Well I was listening to a speech last night on The Federal War on Drugs in the class. The speaker actually presented a very good point, and he knew what he was talking about unlike most people on the subject.
He advocated ending The Federal War on Drugs, but he raised a really good point. If Marijuana were legal for recreational use and then made a taxable income, it would be financially beneficial. However, once The Government raises the tax on Marijuana we will again be in a War on Drugs, because users will retreat to The Black Market once more to get it for cheaper. I'm not sure how to refute this. Here in Connecticut there was a tax on tobacco and cigarettes and it went to hell.
The state of Rhode Island is talking of its legalization for both Recreational and Medical use. The thing is, unless its legalized on a Federal scale people from this state will travel over to RI causing massive drug trafficking between the states where its legal and where its not.
Additionally, what is a non-statist way to control recreational drug use? I mean if we legalized all the drugs(Heroine, Crack, Cocaine, ect).
1. Rid all taxation.
2. Let the states worry about it - quit thinking with a Federal mind as if you are a god.
3. Why would anybody need to coerce/control recreational drug use? A virtuous, responsible person wouldn't be thinking of such a question.
wilderness: 1. Rid all taxation. 2. Let the states worry about it - quit thinking with a Federal mind as if you are a god. 3. Why would anybody need to coerce/control recreational drug use? A virtuous, responsible person wouldn't be thinking of such a question.
I could agree with that. However, all the statists say the teens are not responsible enough to make their own decisions, they often get easily hooked on drugs through a gateway drug at a social drinking party.
Democracy for Breakfast:Additionally, what is a non-statist way to control recreational drug use? I mean if we legalized all the drugs(Heroine, Crack, Cocaine, ect).
Democracy for Breakfast: I could agree with that.
I could agree with that.
ok
Democracy for Breakfast: However, all the statists say the teens are not responsible enough...
However, all the statists say the teens are not responsible enough...
Statists say ALL people are not responsible enough. Statists are pessimistic about human nature and don't share in the optimism that comes with people living in liberty.
Snowflake: Democracy for Breakfast:Additionally, what is a non-statist way to control recreational drug use? I mean if we legalized all the drugs(Heroine, Crack, Cocaine, ect). Employers aren't exactly happy about drug users. The reason I don't do drugs is not b/c of legality, its b/c my boss wants me to be straight in the head.Otherwise, I would be doing acid right now.
You just shouldn't do it on the job. I've done Acid, and I am "straight in the head".
Democracy for Breakfast:You just shouldn't do it on the job. I've done Acid, and I am "straight in the head".
Ironic, isn't it? The statist says that people are not responsible enough to make their own decisions, yet they seem to forget that the regulators chosen to bear that responsibility on our behalf are just as human, and therefore, not responsible enough. Perhaps we need to find a race of aliens to rule us?
The Rev
Lifes a piece of shit, when you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
Just remember it's all a show, keep em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
He advocated ending The Federal War on Drugs, but he raised a really good point. If Marijuana were legal for recreational use and then made a taxable income, it would be financially beneficial. However, once The Government raises the tax on Marijuana we will again be in a War on Drugs, because users will retreat to The Black Market once more to get it for cheaper. I'm not sure how to refute this.
One way to counter this is that purchasing things on the black markets involve some pretty heavy transaction costs.
1. You are breking the law which for most people is a stressful experience at the best o times, and exposes you to possible additional costs down the line
2. You have no consumer protection - you can't sue your supplier if he sells you a substandard product
3. If you get into debt with black markets suppliers, they can only enforce their claims on you through violence. Most people think that's a big fat minus.
In the current system, there's no alternative. If you want drugs, you have to bear the transaction costs. If there is a legal alternative, how many people would be willing to pay slightly more for avoiding all the hassles that come with black market buying?
Let's take an example: I smoke cigarettes, and they are pretty damn expensive in Iceland. I know there is a black market in smuggled cigarettes, and if I really wanted I probably could go out and find a supplier that would sell me eastern European cigarettes at a substantially lower price. But, at least at the current prices, I´d rather pay more and just walk across the street to the nearest kiosk than jump through hoops to acquire cheap smokes - and a substantial part of that additional cost is because of taxation.
Snowflake: But some of the active ingredient gets stored in your spine.
But some of the active ingredient gets stored in your spine.
This myth is not true.
Democracy means the opportunity to be everyone's slave.—Karl Kraus.
One free-market way to lower drug usage would be to eliminate tobacco subsidies, assuming tobacco is a "gateway" drug.
Periodically the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.
Thomas Jefferson
Additionally, what is a non-statist way to control recreational drug use?
To do nothing, there is no need for our overlords to tell us what we can and can not do.
And for the love of god don't tax it. I hate people that use that argument...
If you tax it, then there is more money in the government's hands, that is never good.
And everyone in the country isn't going to turn into potheads if we legalize it. A lot of people don't realize that we have some pretty intense legal drugs like salvia.
Also, if I wanted to, I have like 10 friends that could hook me up with weed without the thumbs up by the government.
Robbery: The nation's fastest growing career!
Duties: Giving the people their bread and circuses, extracting payment by force, validating legitimacy, etc.
Job Outlook: Ever increasing and shows no signs of stopping!
I'm suspicious that the biggest lobbying group against the general legalization of controlled substances are the drug peddlers themselves...
I have no doubt that they are, Al Capone loved that Prohibition period...
Snowflake: Democracy for Breakfast:You just shouldn't do it on the job. I've done Acid, and I am "straight in the head". But some of the active ingredient gets stored in your spine, so they think it might make you have a flashback attack while you're on the job.There's also a strong anti drug culture in the corporate offices. I don't think the anti-drug culture is appropriate to apply to children, but it has more merit in corporate affairs. Imagine you are investing a quarter of a billion dollars onto an offshore drilling rig. The technical complexity of these platforms rivals modern space shuttles. I wouldn't want drugs anywhere near this project.
Myth: LSD Stays in your mind/body/spine forever