It is obvious to many people that our nation is undergoing a change and we are trying to do so at a time of unparalleled debt. This can be a tricky thing to do. How can one manage the budget, fight multiple wars and have socially progressive programs? This seems like a recipe for disaster, bankruptcy and possibly far worse.
Luckily, the United States has yet to cash in on one of the most profitable things known to man. Not only is will this be profitable, but it is the most moral, logical and safe decision to make. I am, of course, speaking about the United States government legalizing and selling Marijuana for a profit. Similar to a state run liquor store, a government controlled marijuana dispensary would bring in unprecedented amounts of money.
Now, many pro-marijuana legalization advocates speak about maintaining private control of this industry. So, the only way for the government to make money of off this venture is to tax the hell out of it. This is not good for anyone.
Rather, the US government should take over the role of the dispensary and the grower. The US should subsidize US farmers to grow marijuana for recreational purposes. We can then sell that grown marijuana to the public via approved dispensaries situated throughout the nation.
At $300 an ounce the government will be able to fund many domestic programs and this would be a huge step to eliminating the debt.
According to CBS news, Marijuana is the number one cash crop in the United States today!
In the report, Gettman, a marijuana-reform activist and leader of the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, champions a system of legal regulation.
Contrasting government figures for traditional crops — like corn and wheat — against the study’s projections for marijuana production, the report cites marijuana as the top cash crop in 12 states and among the top three cash crops in 30.
The study estimates that marijuana production, at a value of $35.8 billion, exceeds the combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).
To activists for marijuana legalization, the study confirms a position they’ve held for years, and uses government stats to support their claim.
“The fact that marijuana is America’s No. 1 cash crop after more than three decades of governmental eradication efforts is the clearest illustration that our present marijuana laws are a complete failure,” says Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington D.C., a group that focuses on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use.
Kampia, whose comments were included in the study’s press release, adds, “Our nation’s laws guarantee that 100 percent of the proceeds from marijuana sales go to unregulated criminals rather than to legitimate businesses that pay taxes to support schools, police and roads.”
A 2005 analysis by Harvard visiting professor Jeffrey Miron estimates that if the United States legalized marijuana, the country would save $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs and could generated as much as $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like alcohol or tobacco.
Miron’s report on the costs of marijuana prohibition was signed by more than 500 leading economists, most notably the late Nobel laureate Milton Friedman, who served as an economist in both the Nixon and Reagan administrations.
Here is the report done by marijuana policy researcher Jon Gettman seen here.
Here is another link comparing the monetary value of crops, Marijuana is number one.
The estimates seen here are primarily for Marijuana that is grown by the private sector. This would not stupid for the US government to legalize marijuana and not cash in on the profits. Why allow people who were once criminals to make a profit off of legalization?
Rather, we could put these people to work at US dispensaries and grow operations. They can do the things that they love and the good people of the US would not have to worry about funding narco terrorists, hells angel or any other criminal element that would try and get involved.
This study seen above had the yearly estimates for marijuana production at $35.8 billion. This is with prohibition and the US actively at war with this production. Imagine what it would be like with US support, rather then opposition?
To give you an idea I compiled some statistics.
In Minnesota 37.1 kgs of marijuana was seized
187,627.1 kgs in California, 2,820.7 kgs in New York, 570,793.1 kgs in Texas, 24,089.2 kgs in Colorado, 14,253.1 kgs in Illinois, 33,291.3 kgs in Florida, 988.6 kgs in Massachusetts and 351,992.4 kgs in Arizona.
One kilo gram, or 1000 grams, is equal to 35.2 oz.
35.2 ounces, at $300 per ounce equals $10,560. So that is how much the federal government would make from one Kilo, not including the miniscule amount for water, nutrition, transportation, seeds, caretakers, etc.
For a State like MN, just from the DEA seizures, the govt could have received $391,776. Not that much, but then again, MN is not a hotspot for federal seizures.
In California, this number would be $1,981,342,176. This is just from seizures.
In Texas this number is $6,027,575,136. From DEA seizures.
Now, imagine that prohibition has ended, the government can grow, transport and sell for cheap and marijuana becomes as popular as alcohol. Obviously, driving would have to be restricted, similar to alcohol. But, the criminal consequences would be far less severe. And the moral reasoning, medical benefits along with the commercial and economic benefits far outweigh any negative consequence.
We are on the brink of economic collapse. Even though the US has resumed GDP growth, we still have 10 million people unemployed, not including those no longer in the workforce. The time is now for the US government to actively pursue this possibility. If a desire for fiscal stability is truly there, then this option will no longer be ignored.
At a townhall meeting earlier in 2009 Obama was asked if legalizing Marijuana would help the economy. In a stunning display of ignorance he responded.
Three point five million people voted. (regarding what questions to ask) I have to say that there was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation. And I don’t know what this says about the online audience but I just want — I don’t want people to think that — this was a fairly popular question; we want to make sure that it was answered. The answer is, no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow our economy.
Obama, a logical, rational and supposedly moral leader has denied this debate to happen. But, I guess he must have a great plan, I know I could certainly use $50 to $100 billion a year.
How the government calculates unemployment rate
Video- UG 44 The Government Weed Dealer
Video- Medical marijuana tax proposed
Video- Ron Paul debates Stephen Baldwin on Legalizing Marijuana on CNN Larry King 03/13/2009.
Video- Is this the new acceptable face of Marijuana?
What do you think about the Legalization of Marijuana?
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