Should US Legalize Marijuana?
 

...for economic purposes?

I found a thread on this topic already, but was locked. Please debate intellectually.
Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?
Just been reading about this alot, and I support it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...nter/EGG03.png

I strongly support the idea for the following beneficial reasons

1. Revenue generated through tax and regulation of the industry

2. Countless man hours and dollars saved in the "war on drugs"

3. Less crowding in prisons for non-violent criminals

4. Takes power away from Gangs and Drug rings

5. I no longer have to visit with my guy for 90 minutes every time I pick up a new bag.

I, too, agree for the same reasons as Jay minus the long drive and plus cannabis hemp is extremely resourceful to our society:

- Cannibis hemp can replace anything made from timber.
- Though not the best (in my opinion), it is considered an alternative energy source.
- Hemp seeds are a super food. We could live HEALTHILY in eating nothing but hemp seeds!

hemp isnt illegal...

I think you have to distinguish something else as well. When you say legalize marijuana, do you mean in an all-or-nothing sense, or just for approved medical purposes?

[2]

There was really no mention of med purposes, and thats kind of silly because on the west coast it pretty much is all in all legal due to med purposes, hence the club card, and growers.

Yes, I know that; however the discussion at hand involves the US, and at the moment, most of our hemp is imported from Canada, France and China. Care to draw a conclusion on what that means about the status of cannabis hemp cultivation in America? Practically non-existent as far as I know. My point is that though it is legal in America, socially and mentally, most Americans are not accepting to it. To me, this is equivalent to, if not worse than, it being illegal.

Well yes, and no. I just threw the question out there. I'm in support of full legalization. I've also lived in Northern California my entire life, so, yeah... it's legal for medical purposes, and it's not hard to get a card, but I still smoke behind closed doors- it's still illegal otherwise. Having seen the economic benefits I support it.

Mendocino County would shut down without the revenue from pot. Something like 75% of their economy is tied to weed and weed paraphernalia.