there are a lot of potential votes to be got by not remaining silent ant longer. You could also try the mainstream parties like labour greens and sinn fein but it would probably be a waste of time in their case. Joe Higgins would be worth a try though and Richard Boyd Barrett etc have nothing to lose and many votes to gain!

try to get a few famous singers to support your campaign

by pop star

Tue Feb 08, 2011 17:02

Most well known singers would be cool on this issue, maybe a few of them would be willing to go public with support for you? Bono and Geldoff seem to have plenty to say on most issues why not write to them and see how mouthy they really are? How about Liam Neeson or Gabriiel Byrne and definitely Colin Farrell should be contacted and asked if they will sign your petition and back your campaign.

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by DT

Thu Feb 10, 2011 17:05

ordinary citizen, using the term 'drugs' is nonsensical. You cannot lump cannabis and heroin into the same category. The arguments for legalising cannabis are more legitimate than for other, more serious drugs. However, it would be extremely problematic unless it was a trans-europe legalisation. the scope for abuse of people in the trade would only be heightened by our legalising it unless other countries did the same.

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Cannabis: Whats the harm?

Comments (4 of 4)