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Marijuana Laws Cost Taxpayers Billions
A new study finds the marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers $41.8 billion a year in law enforcement, diverts $113 billion from the legal economy, and loses a whopping $31.1 billion in revenue annually. The Marijuana Policy Project reports the sad numbers. I mean, think how many wars we could fund with that kind of money. Not to mention the cost of all the enviro-damage from growing in national parks and supposedly pristine wilderness areas. Not to mention the good medicine never taken.
And—shhh—don't tell the boozers, but was Lawrence Welk—or Myron Floren—on the toke many, many moons ago? Clearly the weed's been mainstream forever. Check out the video, sans bubbles:
Julia Whitty is Mother Jones' environmental correspondent. You can read from her new book, "The Fragile Edge," and other writings, here.
Comments
There's an interesting article on
US drugs industry at
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ciadrugs/bush-cheney-drugs.html
The illicit drugs import to the US is worth about $60 billion (retail price).
Legalizing marijuana would seriously affect the profit margins.
C. Smollett,
Very good point. And, we can do better. Here's a link to my discussion of the reasons we should legalize all drugs and the order in which we can do it, based on a British study of relative dangers of specific drugs.
http://misanthropicscott.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/lets-win-the-war-on-drug-lords/
Posted by: Misanthropic Scott on 10/09/07 at 4:41 AM Respond
Julia Whitty, I hope that you have a good attorney for making that libelous remark about Lawrence Welk. The rest of your posts are of the same quality. You apparently are the one that is smoking when you write them. That excuse will not hold up in court.
Posted by: J.D. on 10/09/07 at 7:50 AM Respond
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Posted by: C. Smollett on 10/09/07 at 12:16 AM Respond