I’m with you there. Unfortunately we all know what will happen and that will just be more spending.

I think most people would be surprised that the percentage of people that smoke MJ in the US is far higher than in Amsterdam where it’s been legal for years.

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
Cut my taxes (and everyone elses) by the revenue from taxing the wacky tobbaccy... I might be on board.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
My grandfather is into investing pretty big. I asked him about a month ago if I should invest in Altria giving this likely development. He said no, he didn't offer any further explanation when I asked, just said don't do it. Asked about RJ Reynolds and he said no again, and just forget about it. Not sure what he knows, but he was pretty adamant about it.

Is just he's anti-Mary Jane or, just simply recognizes those companies for being rapacious cigarette companies and doesn't want you to invest in them?

The biggest benefit with legalization (besides shuffling the decks on the drug war) will be on the medical side. The medical advancements in pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs due to the hemp plant, will crater the existing opioid-based medications, thus Big Pharma will be looking to switch once federal laws are changed.

Previous generation opposition was either due to religious or, business reasons. Hemp plants were legislated to be illegal by the cotton lobby around the turn of the century, as hemp rope was out selling cotton rope, AND the southern agriculture community had already lost major market share due to the Civil War and the British establishment of India as a new cotton export. It's only been the 20th century where smoking marajuana was viewed through the lens of culture shaming or, religious piety.

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
Cut my taxes (and everyone elses) by the revenue from taxing the wacky tobbaccy... I might be on board.

Then mandate a clean drug test result for those receiving food stamps and any form of welfare, and we might be getting closer.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
Cut my taxes (and everyone elses) by the revenue from taxing the wacky tobbaccy... I might be on board.

Then mandate a clean drug test result for those receiving food stamps and any form of welfare, and we might be getting closer.

If anyone needs to face mandatory drug testing it would start at the highest levels of government and other mission critical jobs, where their daily performance in a clear minded state truly matters, where lives and laws and freedom itself is at stake, and where the tax dollars they receive for the questionable services they provide are much, much higher than someone in the ghetto on welfare.

Or you can have wonky priorities are choose to fuck with poor people instead.

(shrug)

If the taxes are simply put towards addiction I’d be good

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
Taxes are almost never reduced by a meaningful amount, no matter the topic. At least not down at the consumer level. But I like where your head's at. Truly lower taxes, for a thousand reasons, would be fantastic.

But maybe we can pay our debts / borrow less, and have fewer torn up roads, and pay police officers more to do more important work, and waste fewer dollars and people hours on the illegality of it, so on.

[sarcasm]Just like what happened in California, Colorado, and Washington.[/sarcasm]

The tax revenues in those states were wasted, and the promised benefits of legalization, in the form of a "revenue" windfall, pretty much went up in smoke.

In fact, this most recent election there were several items on the ballot in CO to raise taxes. Despite the marijuana tax revenue, CO politicians are desperate to keep raising taxes.

The tax payers are not getting the promised monetary benefits of marijuana legalization.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
Cut my taxes (and everyone elses) by the revenue from taxing the wacky tobbaccy... I might be on board.

Then mandate a clean drug test result for those receiving food stamps and any form of welfare, and we might be getting closer.

If anyone needs to face mandatory drug testing it would start at the highest levels of government and other mission critical jobs, where their daily performance in a clear minded state truly matters, where lives and laws and freedom itself is at stake, and where the tax dollars they receive for the questionable services they provide are much, much higher than someone in the ghetto on welfare.

Or you can have wonky priorities are choose to fuck with poor people instead.

(shrug)

Nothing against poor people, but if you have the money to get high, then you dont need my taxes paying for your food/housing/children.

And I already am subject to random drug testing. Not that it matters as indo not parrtake.

Yes yes, DMF, but that's neither the fault of marijuana nor it's supporters, nor is the phenomenon you describe unique to marijuana legalization nor Colorado nor anything else beyond the well established fact that governments of all sizes, flavors, and locations are notorious for wasting money regardless of its source.

And do you know what that phenomenon and the marijuana cluster fuck have in common, they are entirely the fault of the government, or more specifically the fault of countless crooked and wasteful assholes who spent those tax dollars on dumb things and who created dumb departments and bad laws and poor regulations, and who took government jets when cars would suffice, and who are more adept at spending tax money like its their own that anything else they do, all well above your and my pay grade, so to speak.

So, yes, you're correct, but it's wholly irrelevant to the topic of marijuana legalization.

