Designed for the Business, Non-Business, Economics, Non-Economics Major(s) to Explore and Understand a Variety of Real-World Issues.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
California and Pot
Talk about a quick way to increase GDP. Take the underground economy involved in pot and make it legal. Now all of that production is calculated in GDP. That may be the quickest fix to get us out of this recession.
I'm not sure how I feel about this--what about other illegal activity? Do we just say to fix the economy we condone anything to improve the GDP? Again, not making a judgement call, but it certainly could lead to a slippery slope.
I think California is looking at it from a completely financial stand point. They are struggling with one of the most significant state debts in the nation with no end in sight. Every possible resource has pretty much already been tapped in terms of budget cutting and taxes etc. However, legalizing this will bring in millions and millions of dollars of revenue into their state. Now obviously, there's a world of debate here about whether or not they can even do that when federally marijuana is legal. However, I think it's a good idea. Not only will they be bringing in revenue, but they will also stop wasting the millions of dollars prosecuting petty crimes like pot possession etc. and focus on more important issue such as heavy narcotics and felony offenses. As to the critics that propose that this will only encourage smoking pot, I think that's ridiculous. You either smoke or you don't. Just because it's legal doesn't mean you suddenly will take up the urge to become an enormous pothead in your 20s. Just like alcohol is legal, there are still those that never drink at all.
Legalize it! As everyone knows, pot is no where near as harmful as other heavy narcotics such as crack cocaine and heroin. Pot isn't even on the same level. When was the last time you heard somebody overdose on pot? Never! Whether it is legal or not people are still going to smoke it. So, legalizing it would be a great idea. The government can tax it and gain huge amounts of money because of how popular it is. In the end, there is no doubt that this will help out America's economy. Our GDP will increase dramatically! In addition, maybe the legalization of pot will get America out of a recession. It is worth a try!
I agree with Ashley and Robert, but I wonder how the government will be able to tax marijuana if people can freely grow it in their backyards. Funding medical marijuana in some states saves people's lives and what people do with their own bodies is their business as long as it doesn't cause harm to other people or society. Statistics show that marijuana does not cause death. In fact, there are more deaths caused by alcohol and tobacco.
California is currently in a bad state with regards to their economy, therefore they should legalize marijuana. Legalizing marijuana will help California's economy grow out of recession, because once marijuana is available in the free market the good can be taxed-- making a large amount of money. Also there is a huge amount spent for arrests, and other criminal activities regarding marijuana and other drugs however if legalized this money can help the recovery as well.
If marijuana is legalized, it would help the GDP drastically and things will definitely turn around. However, there is much attached to this topic in terms of controversy based on the idea of whether or not marijuana is a 'gateway drug.' Besides that ideal, although marijuana is much less harmful than essentially every other drug, the effects can still be negative rather than positive. Would legalizing this drug really be the answer or solution to coming toward a healthier economy? I cannot see how the government would tax this in order to bring a rise in GDP to solve the crisis. Although it will almost definitely work, thinking about it does not really sit well in terms of allowing it to be the reason why we were brought out of our declining economy.
Legalizing pot should not be use as a solution in helping the economy or California out of this recession. By legalizing pot, it can cause more damages than it can help the economy. For example, pot can severely damages one's health and it can surely impact one's daily life. Due to the use of pot, users will tend to arrive at work late and it'll decrease labor productivity and efficiency. Also, legalizing pot will negatively impact the pharmaceutical industry due to a great decrease of assets up to 1 billion dollar per year on one medical drug. Lastly, in 2002, there was approximately, 8,400 out of 1.2 million total prisoners were held for possessing marijuana and that is only 0.7 percent of the whole population in prison. Since the number is so small compare to the overall population of prisoners, therefore, the government aren't spending a great amount of money to keep the 8,400 marijuana prisoners fed.
Legalizing marijuana would not at all decrease labor productivity and efficiency. Any workers who allow marijuana to negatively affect thier jobs will lose them, making room more serious workers. Competition would increase. Besides, just because you smoke pot doesn't make you unproductive. Some people can handel it and some people can't. I'm high right now and smoke around four times a week. My lowest grade in any class is a B. I know some people who smoke pot all the time and don't get anything done. It's about maturity and personal freedoms and the government should have no say in what people do in the privacy of thier own homes. Personally, I'm insulted that the government thinks they have the right to monitor that. Who the hell do they think they are, and who the hell are we for letting them walk all over us? After all, "the legitimate powers of government extend to such acts as are only harmful to others."-Thomas Jefferson. If smoking marijuana is bad for me, then that's my problem and no one elses.
