I'm inclined to believe that those that dont currently use it based SOLELY on the laws just MIGHT be inclined to give it a shot.
I wont call YOU an idiot though.
It costs $400 to grow a pound of Marijuana. There are 16 ounces in a pound. Cost per ounce = $25/oz.
Street price of Marijuana = $75/oz or $1,200/lb.
Price of tobacco = under $20/lb.
You do the math. OK, I’ll do it for you. Tobacco is 1/60th the street price of black market Marijuana.
If we legalize Marijuana, the street price goes down from $1,200 per pound to maybe $60 per pound, or 5 cents on the dollar.
I was calling the politicians IDIOTS for basing their revenue projects on the black market street price for Marijuana of $1,200/lb rather than the expected legal price of $60/lb, or even $20/lb when every mom and pop grows this stuff in their backyard and sells it at local flea markets.
OK?
The politicians are idiots to think that legal Marijuana is going to be a $14 billion industry. That is my point. They are idiots.
As for demand, I’m not buying your argument so we’ll have to disagree. Even if demand trippled, but if the price is 1/60th, then street value is 1/20th of $14 billion or $700 million. Add a 20% tax and California govt gets $70 million, as if that will close a $42 billion budget shortfall.
Furthermore, you can’t possibly compare alcohol to pot. NOBODY has a joint to wash down a pizza. You have beer with pizza, a glass of wine with pasta. It is a beverage. Most people I know enjoy it as a beverage. They enjoy a slight buzz, but they enjoy it as a beverage. Demand for alcohol comes from it being a beverage and it’s unique demand comes from the “buzz” side affects.
Outside of young people in their partying phase and die-hard alcoholics, I don’t know anyone who gets drunk on any regular basis. Yet the entire point of pot is to get stoned. You can’t use it as a supplement to something like alcohol is to a meal. You can’t use it as a substituted to cigarettes. Who smokes two packs of joints a day?
So your argument about demand doesn’t wash. Demand will increase but your using the wrong model with alcohol and prohibition. Not even close.
Guess what? Medical marijuana IS legal in California today, and there has been no surge in marijuana use, despite the fact any of us Californians can easily find a doctor who will write a perscription for it. Where is the soaring demand from legalized medical marijuana?
I can’t agree with you. Demand will not skyrocket.