I used to smoke alot of pot - and likely will again after my life's goals are complete. I think pot is a mind opening drug, something that takes some of the burden of society off of your back long enough for you to dig deep into yourself and pull out what's really there. 1
Given that argument though, I still think that pot should not be legalized.2
My only reasoning for this is: If you legalize marijuana, it becomes part of the american economy. Anything that belongs to america gets the shit taxed out of it. So, why not just take a little risk? You're going to smoke it anyway, but if it is legal, you will just have to pay uncle sam even more of your hard earned money. 3
So your options are this:4
Pot stays illegal, and you continue to pay $25 an eighth once every three-four days.5
Pot is legalized and you probably end up smoking more - let's say you're not a hardcore smoker and you go up to a half ounce a week (you and your friends included.) So now (before taxes) you spend about sixty bucks a week. Then, you add sales tax and medicinal tax is probably going to take you up to $70 bucks a week. And thats only for a half ounce. 6
Alright, some of you might be thinking, "Why would you have to pay taxes if you're growing your own?" Good question. 7
The answer is, just like solar power will eventually end up being like, because the government is having a hard time regulating the taxes on marijuana, they will take the short cuts that they always take: Make Everyone Pay For It.8
It will show up on your pay check (Invisible to the naked eye.) whether you smoke pot or not. Why? Because we the people of america have let our government get so out of control with taxes that we are blind to them.9
Don't think the government will make you pay for it, even if you don't support it?10
The following quote comes directly from Lifenews Media:11
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bill that includes language overturning the longstanding ban on forcing taxpayers to fund abortions in the nation's capital. The vote on the bill came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi manipulated a vote on rules prohibiting an amendment to stop it.12
If the government has no problems making Washington D.C.'s civilians support killing people, what makes you think that a simple drug will withstand their power over our money?13
In conclusion: Smoking pot is a form of sticking it to the man, don't give it to him so he can stick it to you.14
A contest entry
- Marijuana Legalization: Yea or Nay? by WritersEffigy.
420 points, ended October 22, 13 entries
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Comments
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interesting thoughts. Much more informed than the last entry I read. I will not say whether I agree or disagree with you but I will agree that pot is a mind opening drug among other drugs grown from the Earth. I also agree that pot does slow you down and make you more relaxed which prones you to staying in one place and not wanting to move. other than that i have no other say.
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Are you saying there would be a hike in payroll taxes if pot was legalized? What would that have to do with pot, though? If everyone (everyone who works) paid the tax, how would it be a tax on pot?
If Congress wants to increase payroll taxes, they're just going to go ahead and do it. I don't see why pot has anything to do with it.
Also, I would expect the (pre-tax) price of pot to come down if it were legalized. The fact that there are severe criminal penalties for growing pot reduces the number of producers in the market and increases the cost of production (people hide plants in remote places or use hydroponic equipment, both of which are expensive). If it became legal to grow and sell marijuana, as I assume it would under the auspices of legalization, there would be much less pressure on the supply side of the market, which would bring the price down. I don't think demand would increase nearly as much as supply, so I would expect the price to drop. -
Spoken like a true paranoid pothead...
Legalizing marijuana could save this economy, you realize that? *sigh*
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