GA: Marijuana should be legalized

**Hashishi** · 10-02-2007, 09:27 PM

Marijuana should be legalized
10-2-`07 | RedAndBlack.com | by Patrick Dever

According to a study by Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron, the government will spend approximately $8.61 billion in 2007 on marijuana prohibition enforcement. Despite such robust government spending, current strategies have failed to curb marijuana consumption. In 2005, 16.9 percent of Americans surveyed in National Household Surveys on Drug Use and Health admitted to using marijuana in the last year compared with 13.2 percent in 2000. Data from drug treatment facilities indicate that marijuana abuse is also increasing.

According to a Drug and Alcohol Information System study, admission rates to drug treatment for primary marijuana users have increased by more than 162 percent since 1992.

Based on correspondence with University professors in the economics department, my personal analysis of the marijuana prohibition law is that its flawed economic policy will continue to lead to unaccomplished initiatives. Police target sellers of marijuana because each dealer distributes to numerous consumers.

But this policy is ignorant to economic agents: every time a drug dealer is arrested, supply decreases and price goes up, which only limits consumption by raising prices to consumers.

However, a study by Mert Daryal reveals marijuana, like all drugs, has price inelastic demand, meaning that consumers are relatively insensitive to price change - thus the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on enforcement have minimal effect on consumption.

As an economics major and the center director for domestic issues in the Roosevelt Institute, the University's think tank organization, I've done some research in this field. I believe decriminalizing marijuana will allow the United States to most effectively attack marijuana use and abuse through education and health care.

These health care and educational programs can be funded through a tax placed on the sale of marijuana in conjunction with reduced enforcement costs, which I estimate to increase government revenue by $6 to $13 billion.

I feel increased marijuana education more effectively will decrease consumption through increasing the public's perceived risk of marijuana.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that students exposed to anti-drug messages are 25 percent less likely to use the drug, a much greater reduction than has been observed through marijuana prohibition.

Preferences and perceived risk determine drug use, not the law. A study by Daryal found that only 0.3 percent of the college students he surveyed, whom had never tried marijuana, would begin to use marijuana if it were decriminalized.

The danger with marijuana, as with alcohol, is when people use the drug irresponsibly.

While proper education will help to eliminate some of this risk, I feel it is important to fund programs and clinics to help cure marijuana abusers of their addiction.

According to the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study, "Treatment appears to be cost effective, particularly when compared to incarceration," meaning health care reduces marijuana abuse better than marijuana enforcement laws can.

While most people may be willing to agree with the logic above, there are still many people who feel that the government should not enact policies that support drug use.

I would argue there are plenty of legal activities, such as flag burning, which the government does not condone, but permits because of an essential over arching value, such as the importance of free speech.

I feel the U.S. government should permit the decriminalization of marijuana, if they truly wish to fulfill their over arching initiative of creating a safer America by reducing marijuana use and abuse.

Victor_vicious · 10-03-2007, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hashishi

Marijuana should be legalized
10-2-`07 | RedAndBlack.com | by Patrick Dever

Quote:

According to a study by Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron, the government will spend approximately $8.61 billion in 2007 on marijuana prohibition enforcement. Despite such robust government spending, current strategies have failed to curb marijuana consumption. In 2005, 16.9 percent of Americans surveyed in National Household Surveys on Drug Use and Health admitted to using marijuana in the last year compared with 13.2 percent in 2000. Data from drug treatment facilities indicate that marijuana abuse is also increasing.

The reason data from drug treatment facilities indicte that is because the courts have ordered folks to go there or to jail, which would you choose. Use does not equal abuse.

Quote:

According to a Drug and Alcohol Information System study, admission rates to drug treatment for primary marijuana users have increased by more than 162 percent since 1992.

wow even thought the courts are ordering it now its gone up less than 10%/ year. Takes 15 years to get this increase. Another example of trying to make Statistics sound large. It will be quoted without the reference to the start year as, 'recently gone up 162%'.

Quote:

Based on correspondence with University professors in the economics department, my personal analysis of the marijuana prohibition law is that its flawed economic policy will continue to lead to unaccomplished initiatives. Police target sellers of marijuana because each dealer distributes to numerous consumers.

Oh really. Insted of trying to have a discussion about flawed economic policy, do some research. The police may target sellers, thats not who they arrest. Get the facts first.

Quote:

But this policy is ignorant to economic agents: every time a drug dealer is arrested, supply decreases and price goes up, which only limits consumption by raising prices to consumers.

its apperently ignorant to economists as well.
If MJ were addictive then this might be true. The fact is MJ users just go without for a day or so until the dealer is replaced with another one.

