Fear Tactics Dominate Pot Debate too

Idiot's Guide to Legalizing PotThree Things Will Happen When Pot is Legal:

Revenue will shift from Gangs, Cartels and Hippies to the State and the People

Gangs will lose a huge chunk of their revenue: Right now most weed is grown in the United States for personal use and friend networks and that weed is not measureable. A large amount still comes across the border from Mexico and is partially fueling the drug wars on the border. Cocaine is a large part of that as well. Once the drugs are here they are sold on the street by Mexican and black gangs.  That money is supporting the gangs and cartels, but not a drop is going to the United States.

Jobs will be created (Validated and taxed actually)

The networks are mostly in place right now for a huge industry to spring up and generate instant tax revenue and jobs for Americans. Currently the growers are all underground, they prefer it that way because they keep 100 percent of the profit, Uncle Sam gets nothing. All the pot shops that would spring up would employ thousands of people in every city. College kids that have been making weed runs to Humboldt for years would be replaced by trucking companies who would ship tons of pot every day to California weed shops. All this business would generate an estimated $1.4 billion in taxes for our miserable state.

DEA, Police and Prisons would find themselves with extra time and money

Suddenly with 50 percent of the non-violent weed offenders released from prison, no more dealers to chase, and gangs losing their revenue, police and prisons would be well funded and properly staffed. Instead of overcrowded prisons and police wasting time chasing a thug from one corner of the block to another for selling $20 bags of weed they could focus on running out the gangs and chasing down white collar criminals who cost this country billions.

In conclusion: the only people who do not want this are essentially people who have never smoked a joint and still believe in the Reagan propaganda… and the politicians who do nothing but posture for the next election, too afraid to actually stand for something important, or even trivially important. Let’s get this done, start taxing, stop imprisoning people for growing a plant and grow up. Alcohol and prescription drugs kill WAY more people every year than illicit drugs. Don’t buy the fear tactics, use your brain.