Pubdate: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 Source: Morning Star, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 The Morning Star Contact: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1352 Author: Ron Nichol ARGUMENT FLAWED The argument that legalizing the growing and selling of marijuana will in some way will solve, or reduce the incidence of gang violence is somewhat erroneous. My argument is not whether or not pot should be legalized, but that legalization of marijuana will not solve problems. It will just create new ones. Nor will the legalization reduce the police budget, or prevent the police from being involved with issues involving marijuana. Neither will legalization prevent or reduce gang violence. There are a lot of issues with the legalization of marijuana that the supporters of legalization have not discussed, or taken into consideration in their arguments. The idea that once marijuana becomes legal that everyone will just grow pot for their own use and maybe for sale to other users in some sort of free market is an illusion. If the substance is legalized, then entrepreneurs will manufacture and sell marijuana products on the retail market in the same way they now exploit the alcohol and tobacco market. Not only will the products be taxed, but there will be retail sales tax, and business tax added to the final cost of the products. I don't think that manufacturers and retail sellers of marijuana products who pay taxes would long put up with the tax-free sale and distribution of home grown weed. Criminal gangs do not deal in marijuana because it is good for the digestive system. Marijuana is a substance that produces an altered state of consciousness (a high) and it is proven to be an addictive substance. So the question is that when, and if marijuana is legalized will it come under the same laws that supposedly cover the legal use of alcohol and tobacco? Will a person need to be 19-years-old in order to legally purchase weed over the counter? So there would still be a market for tax-free weed to be grown and distributed, and guess who would have the expertise to fill that slot. It is my belief that the politicians who advocate for the legalization of marijuana are more interested in cashing in on the huge revenue from the distribution and sale of drugs than they are on reducing police expenses. Ron Nichol Vernon - --- MAP posted-by: Matt