The War on Pot: America's $42 Billion Annual Boondoggle
By Rob Kampia,
AlterNet. October 9, 2007.
What would you buy if you had an extra $42 billion to spend every year? What might our government buy if it suddenly had that much money dropped onto its lap every year?
For one thing, it might pay for the entire $7 billion annual increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program that President Bush is threatening to veto because of its cost -- and there'd still be $35 billion left over.
Or perhaps you'd hire 880,000 schoolteachers at the average U.S. teacher salary of $47,602 per year.
Or give every one of our current teachers a 30 percent raise (at a cost of $15 billion, according to the American Federation of Teachers) and use what's left to take a $27 billion whack out of the federal deficit.
Or use all $42 billion for a massive tax cut that would put an extra $140 in the pockets of every person in the country -- $560 for a family of four.
The mind reels at the ways such a massive sum of money could be put to use.
Why $42 billion? Because that's what our current marijuana laws cost American taxpayers each year, according to a new study by researcher Jon Gettman, Ph.D. -- $10.7 billion in direct law enforcement costs, and $31.1 billion in lost tax revenues. And that may be an underestimate, at least on the law enforcement side, since Gettman made his calculations before the FBI released its latest arrest statistics in late September. The new FBI stats show an all-time record 829,627 marijuana arrests in 2006, 43,000 more than in 2005.
That's like arresting every man, woman and child in the state of North Dakota plus every man, woman, and child in Des Moines, Iowa on marijuana charges ... every year. Arrests for marijuana possession -- not sales or trafficking, just possession -- totaled 738,916. By comparison, there were 611,523 arrests last year for all violent crimes combined.
Basing his calculations mainly on U.S. government statistics, Gettman concludes that marijuana in the U.S. is a $113 billion dollar business. That's a huge chunk of economic activity that is unregulated and untaxed because it's almost entirely off the books.
Of course, the cost of our marijuana laws goes far beyond lost tax revenues and money spent on law enforcement. By consigning a very popular product -- one that's been used by about 100 million Americans, according to government surveys -- to the criminal underground, we've effectively cut legitimate businesspeople out of the market and handed a monopoly to criminals and gangs.
Strangely, government officials love to warn us that some unsavory characters profit off of marijuana sales, while ignoring the obvious: Our prohibitionist laws handed them the marijuana business in the first place, effectively giving marijuana dealers a $113 billion free ride.
All this might make some sense if marijuana were so terribly dangerous that it needed to be banned at all costs, but science long ago came to precisely the opposite conclusion. Compared to alcohol, for example, marijuana is astonishingly safe. For one thing, marijuana is much less addictive than alcohol, with just nine percent of users becoming dependent, as opposed to 15 percent for booze. And marijuana is much less toxic. Heavy drinking is well-documented to damage the brain and liver, and to increase the risk of many types of cancer. Marijuana, on the other hand, has never caused a medically documented overdose death, and scientists are still debating whether even heavy marijuana use causes any permanent harm at all. And then there's violence. Again, the scientific findings are overwhelming: Booze incites violence and aggression; marijuana doesn't.
Despite all that, we now arrest one American every 38 seconds on marijuana charges. And we do so at a staggering cost in law enforcement expenses, lost tax revenues, and staggering profits for criminal gangs.
The alternative is clear: Regulate marijuana just as we do beer, wine, and liquor. The only thing lacking is the political will.
9th October 2007 10:45 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
Well it's a free country. You're free to grow it and they're free to throw you in jail for it if they catch you.
9th October 2007 10:52 PM
mojoman
dude where's my car?
9th October 2007 10:57 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:mojoman wrote:
dude where's my car?
Grass would make alot better biofuel than corn. Just like it makes a better shirt.
9th October 2007 11:00 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
Corn makes good whiskey. Why waste it on gas?
9th October 2007 11:07 PM
mojoman
quote:Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
Corn makes good whiskey. Why waste it on gas?
john barleycorn must die
9th October 2007 11:33 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:mojoman wrote:
john barleycorn must die
He must.
10th October 2007 12:26 AM
pdog
weed is such a pointless thing to make illegal.
10th October 2007 07:09 AM
corgi37
Damn straight!
Or, as you yanks might also say
Fucking A!
or, as us Aussies would say
Bloody oath!
I agree
Why not legalise it. Put a tax on it. Fund a war with, oh i dunno, say Iran. Maybe Burma. Hey, for a lark, why not declare war on Israel! Wow, that would be hilarious! Speilberg, Geffen, Debbie Schlussel - Mates, they'd have a coniption! hahahaha. Fuck, half of New York would go into meltdown! Ian Zierling would go apeshit! hahahaha
Seriously. The war on drugs is not even a war. Because its lost. Surrender IS an option. Why bother?