Quote:

However, a study by Mert Daryal reveals marijuana, like all drugs, has price inelastic demand, meaning that consumers are relatively insensitive to price change - thus the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on enforcement have minimal effect on consumption.

Marijuana is not like all drugs. An economics proffesor says we don't care what we pay for it. He needs to go back to school and find out what he would do when the price goes up and the salary doesn't. I wonder what the inflation rate has been. I know in the late 70's you could buy an oz for $30.00, now its at least $200 and up. Guess that might match the inflation rate, gas was less than $1.00/ gallon then.

Quote:

As an economics major and the center director for domestic issues in the Roosevelt Institute, the University's think tank organization, I've done some research in this field. I believe decriminalizing marijuana will allow the United States to most effectively attack marijuana use and abuse through education and health care.

Again, use is not abuse. Oh yea, an economics center think tank director that thinks that education and health care is cheap. Next he will tell us follow up by the courts isn't expensive. Sorry dude, I'm not impressed with your credentials. What you are saying doesn't match the research you say you have done.

Quote:

These health care and educational programs can be funded through a tax placed on the sale of marijuana in conjunction with reduced enforcement costs, which I estimate to increase government revenue by $6 to $13 billion.

wow, you are only off by a factor of at least 10. What report did you read to get that information. Just eliminating the ONDCP would save that much. Doctor visits are cheap, right? and education that lies isn't education, but its cheap too, right?

Quote:

I feel increased marijuana education more effectively will decrease consumption through increasing the public's perceived risk of marijuana.

YOU HAVE YOUR HEAD WERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE. There isn't any way you can tell the truth about Marijuana and increase the 'publics perceived risk of Marijuana'.

Quote:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that students exposed to anti-drug messages are 25 percent less likely to use the drug, a much greater reduction than has been observed through marijuana prohibition.

This is laughable considering the GOA says Dare is a failed progam. As a matter of fact. the lies they tell may actualy increase use of all drugs. If you lie about one thing kids figure you are lying about all of those things. The other drugs must not be that bad. so they try them too.

Quote:

Preferences and perceived risk determine drug use, not the law. A study by Daryal found that only 0.3 percent of the college students he surveyed, whom had never tried marijuana, would begin to use marijuana if it were decriminalized.

If that were correct, than longer prison sentences would work, risk goes up use goes down.
I'd like to see how Daryal framed his questions.

Quote:

The danger with marijuana, as with alcohol, is when people use the drug irresponsibly.

If Marijuana were as dangerous as alcohol I might listen. He has heard to many Drink-but do it responsible commercials. 16,000 deaths due to drunk driving. Were are the numbers for MJ traffic deaths? If you use MJ 'irresponsible' you won't put on your ten feet tall and bullet proof hat, you will just go to sleep. Ask any convinience store clerk which they would rather wait on, a drunk person or a 'high' person. Ask any Law enforcement official which one they would rather deal with. The danger with Marijuana is that some folks don't have a clue what they are talking about.

Quote:

While proper education will help to eliminate some of this risk, I feel it is important to fund programs and clinics to help cure marijuana abusers of their addiction.

See what I mean. What constitutes a Marijuana abuser ? He probably believes coffee use will go down, obesatie will go down and we will all be living a 'Healthy Lifestyle' if we just spend more on another government program.

Quote:

According to the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study, "Treatment appears to be cost effective, particularly when compared to incarceration," meaning health care reduces marijuana abuse better than marijuana enforcement laws can.

Lets see, these folks want to keep thier jobs, so they invent Marijuana Abusers. and then treat them. How do you get these Marijuana abusers into treatment. Have the court make it mandatory. Of course they will have to follow up on the treatment to make sure the Marijuana Abuser has been 'Educated' about the dangers of continued use... oh wait, what are the dangers. You will feel happy and hungry, pain free. Pull your head out long enough to do some reserach on the costs of courts and follow up. When they did the research for Mass. they found the savings from legalizing and taxing MJ would save almost 4x as much as the saving to the police departments. The saving for police was about $29,000,000.00. When they added the other cost for courts etc. the savings jumped to $125,000,000.00. I don't feel like this proposal will be cost effective.

Quote:

While most people may be willing to agree with the logic above, there are still many people who feel that the government should not enact policies that support drug use.

While I most certainly think Marijauna should be legalized there isn't any logic to what you say and feel. Probably because you don't know anything about Marijuana. If you are really intereted in economics, run some numbers for me. How much would a Billion 1938 dollars be now. That was the value given to Hemp crops by Popular Mechanics in 1938. And the ' real' reason for Marijuana prohibition was the invention of the decortatator which would have lowered production cost much like the cotton gin did for cotton a century earlier.

