Is Legalizing Marijuana the Way Out of Budget Deficits?

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While yes, the idea of legalizing "weed" sounds great to the budget defects we have in this country, however I know that it may be sold in stores and taxed like crazy, Drug dealers will have it cheaper, usually laced with a higer more addictive drug (hence the "gate way drug" concept.) How is the U.S. benifiting? Not so much, but dealers are. Its a fabulous idea but I think we've learned from our countries past that things dont always go as planned.

T.T. of NY 7:33PM September 08, 2011

Am I ever sorry that my mom is missing this discussion. She died last Spring at the age of 92 and she went to her grave strongly believing and voicing that marijuana should be legalized. She never tried it, but she knew that it was ridiculous for this country to spend ("waste") all the money it is spending trying to fight marijuana when it would be much smarter to make money off of it. Legalize it, regulate it, "tax the hell out of it" were her thoughts. She didn't live to see it happen but maybe I will. It is time. Go after the crack producers. I live in Kentucky and this state could, once again, grow marijuana legally, like it did during WWI for hemp rope, and create jobs and tax revenue.

Ann Dixon of KY 3:47PM November 05, 2009

Marijuana could easily stimulate our economy. If all 50 states legalized, more jobs would be open. Growing marijuana isnt the easiest process ever, it could open many jobs for americans. I know so many drug dealers who make so much money from illegally selling Marijuana, think if all that money from 50 states could go to our economy. Millions, I mean millions of americans already smoke marijuana, whats going to stop them? If we leagalized, buying marijuana would be much easier for the user, more people would start which means more money, I think our goverment needs to start focusing on hard drugs, such as Herion and Cocaine. These are the drugs that destroy lifes.

Christopher G. of VA 2:08PM November 05, 2009

If there is a politician out there that believes that our country has control of the marijuana cycle in the U.S.A, they are most likely high themselves. At this point the only way to take control would be to stop wasting time trying to fight people who enjoy using Marijuana and make money of off them.. It could boost our economy, save us money from trying to fight a constant uphill, and boost fast food sales. It just does not make sense. Our government has been known to do so much to financially stay stable. Why are they passing this up.. this is a golden opportunity.. Look at portugal and the drop in crime rate they had after the legalization of Drugs! Not just Marijuana but drugs. We talk about being a country with an open mind but the fact that we are still stuck on this shows nothing but complete ignorance.

Matthew Elliott of AZ 1:44PM November 04, 2009

If the US legalizes marijuana in all 50 states then the US will be making all the money instead of the "Drug Dealers." Then the authorities will not have to worry about the people having guns and trying to protect their "stash." and killing anyone who trys to get to it because they can get it anywhere.d Legalizing marijuana will make it easier on the economy, goverment, law enfocement and we the people that smoke it. Marijuana does not hurt people like the legal liquid alcohol does. I believe that we the people have a fair right to marijuana also as the medical patients do.

Tyler Thompson of MS 11:02AM October 12, 2009

the government NEEDS to regulate it. For those who smoke, your going to continue, and for those who don't, dont. But i would like to be re-assured that when i buy/smoke my pot its not laced and i'm not going to get robbed buying it. Also, no more "dry-season". Thats what i look forward to the most. Not worrying about if "X" is going to have it. Also the quality of regulated weed would be AMAZING. i'm 100% willing to pay taxes on it, knowing its a safe transaction, safe weed, and its supporting the country in which WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN. Win-win if you ask me. Also, we spent trillions on the prosecuting people for weed????? c'mon thats bull pooh. That money, along with the profits of selling it legally, would be incredible. NO MORE DEPRESSION!..you never hear of anyone dying from smoking too much. You never hear of pot heads being aggressive or anything. Its a cool, chill drug. Stimulates the mind in a beautiful way. TAKE DOWN THE BLACK MARKET AND COLLECT THE PROFITS USA!

JMM of DE 6:33PM October 10, 2009

Just legalize it alredy theirs a billion reasons why to legalize it. We are filling corectional facilities with thousands of young inocent kids just trying to have a good time just like you did when you were young. If you didnt try to well then thats probley why your fighting it. Now all these kids teens and adults have a record over a little bag of pot, you have to see how stupid and obserd this is. Not only will legalizing taxing and controling it help our kids by whiping if not all most our debt away providing millions of jobs were protecting them from dealing with possilble dangerous ppl to get the weed but from the pot being laced with something that could ruin their life forever. Anyone can get it anyways who are you kidding drug war my a** its not stoping anything, its a war that will last forever. But were protecting them from jail for no good reason. Theres millions of good ppl in jail that shouldnt be in there right now.
Legalizing pot will do way more good for our country then it could ever do bad.

Tim Bacon of TX 2:05PM July 26, 2009

One word : Tourism

Heather Reid of CO 8:00PM July 16, 2009

We are now living in a time of dire uncertainty. We must act now and we must act quickly to overcome the hand California has been dealt. Only we the people can change the future, since the past has already been written. When the state has run out of options, giving IOU's as payment's and forcing our Correctional Workers to work for FREE!! two to three times a month. Forcing schools to lay off Teachers, which only puts our children further and further behind. I ask, no I demand that California do what we all now is right and take back control of our great state. Legalize cannabis now!! What are we waiting for?

Randy Yarbrough of CA 5:45PM July 13, 2009

I have read from a number of sources that our drug war efforts over the last 40 years have cost roughly 3 trillion dollars...
correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that the approximate size of the national debt prior to the recent "super stimulus" spending?
In short, one can easily conclude from this that the national debt has been caused almost exclusively by this pointless, no win drug war...
Perhaps taxation and regulation can solve this entire economic nightmare.

John Miller of CA 9:49AM July 10, 2009