Posted on 02/03/2012 10:57:07 AM PST by gabriellah
In 2011, Gallup reported that 62% of 18-29 year olds and 50% of the general public supports the legalization of marijuana; 69% of liberals and even 34% of conservatives also support such measures. Obviously the pro-pot movement has taken root in the American populace and especially in the minds of Millennials (even managing to infiltrate the minds of the most conservative among us).
Myth #1: Legalization Would bring in Enormous Tax Revenues
The Heritage Foundation’s Charles Stimson published an extensive legal memorandum urging for the failure of the RCTC Act of 2010, which would have legalized pot in California. This memorandum debunks the myth that legalization would eliminate the black market for marijuana and would bring in enormous revenue, therefore stimulating the economy.
Dr. Rosalie Pacula, a drug policy expert at the RAND Corporation for over 15 years, testified that under the California law: “There would be tremendous profit motive for the existing black market providers to stay in the market. The only way California could effectively eliminate the black market for marijuana is to take away the substantial profits in the market and allow the price of marijuana to fall to an amount close to the cost of production. Doing so, however, will mean substantially smaller tax revenue”(Stimson 9).
In other words, simple economics expose the assumption that drug dealers would voluntarily enter the legal market, when the cost of production is virtually zero. In fact, it was calculated that “an individual will be able to produce 24,000 to 240,000 joints legally each year” (Stimson 9). This is more than any individual could possibly consume, and it is encouraging individuals to sell pot on the side, subverting taxation. Why would anyone buy marijuana legally when they would have to pay a higher price for it? It would be a much higher price considering California proposed a $50/ounce tax on top of the list price. Why would drug dealers leave the black market when they don’t have to?
Fiscal conservatives should not be lured into such intellectual inconsistency. We are not going to solve the budget crises and pay off our $15 trillion debt with whatever change is left from a feeble government attempt to tax the un-taxable.
Myth #2: Marijuana is a Victimless Drug
Marijuana has a history of being linked to crime in the United States and throughout the world. “60% of arrestees test positive for marijuana use in the United States, England, and Australia” (Stimson 6). And while many pro-legalization advocates argue that most of these marijuana users are people arrested for non-violent crimes, they fail to note that marijuana usage is strongly correlated with cocaine and other more serious drugs, as well as murder, assault, money laundering, and smuggling (Stimson 5-6). Surely, legalization advocates do not believe that all marijuana users are little angels?
In fact, in Amsterdam, one of Europe’s most violent cities, pot is legal and a prevalent aspect of society (Stimson 6). Heritage reports that “Officials are in the process of closing marijuana dispensaries, or ‘coffee shops,’ because of the crime associated with their operation” (Stimson 6).
California’s partial legalization via usage of “medical marijuana” is beginning to show the same effects. LAPD reports that areas surrounding cannabis clubs have seen a 200% increase in robberies and a 130.8% increase in aggravated assault (Stimson 6). A drug that increases crime doesn’t exactly qualify as “victimless.”
In addition to this, local communities where neighborhoods and residential housing are dominant will be adversely affected. Residents who live in areas with extensive marijuana usage have repeatedly complained about the incredible smell put off by the plants. Even worse than the smell though, is the growing crime rate in residential areas which is induced by theft of marijuana from yards where it is grown (Stimson 6).
It may be ideologically convenient for some to oversimplify the issue as a violation against individual liberty, but when all the facts are presented, it is obvious that the only liberty being violated is the blatant disregard for property rights, law, and order.
Myth #3: Marijuana = Alcohol
Legalization advocates link marijuana and alcohol as equally mild intoxicants, suggesting that they deserve equal treatment under the law. However, as the above research suggests, marijuana is more dangerous to the health and safety of society.
For better or for worse, alcohol as been part of human history for millennia. Typically, individuals responsibly self-monitor their consumption thereof. Alcohol has also been regulated by cultural norms rather than by government. Society, culture, and religion have proven to be the best regulators of alcoholic consumption. The same cannot be said of marijuana – as seen in the information presented earlier.
In addition to its lack of historical precedent in America’s historical experience, marijuana also has much more severe health effects than alcohol. 1) marijuana is far more likely than alcohol to be cause addiction, 2) it is usually consumed to the point of intoxication, 3) it has no known intrinsically healthful properties (it can only relieve pain –and artificially at that), 4) it has toxins that can result in birth defects, pain, respiratory damage, brain damage, and stroke, 5) it increases heart rate by 20% to 100% elevating the risk of heart attack (Stimson 4).
In relation to history, economics, and health, marijuana is nothing like alcohol.
Conclusion: Conservatives should not be afraid to combat the growing sentiment that supports the legalization of marijuana. Economics, historical precedent, and conservative principles are all on our side. It is up to unashamed, unapologetic young conservatives to articulate that message and continue to stand for ordered liberty.
You ought to look in the mirror.
Just about every post replying to you....trumps what you are saying...or attempting to say.
Ya got problems bubby....
It’s absolute proof that people in America brew their own beer, distill their own alcohol, and grow their own tobacco, FOR THEIR PERSONAL USE, without government interference.
The same would be true if marijuana was legalized.
Just to be clear, YOU are the one who thinks your enforced morality should send my friends to jail, so I think I've been remarkably "enlightened" so far.
