Pubdate: Tue, 29 Nov 2005
Source: Mcgill Tribune (CN QU Edu)
Copyright: 2005 The McGill Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mcgilltribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2672
Author: Adam Smith, U2 Economics student
Section: Guest Soap
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1868.a04.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

POT CAN HELP THE ECONOMY, STUPID

Advocating a continued ban on marijuana, as Genevieve Jenkins did in
the pages of this paper last week, is completely off base for a number
of reasons. She says that it can't be argued that pot should be
legalized because alcohol and tobacco are equally bad yet already
legal, but she's wrong. The reason those things are legal, despite
their ill effects, is that society accepts them as such. Marijuana has
now reached essentially the same stage. Like it or not, a lot of
people are smoking pot these days, and our anti-marijuana laws are no
longer in line with the will of the people.

Jenkins writes that "once the government becomes involved [with pot],
it would be responsible for covering the health care cost for
marijuana-related health problems." She also complains that "Canada
supposedly spends $400-million a year to enforce marijuana laws and
that this would only increase if it were legalized." However, she is
wrong on both counts.

When someone gets lung cancer, the government doesn't ask how they got
it and refuse to pay for the treatment if it was caused by marijuana
smoking; our universal health care system already pays for all
marijuana-related health problems. As for increased enforcement costs,
that is ludicrous. If pot were legalized, legitimate growing
businesses would start up. Rather than having grow-ops hiding in
basements, these sanctioned operations could take advantage of
economies of scale and produce pot at a much lower cost, driving the
grow-ops and dealers out of business. The only costs would be setting
up the same sort of regulatory system that is now in place for alcohol
and tobacco, which should not be very expensive.

Marijuana is part of the underground economy, so it is hard to say
exactly what effect legalization would have on its price, but there
should be enough of a reduction for pot to be cheaper than it is now,
even after the government slaps a nice fat excise tax on it. Indeed,
the added tax revenue is perhaps the biggest argument in favour of
legalising pot. It could help pay for the health problems it is
already causing, as well as an improvement in anti-drug programs.

There is no point in moralizing on this issue. Pot is already illegal,
yet its use is widespread. Pundits may go on and on about its evils,
but that isn't going to stop people from smoking it. The time has come
for the powers that be to take a sensible, practical approach to this
issue. Legalizing marijuana would not only bring in more tax revenue,
it would also allow the government to regulate the industry and better
control the cannabis trade to protect consumers.

It may surprise you to learn that I don't smoke pot; I can't stand the
stuff. However, the fact is that the government needs to get with the
times. People are using marijuana, and that's not going to change any
time soon. The government should make the smart decision to legalize
it, tax it and regulate it.

Adam Smith is a U2 Economics student, and he's already heard any lame
joke you could make about his name.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin