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Medical Marijuana: What it's About
If marijuana were taxed like cigarettes, it would erase the state and federal budgets financial shortfalls. We are making medical marijuana progress. About eleven states have now legalized medical marijuana.
06-07-07|Salem-News|Dr. Phillip Leveque

Many people, medical cannabis users in particular, ask themselves and others, why is the use of cannabis illegal in the United States and other countries? The answer is not as complex as you might imagine. The illegality is based on several factors. Hempseed oil powered the first diesel engine. The powerful petroleum industry does not want farmers to grow their own fuel.

Hemp cloth is better in many ways than cotton. The powerful cotton industry does not want the competition. Hemp makes better paper and other wood substitutes. The powerful timber industry does not want that competition. Cannabis is an excellent medicine for many ailments. The pharmaceutical and medical professions do not want patients to grow their own medicine which is easily possible.

The final reason is really bizarre. It is well known that a person can get a euphoria high or stoned from an overdose of marijuana. This is somewhat like alcoholic inebriation but certainly not as dangerous.

In New Orleans, the rich white college students discovered jazz music by the black musicians, many of whom smoked marijuana. It was cheaper than booze and much easier to carry. The Hearst newspapers knew that listening to jazz music, dancing, and inhaling the marijuana fumes would drive the white kids crazy.

All of the above decided cannabis and marijuana were bad and any use of cannabis even for legitimate medical use must be made illegal and stopped. Well, surprise to nobody, this did not stop marijuana growing and use. It just produced a new industry--bootleg marijuana.

Now even the U.S. government reports that 70,000,000 Americans smoke marijuana and the non-taxable value of the industry is worth at least ten billion dollars per year. British Columbia grows at least that much and probably so does California.

If marijuana were taxed like cigarettes, it would erase the state and federal budgets financial shortfalls. We are making medical marijuana progress. About eleven states have now legalized medical marijuana.

It is not a harmful drug like morphine, alcohol or even aspirin, but highly beneficial. Keep reading, we’ll try to cover the whole nine yards.

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a combat infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.

 

Buzzby

Would someone please explain to me how this is supposed to work? I've heard estimates that marijuana users spend $40 billion/yr on weed and accessories. Even if that whole market were turned into taxes, it would barely touch the $300+ billion deficit that the federal government alone is running up every year.

If before-tax prices remained the same and they taxed marijuana at 1000%, which would be necessary to erase the state and federal deficits, no one would buy legal marijuana. An ounce would cost $2,000! The black market would continue to thrive.

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nerphroll

Well maybe not then, but it would help make a dent at least.

stoneygreenbud

As I read in the above article, its all about "power" and the monopolys on the applicable markets in which marijuana would be better suited.

Out of all the things I've heard about our Govt., making smart decisions wasent one of them.

But as I look back 20 or so years, I can see that now "we" as a nation are working together state by state, and as more states realize that marijuana is in fact more usefull in so many ways, not only as a pain reduser but as a source of fuel,clothing,paper and the list goes on... we as a nation must continue our fight against the war on marijuana.


we may only have 12 states for now, but many other states are watching very closely.

Our time to be heard is now!

Stoney