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Posted on 12/18/2006 2:00:49 PM PST by kddid
U.S. growers produce nearly $35 billion worth of marijuana annually, making the illegal drug the country's largest cash crop, bigger than corn and wheat combined, an advocate of medical marijuana use said in a study released on Monday.
The report, conducted by Jon Gettman, a public policy analyst and former head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, also concluded that five U.S. states produce more than $1 billion worth of marijuana apiece: California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii and Washington.
California's production alone was about $13.8 billion, according to Gettman, who waged an unsuccessful six-year legal battle to force the government to remove marijuana from a list of drugs deemed to have no medical value.
Tom Riley, a spokesman for the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, said he could not confirm the report's conclusions on the size of the country's marijuana crop. But he said the government estimated overall U.S. illegal drug use at $200 billion annually.
Gettman's figures were based on several government reports between 2002 and 2005 estimating the United States produced more than 10,000 metric tons of marijuana annually.
He calculated the producer price per pound of marijuana at $1,606 based on national survey data showing retail prices of between $2,400 and $3,000 between 2001 and 2005.
The total value of 10,000 metric tons of marijuana at $1,606 per pound would be $35.8 billion.
By comparison, the United States produced an average of nearly $23.3 billion worth of corn annually from 2003 to 2005, $17.6 billion worth of soybeans, $12.2 billion worth of hay, nearly $11.1 billion worth of vegetables and $7.4 billion worth of wheat, the report said.
Gettman said the 10-fold increase in U.S. marijuana production, from 1,000 metric tons in 1981 to 10,000 metric tons in 2006, showed the country was failing to control marijuana by making its cultivation and use illegal.
"Marijuana has become a pervasive and ineradicable part of the economy of the United States," he said. "The contribution of this market to the nation's gross domestic product is overlooked in the debate over effective control."
"Like all profitable agricultural crops marijuana adds resources and value to the economy," he added. "The focus of public policy should be how to effectively control this market through regulation and taxation in order to achieve immediate and realistic goals, such as reducing teenage access."
Riley said illegal drug use was a "serious part of the economy," but he rejected the notion of an economic argument for legalizing marijuana. He said marijuana use was an "inherently harmful activity" with serious physical and mental health consequences. He said more American teens were in treatment centers for marijuana dependency than for all other drugs combined.
The 35 billion number is made up to see it keeps it equal.
Something the gun-banner nitwits don't understand. Smuggled and underground-manufactured guns will become a lucrative "cash crop". You ain't seen gun violence in this country until you ban them.
Budd bump
"$100 Billion in tax revenue on $35 Billion dollar industry???? Some interesting math, there."
See Post 21. I underestimated. Revenues would be much higher.
If marijuana was legal, we would not fire one cop, close one prison, or shut down one courtroom.
First, marijuana represents only 15% of all illegal drugs.
Second, 30% of current marijuana smokers are underage -- legalize it and I'd bet that percentage would climb to 50%. With half the smokers being underage, we'd still have a need for all the above.
Third, overall use would double, if not triple. This would result in an increase of accidents, treatment centers, hospital admissions, etc.
Oh, and good luck trying to collect that $190 billion in taxes.
Heh, I had a friend whose parents sent him to rehab for pot. When he got out, we had all sorts of new sources for stuff. One of them was black-market cigarettes, even.
Solution that no one would go for:
Legalize growing pot for one's own use. No need for any fake "medical" reason.
Illegal to sell it.
Price plummets.
Anyone caught selling it (why would anyone buy? They can grow it in their living room or backyard) would get publicanly caned.
Voila! Problem solved. Anyone who wants to smoke and get stupid(er) can do so.
And, no one under age (same age as drinking) can smoke it or more public caning.
The world would be a better place.
"Third, overall use would double, if not triple. This would result in an increase of accidents, treatment centers, hospital admissions, etc."
I seriously doubt that. Now if you were talking about a 16-year-old driving age, you are dead on. That's already legal, though.
"Hello mister Diver, this is Agent Elefont with the USDA. [...] Our friends from the DEA and ATF are at your door now. Don't worry about opening it for them, they practice home invasions every day."
"Good morning. You have reached the corporate offices of Escobar & Amigos Pharmaceuticals. Please press 1 for English."
"Click!"
Dave?
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
"COULD NOT STOP smoking weed?"
My guess.....they didn't want to or had no incentive to do so. Once you're out in the job market, life gets a little tougher. (drug test, financial responsibility, etc.) I have friends who have smoked their entire adult life on the edge of society's restrictions.
Nice theory, but in practice it doesn't work.
Proposition 215 (legalizing medical marijuana) passed 10 years ago in California. It made it legal to grow your own. It made it illegal to sell it.
The price did not plummet. As a matter of fact, "legal" medical marijuana is more expensive than illegal marijuana. It's sold in stores in clear violation of California law.
And no one has been punished, much less caned.
"He said more American teens were in treatment centers for marijuana dependency than for all other drugs combined."
BS statement.
In the late 70's, marijuana use was triple its lowest point. And it was illegal. Between then and now, the only thing that changed was tougher enforcement and an attitude change by the public.
Legalize marijuana and those deterrents go away. Marijuana use could easily go back to 1979 levels. On what basis do you "seriously doubt" that?
Care to elaborate?
"What's a dime bag going for these days?"
A dime! Just a lot smaller.
"On what basis do you "seriously doubt" that?"
"an attitude change by the public."
Bingo. Just like cigarettes.
Carolyn
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