Could we save American jobs by legalizing marijuana?

[theHandpuppet]

Okay, I'm a bit naive on this subject (much to the amusement of my friends) but I've never heard a logical argument that explains why marijuana is illegal in the first place. Having said that, I don't want to debate the pros and cons of that particular argument but my question is this: how much is spent by local, state and federal enforcement agencies in the prosecution of the current laws? Those figures would include not only searches, but prosecutions, imprisonments -- all the resources now squandered (IMO) to enforce these laws. Has such an inclusive figure ever been estimated?

It just seems to me that with communities and states across the country sacrificing teachers, govt workers, even fire and police, wouldn't it make basic common sense to save a lot of American jobs by putting a stop to this country's reeferphobia? How much could we save by stopping the prosecution of these cases, not to mention what it takes to incarcerate those convicted? Good God, wouldn't folks rather see people convicted of marijuana possession sent home than the teachers of their schools?

Maybe I'm being too simplistic here, but it surely seems that in this ever-growing economic crisis, this would be one way for all communities and states to save huge amounts of money needed elsewhere. Is this truly such a taboo subject that no politician is even willing to discuss it? Someone help me out here -- I'm trying to understand what seems to me to be a no-brainer.

[slackmaster]

1. Other than for prison guards

Probably yes.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Absolutely! But cops would give out many more tickets for driving UNDER the speed limit ...

as well as without headlights at night. :evilgrin:

[crikkett]

44. I submit that you'll find a lot less people driving

since marijuana is a gateway drug to all sorts of enlightened behavior, like walking and taking public transit.

[havocmom]

3. Hmm, prisoners do work really cheap for corporations....

Marijuana laws put a lot of people in jail.

Marijuana uses tend to be a more peaceful lot than offenders in the clink for alcohol fueled crimes. So because of the illegal status of marijuana,prisons get more malleable people to do cheap work for corporations.

The more cheap labor there is available for corporations, either abroad or incarcerated here in the US, the less jobs there are for people in the general American workforce....

You might be on to something in ways you never considered. Of course, there would be less jobs in those For-Profit prisons, but that is fine by me. I think the incarceration of REAL criminals is a matter we, as a people should be dealing with, not fostering out to some corporation that cuts corners for more profit. It should be our responsibility, and run by the State as our communal proxy.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. IOW, federally mandated slavery.

Gotta have people to work in the furniture shop who won't steal all the tools and make shivs of them.

[havocmom]

15. Call centers and some reservations made with prisoner work

Think about THAT next time you give your credit card # to a representative, you don't know, over the phone.

edited to add: Yep basically it is slavery, just like in China. Great for CEOs without linguistic talent.

[customerserviceguy]

4. It's something we need to do, but it is not going to solve all our problems

There's a lot to be said for collecting a few tax dollars off of a substance that most people would be able to grow themselves, and for saving police/prison resources for real criminals rather than pot smokers, but it is not going to solve the budget deficit.

As for political courage, I would expect to see some movement on this in about two years, we should have vanquished the Repukes by then, they won't even be able to creatively sputter about this.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

5. Save jobs? I don't think so. Create new jobs? Very possibly.

By legalizing it you could generate a fair amount of jobs dedicated to the cultivation, sale, taxation, and regulation of the product. That could easily be thousands of new jobs.

[eridani]

43. Specific varieties would probably be grown for medical use, but

--I really doubt that recreational users would buy something that's so easy to grow. If you can't grow what you need, you probably have a psychological problem that you need to deal with.

[crikkett]

45. I predict that a lot more hemp than pot will be grown

and we'll experience a renaissance of healthy, home-grown products.

Hooray!

[jmowreader]

49. Oregano is easy to grow too...

Not many people grow their own. I think that will be the case with pot too--some people will grow their own, most will not.

Besides, what happens if you're throwing a pot party on Friday, need 16 lids and have three joints? There is no way you can grow a pound of pot in three days. You can certainly buy one, though.

[Mojorabbit]

6. Well it is pretty easy to grow

if it was made legal I would plant some and would not pay any taxes on it just like I don't pay taxes on the tomatoes I grow? I guess you could have shops with various brand names that would make a profit for those who don't like to garden.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Yes but most people don't grow tomatoes, they buy them at the store.

I believe the same would hold true for Spiderman's girlfriend.

[rurallib]

7. Yes and taxes on it could be a good source of income

not to mention doctors could prescribe it without fear of jail.

[tomreedtoon]

8. Wouldn't save jobs, but dude...who cares?

Make enough of the stuff available and nobody will care if they have a job or not. Sure won't be any of those riots, man, 'cause dopers are too high to get mad at anybody. So who cares if those big guys take all the money and homes and stuff like that? Just as long as they keep giving us free rolling papers...

