Marijuana Legalization

[Jaxb]

There is a proposition on the ballot in favor of legalizing marijuana in California. What are the best arguments in favor of and against the legalization of marijuana?

[Jaecp]

Against? The usual fear mongering, but that is blunted by the half dozen states with recreational weed and the way medical marijuana has been abused for casual use since its inception. The only good arguments are going to be ones dealing with specific parts of the individual bill like "does this provide enough revenue" or whatever. I don't know California's law so I can't comment on anything like that. Also, plenty of decent arguments are impossible to make because of the existence and easy access Americans have to Tobacco, Alcohol and Prescription Medications.

For? Pretty easy. Negative side effects from the illegal drugs come primarily in 2 forms. First, the side effects of the substances themselves and, Second, from the competition between groups wishing to profit from it. Legalization blunts the latter by removing their ability to make a profit and for the former Marijuana's active effects are not substantively different from that of alcohol --better in many ways-- and the side effects are mild to say the least.

[The Thinker]

There are no good arguments against it. Done.

[Carrikature]

Also, plenty of decent arguments are impossible to make because of the existence and easy access Americans have to Tobacco, Alcohol and Prescription Medications.

This. The better route seems to be legalization followed by altering public perception (cigarettes, anyone?).

[Starlight]

A comparison of countries around the world seems to show that legalizing, taxing and regulating all drugs is the best policy. Such a policy would help the US move towards properly addressing the opioid epidemic, and stabilize Latin American countries by ending the drug war and dissolving the power of the drug lords there.

Prohibition on alcohol was historical one of the great policy failures in the Western world and empowered mob bosses who controlled large smuggling operations, and eventually it was found that legalizing alcohol was simply the better option. We see the same results today from applying the policies of the Prohibition era to drugs, and would likely see a similar improvement through legalization.

[Darth Xena]

Legalize it all.

[Sparko]

Against? The usual fear mongering, but that is blunted by the half dozen states with recreational weed and the way medical marijuana has been abused for casual use since its inception. The only good arguments are going to be ones dealing with specific parts of the individual bill like "does this provide enough revenue" or whatever. I don't know California's law so I can't comment on anything like that. Also, plenty of decent arguments are impossible to make because of the existence and easy access Americans have to Tobacco, Alcohol and Prescription Medications.

For? Pretty easy. Negative side effects from the illegal drugs come primarily in 2 forms. First, the side effects of the substances themselves and, Second, from the competition between groups wishing to profit from it. Legalization blunts the latter by removing their ability to make a profit and for the former Marijuana's active effects are not substantively different from that of alcohol --better in many ways-- and the side effects are mild to say the least.

You could argue that you are taking money out of drug dealer's pockets by legalizing pot. which means they will have to either sell harsher drugs, or do something else (probably criminal) to get money.

[guacamole]

Against? The usual fear mongering, but that is blunted by the half dozen states with recreational weed and the way medical marijuana has been abused for casual use since its inception. The only good arguments are going to be ones dealing with specific parts of the individual bill like "does this provide enough revenue" or whatever. I don't know California's law so I can't comment on anything like that. Also, plenty of decent arguments are impossible to make because of the existence and easy access Americans have to Tobacco, Alcohol and Prescription Medications.

For? Pretty easy. Negative side effects from the illegal drugs come primarily in 2 forms. First, the side effects of the substances themselves and, Second, from the competition between groups wishing to profit from it. Legalization blunts the latter by removing their ability to make a profit and for the former Marijuana's active effects are not substantively different from that of alcohol --better in many ways-- and the side effects are mild to say the least.

I see what you did there...

[rogue06]

You could argue that you are taking money out of drug dealer's pockets by legalizing pot. which means they will have to either sell harsher drugs, or do something else (probably criminal) to get money.

For most folks who sell pot it isn't their primary source of income but more of a subsidy, often done to pay for their own drugs.

[seer]

We should legalization reefer, make opioids a medical issue, let any doctor prescribe them to addicts and shoot crack dealers on sight. There, all done.

[Sparko]

For most folks who sell pot it isn't their primary source of income but more of a subsidy, often done to pay for their own drugs.

I hear various stories, from dealers using the legality to grow the pot in plain sight, and then sell it in another state, to undercutting the legal shops because the legal shops have to charge taxes and such, so the street dealer is basically the equivalent of the tax-stamp free cigarette dealer. But basically the conclusion is that if legalizing marijuana was supposed to put the illegal drug dealers out of business, it hasn't really. They are figuring other ways to remain criminals.

[rogue06]

I hear various stories, from dealers using the legality to grow the pot in plain sight, and then sell it in another state, to undercutting the legal shops because the legal shops have to charge taxes and such, so the street dealer is basically the equivalent of the tax-stamp free cigarette dealer. But basically the conclusion is that if legalizing marijuana was supposed to put the illegal drug dealers out of business, it hasn't really. They are figuring other ways to remain criminals.

I hear stories of various businesses doing all sorts of things to get around the law. Grocery stores taking food stamps for stuff that isn't covered. Liquor stores selling to minors. Doctors engaged in medicare fraud. But nobody seriously thinks stuff like that are legitimate reasons for prohibiting grocery stores, liquor stores and doctor offices.

But you are right in that some folks will simply find other ways to make money illegally. That is what happened after the repeal of Prohibition. I guess we should outlaw alcohol again.

[Sparko]

I hear stories of various businesses doing all sorts of things to get around the law. Grocery stores taking food stamps for stuff that isn't covered. Liquor stores selling to minors. Doctors engaged in medicare fraud. But nobody seriously thinks stuff like that are legitimate reasons for prohibiting grocery stores, liquor stores and doctor offices.

But you are right in that some folks will simply find other ways to make money illegally. That is what happened after the repeal of Prohibition. I guess we should outlaw alcohol again.

Crooks will be crooks. My point is that one of the arguments I kept hearing for legalizing pot is that it would put the drug dealers out of business and crime would go down. Right. Just like legalizing alcohol stopped the mob. Crooks will just move on to other crimes. Or undercut the legal versions of booze or pot or cigarettes or whatever product consumers want.

About the only real argument is that you can probably trust the legal versions of the drugs more than you can the illegal versions. You never know what you will be getting when you buy booze, cigarettes or pot on a street corner.

[rogue06]

Crooks will be crooks. My point is that one of the arguments I kept hearing for legalizing pot is that it would put the drug dealers out of business and crime would go down. Right. Just like legalizing alcohol stopped the mob. Crooks will just move on to other crimes. Or undercut the legal versions of booze or pot or cigarettes or whatever product consumers want.

About the only real argument is that you can probably trust the legal versions of the drugs more than you can the illegal versions. You never know what you will be getting when you buy booze, cigarettes or pot on a street corner.

IIRC, after ending prohibition we did see a sharp drop in crime, especially violent crime.

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Showing the sharp decline in homicides after Prohibition was repealed

[Sparko]

IIRC, after ending prohibition we did see a sharp drop in crime, especially violent crime.

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Showing the sharp decline in homicides after Prohibition was repealed

could have been the end of the depression too. People had more stuff and didn't have to steal and kill for it.