Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgaryborn
Spoken like a true stoner: It's too hard-it can't be done!
If government changed its focus it could be wiped out in a generation.
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How do you know he is a stoner, just because he is defending the other side or might devulge in it? I don't smoke pot, well not ever but on rare occassions, and I can see the benefits of it being legal. You say studies are only what you want to hear so provide some studies that show places like Holland and Portugal have seen an increase in marijuana users going to harder drugs and/or using it at work. Show things like marijuana use in those countries increasing at higher levels than other countries that keep it illegal. If it is the problem you claim it to be it will be easy for you to do.
Also to your point in the quote if it could be done it would have already happened but as it was shown it hasn't worked. The US has spent already
close to $40 BILLION dollars this year federal and state level with no success of stopping it, or even putting a tiny, tiny dent into it. So what makes you think Canada could do anything to stop it? You keep saying "tougher penalties" but do you think that will honestly work? Did it work during the alcohol prohibition or was that how organized crime was started?
You bust his friends and throw them in jail, there is someone right behind them setting up shop again. You will never stop the problem, so why not take advantage of the tax benefits. Spend that money on education children, putting the police man hours and money into truly harmful drugs and pump money into the health system. Let's assume they tax the $7b in sales similar to how cigarettes are taxed they would bring in over $4b to that province alone, make that nation wide and you have the solution to the nation debt and/or spending issues.
I'm curious, would you be in favor of making alcohol and cigarettes illegal because of the harm is causes society? If not, what's the difference between them and marijuana?