Here in OZ, no one gives a shit. The cops (and remember, i work for them) grab people all the time. Do we get bushes and bushes? Do we get gram after gram?
Hell no! Thats too hard. They pull over 18 year olds with such little amount, you cannot even weigh it. You could never get high on it. Truly, you would be better off bending over, taking 10 deep breaths and getting a friend to squeeze ya chest (try it. Its a buzz!).
Yet, they never pull over Mr. Big. Or, even Mr. not so big. Or even Mr. I have enough to get funky.
So, the kids get done, get a warning - maybe 3 warnings, no conviction and the costs run into the thousands. Cases even get thrown out because of the trivial nature. In South Australia, it is NOT illegal to own small amounts of dope. It aint legal mind you, just not illegal.
And, every fucker here smokes! Coppers are the worst! hahaha.
It's similar to internet porn. We are coming up to an election, so to try to sway the conservative parent vote, our cunt Government announced a new free software filter to ban filthy, naughty images of womens boobies.
yep, it was super special. Red hot. No one could by-pass this porn busting thingy.
Well, it took a 14 year old kid 1 hour. Next day, all over the net, was code breakers and hacks and magic potions.
So now, thankfully, Aussie teens can still view bukkake and animal porn to their hearts content.
Everyone is an idiot. Except the citizens. Who needs Governments?
Moral? There aint no moral.
I am just gonna pop some cones and watch me some dog sex.
Which is in our constitution!
p.s. Well, we dont have a constitution, but IF we did, bonging on and watching hot Dutch chicks take on Great Danes, well, it goes without saying, that would be there. Right up there with the right to bear arms.
Yes, here in Oz, we love our bears. And we really, really love their arms.
10th October 2007 01:53 PM
gimmekeef
Why does it always have to be a war on something?..Surely by now with a winless streak like the gov't has going on all these "wars" they'd figure out the strategy aint working....
10th October 2007 01:58 PM
pdog
quote:gimmekeef wrote:
Why does it always have to be a war on something?..Surely by now with a winless streak like the gov't has going on all these "wars" they'd figure out the strategy aint working....
We have a socialized warfare system. Unwinnable wars are huge maney making scams.
10th October 2007 02:08 PM
jostorm
quote:mojoman wrote:
dude where's my car?
TTM: I think this was a reference to "The Big Lebowski", Dude! (or was it not?)
Yes, totally ludicrous....
10th October 2007 03:28 PM
mojoman
quote:jostorm wrote:
TTM: I think this was a reference to "The Big Lebowski", Dude! (or was it not?)
Yes, totally ludicrous....
the dude
10th October 2007 06:16 PM
Brainbell Jangler
quote:mojoman wrote:
john barleycorn must die
10th October 2007 06:18 PM
Child of the Moon
quote:Brainbell Jangler wrote:
L-L-Lawrence!? Is that you? You still in Portland, Tacoma-buddy?
10th October 2007 06:28 PM
Brainbell Jangler
quote:Child of the Moon wrote:
L-L-Lawrence!? Is that you? You still in Portland, Tacoma-buddy?
Yeah, man. I just posted on your other thread. Life is great (except for the fact that I don't have tix for Neil Young at Keller Auditorium on 10/22).
So, you're back in Larry Craig country, huh?
10th October 2007 08:32 PM
Child of the Moon
quote:Brainbell Jangler wrote:
Yeah, man. I just posted on your other thread. Life is great (except for the fact that I don't have tix for Neil Young at Keller Auditorium on 10/22).
So, you're back in Larry Craig country, huh?
(Shudder) At least people don't automatically think about potatoes when they think of this state now.
I'm glad to hear yer doing well. I'd do everything in my power to secure some Neil tix for you, if I could, but y'know, what can a poor boy do...?
How are your girls doing?
10th October 2007 08:39 PM
pdog
Can we have a war on people with cell phones in their cars... like with guns and knives and shit!
10th October 2007 08:52 PM
Starbuck
corgi....i am amazed.
your post above single handedly saved a very, very retarded thread.
keep up the good work.
10th October 2007 08:54 PM
mojoman
Let's have a War
So you can all Die.
Let's Have a War
We can all use our Brains.
Let's Have a War
Redeem this space.
Let's have a War
We have this place.