My mention of taxes merely express my personal opinion as to where it could and should go. I have no illusions as to the actual effectiveness of any government, agency, department, or otherwise. But none of that should, ever, get in the way of personal liberty, or in the way of stopping what gas been, all along, a disgusting sham of lies and nonsense, your service and those like you - those at the end of the pointy stick - having nothing to do with my criticism. It's your, and our, masters who are the problem. It's various laws you're tasked with enforcing that are the problem, primarily. And it needs to change, and is.

quote:

Originally posted by DMF:

The tax payers are not getting the promised monetary benefits of marijuana legalization.

This is no big surprise. It reminds me of the arguments made prior to legalizing gambling in Atlantic City. The argument was "gambling is going on anyway. Legalize it and it will fund education, and be wonderful for Atlantic City." Forty+ years later, no good came of it. Surprise!

My problem with recreational legalization is there is never a honest accounting made of the real cost to society in terms of increased car accidents, and the difficulties created for law enforcement. Members here who live in CO have recounted how the cartel business continues, for a variety of reasons. From a business perspective, legalization likely makes things less risky for them, and probably complicates prosecution.

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
Nothing against poor people, but if you have the money to get high, then you dont need my taxes paying for your food/housing/children.

And I already am subject to random drug testing. Not that it matters as indo not parrtake.

What about Twinkies, or Nachos, or KoolAid, or more than six t-shirts in their closet (five is enough, right)? Can they get fast internet, or just dial up? Must they buy their shit at Goodwill or is a regular Department store an approved expenditure? How far does it go? There are 43,000 other ways for them to waste more money legitimately than they could possibly spend on weed in a given month. Hell, the monthly tests and administration of them alone would equal or surpass what Pookie and Ray Ray could possibly smoke each month. Frankly, it's just a bad idea that isn't thought through, and the reason I know it's just a way to fuck with poor people about shit you don't agree with is because you're too bright and honest to not see the waste and futility of the idea itself.

But I'm all for rooting out corruption and waste when it comes to how taxes are spent. I'm probably the local President of that club. But what you propose wouldn't even be in the Top 100 list of shit we'd need to worry about even if we chose to go down that path... Wasted tax dollars are as or more American than apple pie and Baseball. I hate it, too, but if we're going to solve that problem or even try, let's at least do a real job of it, prioritized...

(I'm on the way out for the evening, it will be tomorrow before I can respond further)

quote:

Originally posted by 12GA:
I’m not against legalization however I doubt the increased tax revenue will result in anything other than increased spending.

Like the way Mega Millions and Powerball flooded public schools with cash and cured all their ills.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
My grandfather is into investing pretty big. I asked him about a month ago if I should invest in Altria giving this likely development. He said no, he didn't offer any further explanation when I asked, just said don't do it. Asked about RJ Reynolds and he said no again, and just forget about it. Not sure what he knows, but he was pretty adamant about it.

Is just he's anti-Mary Jane or, just simply recognizes those companies for being rapacious cigarette companies and doesn't want you to invest in them?

The biggest benefit with legalization (besides shuffling the decks on the drug war) will be on the medical side. The medical advancements in pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs due to the hemp plant, will crater the existing opioid-based medications, thus Big Pharma will be looking to switch once federal laws are changed.

Previous generation opposition was either due to religious or, business reasons. Hemp plants were legislated to be illegal by the cotton lobby around the turn of the century, as hemp rope was out selling cotton rope, AND the southern agriculture community had already lost major market share due to the Civil War and the British establishment of India as a new cotton export. It's only been the 20th century where smoking marajuana was viewed through the lens of culture shaming or, religious piety.

Not sure, went over for dinner tonight, I meant to ask him about it, but never got the chance. Didn't want to shout across the dinner table about investing in pot/tobacco companies.

I will have to call him this week and ask why.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
My grandfather is into investing pretty big. I asked him about a month ago if I should invest in Altria giving this likely development. He said no, he didn't offer any further explanation when I asked, just said don't do it. Asked about RJ Reynolds and he said no again, and just forget about it. Not sure what he knows, but he was pretty adamant about it.

Is just he's anti-Mary Jane or, just simply recognizes those companies for being rapacious cigarette companies and doesn't want you to invest in them?

The biggest benefit with legalization (besides shuffling the decks on the drug war) will be on the medical side. The medical advancements in pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs due to the hemp plant, will crater the existing opioid-based medications, thus Big Pharma will be looking to switch once federal laws are changed.

Previous generation opposition was either due to religious or, business reasons. Hemp plants were legislated to be illegal by the cotton lobby around the turn of the century, as hemp rope was out selling cotton rope, AND the southern agriculture community had already lost major market share due to the Civil War and the British establishment of India as a new cotton export. It's only been the 20th century where smoking marajuana was viewed through the lens of culture shaming or, religious piety.

I meant to ask him tonight after dinner, but never got a chance. I'm going to have to call him this week and ask why he dismissed the idea.

The way the world has been spinning lately? Probably a great investment