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. Seriesly?

or :sarcasm:

[tomreedtoon]

32. I went to college. I KNEW pot smokers.

Marijuana makes you very, very passive. The dopers wouldn't get upset if you dumped a glass of gasoline down their backs and set them on fire. It's the ALCOHOLICS that are the ones that get angry and fight.

Legalizing marijuana might make great political sense, in that prosecution for the stuff has been a legal nightmare. But actually using the stuff would turn potential protesters (what this nation needs) into a bunch of passive morons. Or morans, if you will.

And I'm sorry, I don't have the money to buy one of those fancy red-dripping "sarcasm" icons. So I don't speak sarcastically. People here haven't yet learned how to be angry. Which is why, I guess, they are so interested in decriminalizing grass.

[Quantess]

37. What does attending college have to do with knowing pot smokers?

I've also known pot smokers, but I don't specifically recall meeting any at college.

Anyway, I sort of agree with you. Marijuana definitely needs to be legalized, because the current laws are ridiculous, ineffective, with sometimes tragic results. And like you, I don't enjoy marijuana, either. After the first 15 minutes it makes me more depressed than alcohol, and the depression lingers for days.

[Patchuli]

39. "Marijuana makes you very, very passive."

So very NOT true.

[tridim]

9. It's illegal because smoking it causes prison.

[leftchick]

10. At the Very Least the Snack Industry would explode!

Cheetos anyone? :smoke:

[Cerridwen]

11. There are many farmers who think it would create "jobs" for their

family (real family, not agri-business "family") farms as it would allow them to grow hemp; the "evil weed's" kissin' cousin.

From hemp cultivation could come a textile industry, additional resources for building materials, hemp-made plastics, oh, I won't go through the whole list.

It could give a boost to the family farm and to industry. Then, it could relieve police forces, lawyers and judges of wasting time and taxpayer money for busting, processing, and imprisoning the "evil stoners."

Save money in some places and create money in others. Sounds like a win/win to me; but hey, I'm not an "expert economist." /snark

[DCKit]

20. You forgot the most important parts....

Hemp oil is one of the most nutritious and lowest in saturated fats of all the vegetable oils.
Hemp oil is a direct, clean-burning substitute for diesel and only requires "drying" - no chemical conversion.
Hemp seed is valuable for both human and livestock food products.
Hemp doesn't require nearly the fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides as other crops.
Hemp improves the soil and greatly reduces erosion.
Hemp fabric is far more durable and has a far lower ecological impact than cotton.
Hemp paper is far more durable and has a far lower ecological impact than wood pulp.

You don't have to buy the "Hemp is a Miracle Plant" line to realize it's the single most valuable and versatile plant on earth.

It's worth going on and on about hemp. Too many people still don't get it.

[Cerridwen]

21. I figured I'd post a smidge and someone else would post a smidge

then someone else might post a smidge. And the thread would keep popping up.

There's a method to my terseness. :D

[DCKit]

27. OK, but *I* couldn't let it go with all the ____ unfilled. n/t

[Cerridwen]

28. See? Now we've kicked it twice and maybe a couple more

people have read my smidge and your list.

*Now,* I'll provide a link to a more detailed description of the uses of hemp as well as this paper from the Center for New Crops & Plant Products, at Purdue University, Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America.

Now the thread pops up on DU's "radar" again.

[DCKit]

30. Ah, so you pimped me into kicking your thread. I feel used.

I'll never fall for that again.

[Cerridwen]

33. If typing something that is of interest to you in such a way

that you feel like replying is defined as "pimped," uh, yeah, I guess that is what I did.

Other people might call it having a conversation, but that's just them, huh?

LOL

oh, edit to add: this isn't my thread - just my little thread-jack. :D

[wovenpaint]

34. here's another smidge

http://www.hemp-sisters.com/Information/about.htm

"Hemp is as traditional a fabric as you can find. The hemp plant is the oldest cultivated fiber plant known, with a history of use in textiles and fabrics dating back as far as 8000 BC. The reasons for hemp's continued popularity throughout ten millenia are still applicable today, and are the basis for the renewed interest in its cultivation and use.

* The hemp plant produces the strongest natural fiber known. Hemp fabric is three times stronger than cotton fabric of the same weight; it is also warmer, more absorbent, and longer wearing."

[Cerridwen]

35. :D

:D

Thank you!

[Raineyb]

29. If hemp paper was good enough for the constitution it's good enough for me!

Seriously though, considering all the uses for hemp the fact that it's illegal in this country just points to more American stupidity.