Let's have a War
Jack up the Dow Jones
Let's have a War
We can save New Jersey
Let's have a War
Blame it on the Middle Class
Let's have a War
Like rats in a cage.
Let's have a War
Sell the rights to the networks
Let's have a War
Nevermind about that last time.
Let's have a War
Give life a little twist.
Let's have a War
The Enemy's Within..
10th October 2007 09:04 PM
sirmoonie
I love the controlled substances industry. Multi-billion dollar market in the U.S. employing hundreds of thousands of people, and absolutely no threat of it being farmed out overseas. Massive consumer base with buying patterns virtually immune to economic cycles. Has spawned many cottage industries too - fast food, baseball, condoms, rehab, Barney, and the like.
10th October 2007 09:43 PM
pdog
quote:mojoman wrote:
Let's have a War
So you can all Die.
Let's Have a War
We can all use our Brains.
Let's Have a War
Redeem this space.
Let's have a War
We have this place.
Let's have a War
Jack up the Dow Jones
Let's have a War
We can save New Jersey
Let's have a War
Blame it on the Middle Class
Let's have a War
Like rats in a cage.
Let's have a War
Sell the rights to the networks
Let's have a War
Nevermind about that last time.
Let's have a War
Give life a little twist.
Let's have a War
The Enemy's Within..
punks never gonna die!
11th October 2007 12:58 AM
guitarman53
And in Canada it's "O Cannabis"
[Edited by guitarman53]
11th October 2007 07:37 AM
corgi37
thanks Starbuck. I was so wasted when i wrote it.
11th October 2007 09:00 PM
stonedinaustralia
quote:corgi37 wrote:
thanks Starbuck. I was so wasted when i wrote it.
i thought so corgi as i am sure you know we do have a constitution here if not a formal bill of rights
and re the legal/illegal south australian situation - - simple possession is still "illegal" but de-criminalised i.e. get caught offending you just pay the fine - no court no conviction - so in Melbourne you will still get hauled up in front of a magistrate for a $50.00 bag of pot ??
11th October 2007 09:33 PM
Maxlugar
You idiots worry about making pot legal while the liberals in this country are in the process of making cigarette smoking illegal in every fucking imaginable place but inside a coffin. In the street, in your car, in your house... it's all in the works compliments of your friendly neighborhood busy-body "liberal". You'll get pot legalized then two years later they'll be harping on the second hand smoke bullshit.
Hey, I could give a shit myself. I kicked that worthless habit years ago.
My worry is what else the "liberals" will target next.
Beer?
Ooooooooooh noooooooooooooo!!!!!
[Edited by Maxlugar]
11th October 2007 09:48 PM
lotsajizz
another Suzy Waldman type
12th October 2007 05:22 AM
corgi37
Here in Melbourne for small amounts its a "Diversion" program. IE: Promise to be good, and you dont have to go to court. No fine either. Get done again, and the current and prior charge is then heard. Which means, well, fuck all. Even cultivation means a fine and a C.B.O. I think Queenland and W.A. are toughest on drugs. Surfers is a bloody Police State at the best of times. Every 2nd bloke is either a "tooly" or a undercover cop.
I'd like to see our constitution, i really would. But its in England. As for a bill of rights, we have no such thing. It's just assumed that we have things like free speech as a right.
We dont.
And when i take over and become El Prezze-Corgi, you can bet your ass NO ONE will have fucking anything!
Except for bikini girls. They can have what ever they like.
12th October 2007 12:31 PM
Ten Thousand Motels
quote:Maxlugar wrote:
My worry is what else the "liberals" will target next.
Anal Sex?
No wait...liberals like that.
Oral Sex?.... no liberals like that too.
The "social conservatives" target those things.
Uhh. I'm stumped...what will they target next?
Lightbulbs?
SUV's?
Cow Flaps?
12th October 2007 01:54 PM
Maxlugar
quote:Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
.
Uhh. I'm stumped...what will they target next?
Lightbulbs?
SUV's?
Cow Flaps?
Yeah light bulbs are on their agenda. Toilets have been conquered by the way. You can't have a house built these days with a good ol' 5 gallon toilet that really flushes the crap away from your house. No, you must make due(doo?) with a wimpy environmentally friendly one. Except you sometimes need to flush it three times to work. Which is more water wasted than the old toilets. Oops. Ah but the liberals have always been good at getting into your sh*t.
SUV's? Sure they are in their sights. Have been for years. Except for when Al Gore needs one to get to a Global Warming speech.
Cow Flaps? Not sure what they are but I think a lot of adult stars are having them trimmed off these days. Jenna really botched hers up.
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