I'm not sure how I feel about this--what about other illegal activity? Do we just say to fix the economy we condone anything to improve the GDP? Again, not making a judgement call, but it certainly could lead to a slippery slope.
ReplyDeleteI think California is looking at it from a completely financial stand point. They are struggling with one of the most significant state debts in the nation with no end in sight. Every possible resource has pretty much already been tapped in terms of budget cutting and taxes etc. However, legalizing this will bring in millions and millions of dollars of revenue into their state. Now obviously, there's a world of debate here about whether or not they can even do that when federally marijuana is legal. However, I think it's a good idea. Not only will they be bringing in revenue, but they will also stop wasting the millions of dollars prosecuting petty crimes like pot possession etc. and focus on more important issue such as heavy narcotics and felony offenses. As to the critics that propose that this will only encourage smoking pot, I think that's ridiculous. You either smoke or you don't. Just because it's legal doesn't mean you suddenly will take up the urge to become an enormous pothead in your 20s. Just like alcohol is legal, there are still those that never drink at all.
ReplyDeleteLegalize it! As everyone knows, pot is no where near as harmful as other heavy narcotics such as crack cocaine and heroin. Pot isn't even on the same level. When was the last time you heard somebody overdose on pot? Never! Whether it is legal or not people are still going to smoke it. So, legalizing it would be a great idea. The government can tax it and gain huge amounts of money because of how popular it is. In the end, there is no doubt that this will help out America's economy. Our GDP will increase dramatically! In addition, maybe the legalization of pot will get America out of a recession. It is worth a try!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley and Robert, but I wonder how the government will be able to tax marijuana if people can freely grow it in their backyards. Funding medical marijuana in some states saves people's lives and what people do with their own bodies is their business as long as it doesn't cause harm to other people or society. Statistics show that marijuana does not cause death. In fact, there are more deaths caused by alcohol and tobacco.
ReplyDeleteCalifornia is currently in a bad state with regards to their economy, therefore they should legalize marijuana. Legalizing marijuana will help California's economy grow out of recession, because once marijuana is available in the free market the good can be taxed-- making a large amount of money. Also there is a huge amount spent for arrests, and other criminal activities regarding marijuana and other drugs however if legalized this money can help the recovery as well.
ReplyDeleteIf marijuana is legalized, it would help the GDP drastically and things will definitely turn around. However, there is much attached to this topic in terms of controversy based on the idea of whether or not marijuana is a 'gateway drug.' Besides that ideal, although marijuana is much less harmful than essentially every other drug, the effects can still be negative rather than positive. Would legalizing this drug really be the answer or solution to coming toward a healthier economy? I cannot see how the government would tax this in order to bring a rise in GDP to solve the crisis. Although it will almost definitely work, thinking about it does not really sit well in terms of allowing it to be the reason why we were brought out of our declining economy.
ReplyDeleteLegalizing pot should not be use as a solution in helping the economy or California out of this recession. By legalizing pot, it can cause more damages than it can help the economy. For example, pot can severely damages one's health and it can surely impact one's daily life. Due to the use of pot, users will tend to arrive at work late and it'll decrease labor productivity and efficiency. Also, legalizing pot will negatively impact the pharmaceutical industry due to a great decrease of assets up to 1 billion dollar per year on one medical drug. Lastly, in 2002, there was approximately, 8,400 out of 1.2 million total prisoners were held for possessing marijuana and that is only 0.7 percent of the whole population in prison. Since the number is so small compare to the overall population of prisoners, therefore, the government aren't spending a great amount of money to keep the 8,400 marijuana prisoners fed.
ReplyDeleteLegalizing marijuana would not at all decrease labor productivity and efficiency. Any workers who allow marijuana to negatively affect thier jobs will lose them, making room more serious workers. Competition would increase. Besides, just because you smoke pot doesn't make you unproductive. Some people can handel it and some people can't. I'm high right now and smoke around four times a week. My lowest grade in any class is a B. I know some people who smoke pot all the time and don't get anything done. It's about maturity and personal freedoms and the government should have no say in what people do in the privacy of thier own homes. Personally, I'm insulted that the government thinks they have the right to monitor that. Who the hell do they think they are, and who the hell are we for letting them walk all over us? After all, "the legitimate powers of government extend to such acts as are only harmful to others."-Thomas Jefferson.
ReplyDeleteIf smoking marijuana is bad for me, then that's my problem and no one elses.