Second, I did not say you were dishonest, just that I did not trust you to be honest. I stated that more people died in one day from consumption of alcohol tobacco in this country than have died globally from the consumption of cannabis, since the beginning of time. I was confident making that assertion, because there has never been a documented case of ANYONE dying from consumption of cannabis. You see, it was a trap. I will give you credit that you knew what the answer was, because you didn't even try a "friend of a friend heard someone died" anecdote to save your position. What you DID do, was try to change the argument, from "cannabis has never killed anyone", to trying to say I claimed cannabis has never made anyone "do anything stupid."
I certainly don't claim that. After all, you're not a cannabis user, and you continued to argue long after you knew you were wrong. THAT was kinda stupid. (And kinda sleazy to try to mislead the argument the way you did.)
No federal laws against home brewing.
“These states have laws against it:
Delaware
Iowa
Kentucky
Mississippi
Ohio
Oklahoma
“These states have laws that are ambiguous at best:
Louisiana
Maine
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
Way upthread I shut up another liberal with this question. So I’ll ask you the same thing:
Name me one conservative who is in favor of legalizing marijuana. Just one.
“Ya got problems bubby....”
I do. I really do. I’m on a so-called conservative site with liberals who side with Barney Frank and Ron Paul.
Garbage. Now for the facts:
With three days to go until 2012, there have been 163 murders in the Netherlands this year, five fewer than in 2010, according to the annual Elsevier magazine survey.
In 2009, there were 178 murders. Most murders - 16 - took place in Amsterdam, the same as in 2010.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/12/murder_rate_drops_slightly.php
Amsterdam is as safe as the safest US cities.
“Obviously the pro-pot movement has taken root in the American populace and especially in the minds of Millennials”
What the fudge are “Millennials”? Why do we feel the need to name generations, let alone coming up with stupider and stupider ones?
No, you're on a conservative site where many people truly believe in small government and the Fourth Amendment.
Two simple questions:
1) Do you support the War on Drugs?
2) Do you think alcohol should be made illegal?
“Name me one conservative who is in favor of legalizing marijuana. Just one.”
Milton Friedman
http://www.druglibrary.org/special/friedman/milton_friedman.htm
Rich Lowry
http://old.nationalreview.com/20aug01/lowry082001.shtml
http://article.nationalreview.com/275706/the-war-on-pot/rich-lowry
Gary Johnson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsowQ0hE9gA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6NbulobBA
Judge Andrew Napolitano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2GG2aM6UII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZH8h8p9Hk
Glenn Beck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQoCWQ2UnJo
Tom Tancredo
http://www.westword.com/2009-10-29/news/tom-tancredo-wants-to-turn-marijuana-into-the-toke-of-the-town/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDi8UXojlMY
Bob Barr
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-barr/federal-drug-war-rethough_b_125458.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPRPRmr8G4I
Grover Norquist
http://counterpunch.org/gardner01292006.html
George Shultz
http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/1989shultzwsj.cfm
Ron Paul
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwNYgfCVLXw#t=0m45s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8ZwH8xJmME
Pat Robertson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQi7A5MW2kQ
Thomas Sowell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZbHndilYsI
“just as the end of Prohibition had negligible impact on organized crime in America
Unless you are prepared to argue that the mob ceased to exist on December 5, 1933.”
It didn’t disappear, no, but that’s because it had other laws to exploit, such as those governing organized labor, heroin, gambling, and prostitution. Not to mention they never again owned an entire city like they did prohibition Chicago.
1. Yes.
2. It already is. There are more laws controlling the sale and useage of alcohol now than there was during Prohibition.
Here's what you said....You know we have this crazy ability to go back and post your own words again.
"You've worked in many ER's? I HAVE worked in many ERs, ICUs, NICUs, and ORs. If you've worked in ERs as you say, you know you have no argument. If not, you're both clueless AND dishonest.
You started off...attempting to frame my statement of working in ER's....a lie. Then you said...even if I had..you implied I was clueless and dishonest.
If that's not call me exactly what you wrote...I dunno what is.
And let's be crystal clear here Mr. "Enlightened"....I actually think pot ought to be decriminalized. Don't know where you got that the idea that I want to send you and your buds to jail. LOL!!!
Not going to address the other B.S.
You will have the last word, NOOB.
It already is. There are more laws controlling the sale and useage of alcohol now than there was during Prohibition.
You seriously think number of laws measures degree of illegality? It takes only one law to say, "No booze, never, nohow."
“Can I enjoy a concert filled with pot smoke if I am subject to losing my job if I fail a wiz quiz?”
That is a very narrow concern, first of all. More importantly, how is that a new problem? Will there really be all that more pot smoking at concerts should pot be legal? There’s plenty enough of it now.
Lame attempt at humor, there FRiend.
Mostly libs on that list of yours.
Next thing after that we'd probably demand steroid screening!
Mostly means not all. If there's one conservative, I've met your challenge.
It is truly a shame you consider yourself a conservative but fail to see (or simply don't care) what the WOD has done to the Fourth Amendment.
2. It already is. There are more laws controlling the sale and useage of alcohol now than there was during Prohibition.
You really want to go on record saying alcohol is illegal? Your choice.
And given your answer to #1, I assume you have zero problem with alcohol being controlled and regulated in its current form.
By the way, you did not answer #2. I'll ask it again -- Do you think alcohol should be made illegal?
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