Quote:

I would argue there are plenty of legal activities, such as flag burning, which the government does not condone, but permits because of an essential over arching value, such as the importance of free speech.

Why don't you argue that alcohol is abused, and not only tolerated but condoned. We see ad after ad that pretty much tell folks they are not cool unless they get shit faced evey weekend, but do it responsibly. Why don't you argue that prescripton drugs kill people.

I

Quote:

feel the U.S. government should permit the decriminalization of marijuana, if they truly wish to fulfill their over arching initiative of creating a safer America by reducing marijuana use and abuse.

No comment. VV

Buzzby · 10-03-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

I feel increased marijuana education more effectively will decrease consumption through increasing the public's perceived risk of marijuana.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that students exposed to anti-drug messages are 25 percent less likely to use the drug, a much greater reduction than has been observed through marijuana prohibition.

Other studies have shown that viewing the ONDCP's anti-marijuana TV PSAs has no positive effect on reducing student consumption and in some cases increases the chances that they'll smoke.

Public education seriously reduced the number of people who smoke cigarettes. Why? Because the PSAs and other ads told the truth: smoking tobacco can kill you. Public education seriously reduced the number of drunk drivers on the road. Why? Because they told the truth: driving drunk can get you and others killed, you can lose your driver's license, pay heavy fines, and go to jail.

I'm wondering what they can say truthfully about marijuana that will discourage people (especially young people) from using it. The physical and psychological consequences simply aren't that dire. An approach similar to the drunk driving one might help to keep people from driving when they're too stoned, but not discourage people from smoking.

The only honest PSA I've seen come out of the ONDCP is the one where people let their lives slip by couchlocked while others are out doing something interesting. The rest have been total BS and anyone with half a brain knows it.

10-02-2007, 09:27 PM	#1
Hashishi Unf*ckwit'able Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,691 Grams: 34,919.42 Thanks: 1,569 Thanked 1,712 Times in 924 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	GA: Marijuana should be legalized Marijuana should be legalized 10-2-`07 \| RedAndBlack.com \| by Patrick Dever According to a study by Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron, the government will spend approximately $8.61 billion in 2007 on marijuana prohibition enforcement. Despite such robust government spending, current strategies have failed to curb marijuana consumption. In 2005, 16.9 percent of Americans surveyed in National Household Surveys on Drug Use and Health admitted to using marijuana in the last year compared with 13.2 percent in 2000. Data from drug treatment facilities indicate that marijuana abuse is also increasing. According to a Drug and Alcohol Information System study, admission rates to drug treatment for primary marijuana users have increased by more than 162 percent since 1992. Based on correspondence with University professors in the economics department, my personal analysis of the marijuana prohibition law is that its flawed economic policy will continue to lead to unaccomplished initiatives. Police target sellers of marijuana because each dealer distributes to numerous consumers. But this policy is ignorant to economic agents: every time a drug dealer is arrested, supply decreases and price goes up, which only limits consumption by raising prices to consumers. However, a study by Mert Daryal reveals marijuana, like all drugs, has price inelastic demand, meaning that consumers are relatively insensitive to price change - thus the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on enforcement have minimal effect on consumption. As an economics major and the center director for domestic issues in the Roosevelt Institute, the University's think tank organization, I've done some research in this field. I believe decriminalizing marijuana will allow the United States to most effectively attack marijuana use and abuse through education and health care. These health care and educational programs can be funded through a tax placed on the sale of marijuana in conjunction with reduced enforcement costs, which I estimate to increase government revenue by $6 to $13 billion. I feel increased marijuana education more effectively will decrease consumption through increasing the public's perceived risk of marijuana. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that students exposed to anti-drug messages are 25 percent less likely to use the drug, a much greater reduction than has been observed through marijuana prohibition. Preferences and perceived risk determine drug use, not the law. A study by Daryal found that only 0.3 percent of the college students he surveyed, whom had never tried marijuana, would begin to use marijuana if it were decriminalized. The danger with marijuana, as with alcohol, is when people use the drug irresponsibly. While proper education will help to eliminate some of this risk, I feel it is important to fund programs and clinics to help cure marijuana abusers of their addiction. According to the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study, "Treatment appears to be cost effective, particularly when compared to incarceration," meaning health care reduces marijuana abuse better than marijuana enforcement laws can. While most people may be willing to agree with the logic above, there are still many people who feel that the government should not enact policies that support drug use. I would argue there are plenty of legal activities, such as flag burning, which the government does not condone, but permits because of an essential over arching value, such as the importance of free speech. I feel the U.S. government should permit the decriminalization of marijuana, if they truly wish to fulfill their over arching initiative of creating a safer America by reducing marijuana use and abuse. __________________

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