Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilch
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? |
Alcohol and cigarettes are addictive. Alcohol not as much as cigarette but, both are difficult to quite once you are addicted. That is why prohibition was doomed to fail. It didn't help that Canada was willing to smuggle booze in.
Obviously America has had the same problems with drugs on both borders. The difference is Canada also has a prohibition on the same drugs. The Mexican border needs to be secured for a variety of good reasons. Also, we have better technology today which wasn't present during prohibition. The fight is winable.
To answer your question I would love to see both outlawed but, I know no law works without the will of the of the people. You won't get Canadians and Americans supporting such an effort any time soon. They both are ingrained in our culture.
What you are suggesting is adding another vice for no better reason than adding more tax revenue. If legalized marijuana ever became as popular as beer imagine the increase in road accidents and work place accidents. Marijuana offers the user instant mental impairment. That might be good for the user if they got some life they want to waste but, it isn't for society in general and certainly those who have to deal with them.