Official Cannabis Federal Legalization thread

[SilverEagle]

That is the problem for them. To control it, they need it illegaply federally but not at the state level.

Hardly. They just need to patent the “marijuana cigarette”, or the plants themselves. Then Congress legalizes only specific, patented strains of the plant.

Or they mandate that only “approved suppliers” can distribute pot. And build a billion-dollar agency to restrict it to tobacco companies.

"Approved Suppliers". I can see that happening. However for the states that legalize home grown, and several already have, that will dig into their profits but not that much since a majority of users will be in cities and will not be able to grow enough for their own consumption due to lack of growing space.

[Speaker to Animals]

If it is legalized federally, the existing big tobacco firms will move into the mj market.

[Kath]

They won't be so blatant as to openly select the winners. They will create barriers to entry so that only the big guys can afford to comply.

[Montegriffo]

I have never understood why cash strapped govts all over the world don't just do it for the tax revenue alone.
It is happening on a huge scale anyway might as well cash in on the trade.

[Speaker to Animals]

I have never understood why cash strapped govts all over the world don't just do it for the tax revenue alone.
It is happening on a huge scale anyway might as well cash in on the trade.

Because it doesn't pan out.

They have to control supply to keep prices higher. But people can just grow this shit pretty much anywhere and circumvent it. Tobacco is far easier to control for sin taxes, and even there it's a fucking disaster. People will drive well out of a tax jurisdiction to stock up on tobacco products to avoid the punitive taxes. Then you have street entrepreneurs selling "loosies" on the street, which results in cops beating somebody to death for selling a cigarette, and then people burn down half a city block.

That mentality is fucking stupid and, while I might joke about it to troll smokers, it really boggles my mind that people still think it's a good idea.

Your best legalization path is just the federal government getting out of the marijuana issue altogether other than safety regulations like they have for tobacco products, and just let the tobacco companies sell this stuff as usual. For certain, state and municipal governments will continue to try to tax the shit out of it. A black market will grow. And it will be the same thing we have now with cops raiding homes in the middle of the night to arrest people for growing and distributing "illegal" marijuana outside the taxation system.

Narco states are evil.

[Speaker to Animals]

The only way to end the killing is for the government to NOT use this drug as a golden goose for taxation policy. Good luck, I guess.

[C-Mag]

That is the problem for them. To control it, they need it illegaply federally but not at the state level.

Hardly. They just need to patent the “marijuana cigarette”, or the plants themselves. Then Congress legalizes only specific, patented strains of the plant.

Or they mandate that only “approved suppliers” can distribute pot. And build a billion-dollar agency to restrict it to tobacco companies.

+1

[SilverEagle]

I have never understood why cash strapped govts all over the world don't just do it for the tax revenue alone.
It is happening on a huge scale anyway might as well cash in on the trade.

Because it doesn't pan out.

They have to control supply to keep prices higher. But people can just grow this shit pretty much anywhere and circumvent it. Tobacco is far easier to control for sin taxes, and even there it's a fucking disaster. People will drive well out of a tax jurisdiction to stock up on tobacco products to avoid the punitive taxes. Then you have street entrepreneurs selling "loosies" on the street, which results in cops beating somebody to death for selling a cigarette, and then people burn down half a city block.

That mentality is fucking stupid and, while I might joke about it to troll smokers, it really boggles my mind that people still think it's a good idea.

Your best legalization path is just the federal government getting out of the marijuana issue altogether other than safety regulations like they have for tobacco products, and just let the tobacco companies sell this stuff as usual. For certain, state and municipal governments will continue to try to tax the shit out of it. A black market will grow. And it will be the same thing we have now with cops raiding homes in the middle of the night to arrest people for growing and distributing "illegal" marijuana outside the taxation system.

Narco states are evil.

They'll do it regardless if people are growing it or not. They don't need to get 100% of the tax revenue. +70% will make them happy and they'll still get to crack heads and throw people in jail for basically tax evasion.

[Kath]

Colorado's tax revenue from MJ stuff is insane. It was $70 Million in 2015, which is higher than their alcohol tax revenue.

[SilverEagle]

Colorado's tax revenue from MJ stuff is insane. It was $70 Million in 2015, which is higher than their alcohol tax revenue.

Wait until Cal's tax revenues come in for 2019 when they are fully up and running. Too much capital to be made by everybody. Viewing through the lens of economics and not morals, it's basically retarded to have it remain illegal.