Regards

[Cerridwen]

36. Hey, Raineyb.

Good point; though it was the draft(s) of the Constitution as it was cheaper than the vellum(?) on which it was finally printed. In some ways, that makes it better. Paper from hemp was an "inexpensive" alternative. :D

Regards to you as well.

[Grinchie]

48. You forgot that it is a living thing, and it has a right to exist as much as we do

Hemp has evolved over the millenia to the useful plant it is and modern Sivilization wants to kill it.

While they are at it, they will kill all those wild rainforests as well, and put in vast green deserts of GMO soy.

I wish they would make Yellow Star Thistle illegal. Then I could watch the cops struggle trying to eradicate it.

[TBF]

14. It would save so much by keeping non-violent offenders out of the criminal

justice system as well. I'm for legalizing.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. No kidding. How many people have gone into prison as stoners

and come out as criminals?

State prisons are nothing but higher education for criminals, and federal pens are grad school. It's not an educational route we should be sending our kids into.

[Historic NY]

16. The snack business would pick up.

[Tsiyu]

17. It is a no-brainer, my friend, but you are being rational and thoughtful

Most on this board seem to enjoy the irrational nature of our Drug War. They like playing stupid, don't like doing the actual math involved.

Their minds are hermetically sealed shut as they reach in their medicine cabinets for their legal Xanax, Prozac, Hydros and Oxys and wash them down with their legal liquor.

They LIKE the illogic of spending billions to hurt rather than help Americans.

But good luck with your thread. They are good RATIONAL questions you've asked.

[zagging]

22. Yes, but nobody would feel like doing them.

[dem mba]

23. of course I am for this however

if you are looking to give the impotent Right Wing some ammo to gain momentum, this could be it. All they have are the culture wars right now, which makes legalizing hemp/mj a fight they would want to have.

Pragmatically, we should legalize hemp immediately as well as mj for medicinal purposes. Full out legalization doesn't even exist in Amsterdam, so I really doubt it would go over here. Decriminalization is more realistic and is what we might find in scattered locales like the Pacific West and some East Coast cities.

As far as mj becoming so widespread it's stocked in grocery stores the way alcohol is, well, I just don't see that happening in puritanical America. The devil's cabbage just has too bad a rep in some circles.

[BlooInBloo]

24. And it cures cancer, and provides higher quality erections, and it gives me PONIES!

[Xenotime]

25. Now would be THE BEST TIME to launch that industry.

[defendandprotect]

26. Yes . . . let's go --- !!!

And let's return to HEMP . . .

I'd love to have some American RAYON . .. !!!

[Occam Bandage]

31. No, but that doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to legalize it. nt

[crimsonblue]

38. It'd create a lot of jobs

not only in agriculture, but in the transportation, food, medical research, alternative energy, paper, textiles, sex, and entertainment industries. After smoking pot, people want to eat cereal, have sex, watch tv or movies, smoke cigarettes, and basically chill. We'd have a much lower incidence of crime if more people smoked pot, because when you're high, walking to your car and robbing a liquor store just seems like too much work.

[Baikonour]

40. Require a license to grow. Tax everyone with a license dependant on how many plants they grow.

IE - the more plants, the higher the taxes.

Takes care of the whole "well people would just grow it on their own" anti-tax argument.

But, I think we should focus on decriminalization before we look at full-blown taxation of the substance.

[Raineyb]

42. Why? We don't force tobacco farmers to get a license to grow their crops n/t

[cliffordu]

41. No. Nobody would care, though....

[Grinchie]

46. Legalization would put thousands out of work.

And thats a good thing, but maybe not for them.

First of all, there is a huge underground economy that depends on the production of Cannabis. These growers spender ridiculous amonts on Grow Lights, indoor growing rooms, generators, electricity, and all sorts of esoteric fertilizers. All this is supplied by your friendly Hydroponic Dealer.

If it were legalized, supply would actully increase due to the fact that the desired scarcity would be eliminated for the most part, as people would be growing it in their back yard for the same cost as it takes to water their lawn.

Then the income would be eliminated and the underground economy would disappear. Houses that are being rented soley to raise cannabis would lose even more tenants, and we would see more distress added on top of the current housing crisis.

However, I think that we as a nation have to make the decision to remove this travesty of current Cannabis Law and move ahead to a new tack. It will be tough for a while, but it would be good in the long run.

Things are so bad already that another blow wouldn't hurt so much.

[Ganja Ninja]

47. It's one more multi-billion dollar industry we could add to our economy.

But don't worry. I'm sure that the politicians will make it a corporate only feeding troff. Then it will get outsourced to other countries and the average pot smoker will not be allowed to grow their own.