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
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MAP posted-by: Matt