Legalize Marijuana - over money

The move to legalize marijuana gets a boost in early 2009 from law makers in California who are forced to put their cards on the table - it's the money that's driving it. You think?

Perhaps that's why it's such a thriving business in the Golden State - it's the money. Well, maybe we've finally hit on one of the only legitimate reasons for doing anything in America - to get more money.

The news report in the video that follows has to be an eye opener for many. Get a load of what kind of cash crop this is in California. There's some common sense expressed in this clip. I especially like the idea that people are recognizing that the "street price" of this herb would be cut in half if it were to be legalized.

Yep, when you establish competition, prices go down. It's called a marketplace economy.

The most surprising statistic is that cultivation and sale of this illegal substance is a larger cash crop than fruits, nuts and field crops combined. Keep in mind that California is no small player with respect to food production, so this is quite a statement with respect to the demand for marijuana.

The figure quoted was $14 billion, so let's put that in perspective. In terms of $100,000 a year incomes, that would be 140,000 people making $100,000 a year. That's "real money" in anyone's world. When real money is involved, the move to legalize marijuana might just have a chance of success.

The value of this illegal cash crop is also a very strong statement about how many people are using the substance. You'll notice that the news spot had no difficulty in getting many and varied individuals to roll and smoke it for the camera. Nevertheless, there are concerns about an increase in its use.

I can't argue that if we legalize marijuana it won't result in increased use. I think it most certainly will, but I have confidence that those who are determined to use it already are.

It seems clear to me that there is an argument here for individual freedom as well as an opportunity to reduce the "need" for our ever-expanding police state that descends upon us from helicopters.

Let's legalize marijuana and move onto other more important issues. We've debated the evils of smoking dried leaves from the hemp plant long enough. This is just another example of a prohibitionist mentality. It's preventive law that doesn't prevent anything at all except personal choice.

Done with Legalize Marijuana, back to Illegal Drugs